Set Operations in Python

CS 5001/5002 - Strings, Sequences & Sets

Code

#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""
Set Operations in Python
CS 5001/5002 - Strings, Sequences & Sets

This file demonstrates fundamental set operations:
- Union, intersection, difference, symmetric difference
- Complement operations with respect to a universe set
- De Morgan's laws verification
"""

# Define example sets
A = {1, 2, 3, 4}
B = {3, 4, 5, 6}
U = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}  # Universe set

print(f"A = {A}")
print(f"B = {B}")
print(f"Universe U = {U}")
print()

# Union: A union B
union = A | B  # or A.union(B)
print(f"A union B = {union}")

# Intersection: A intersect B
intersection = A & B  # or A.intersection(B)
print(f"A intersect B = {intersection}")

# Difference: A - B
difference = A - B  # or A.difference(B)
print(f"A - B = {difference}")

# Symmetric difference: A XOR B (elements in A or B, but not both)
sym_diff = A ^ B  # or A.symmetric_difference(B)
print(f"A XOR B = {sym_diff}")

# Complement: complement of A (with respect to universe U)
complement_A = U - A
print(f"complement of A in U = {complement_A}")

# Verify De Morgan's laws
# not(A union B) = (not A) intersect (not B)
left_side = U - (A | B)
right_side = (U - A) & (U - B)
print(f"\nDe Morgan's Law verification:")
print(f"not(A union B) = {left_side}")
print(f"(not A) intersect (not B) = {right_side}")
print(f"Equal? {left_side == right_side}")

How to Use

1. Copy the code above
2. Save it as a .py file (e.g., set_operations.py)
3. Run it with: python set_operations.py

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Part of CS 5001/5002 - Strings, Sequences & Sets materials