Venn Diagrams
Set theory, inclusion-exclusion, relational diagrams.
Venn Diagrams — Core
A Venn diagram uses overlapping circles to show relationships between sets.
Two-set Venn (sets A and B):
- A ∪ B (union): everything in A or B (or both).
- A ∩ B (intersection): only the overlap.
- A − B: in A but not in B.
- |A ∪ B| = |A| + |B| − |A ∩ B|.
Three-set Venn (sets A, B, C):
- |A ∪ B ∪ C| = |A| + |B| + |C| − |A∩B| − |B∩C| − |A∩C| + |A∩B∩C|.
This is the inclusion-exclusion principle.
Regions of a 3-set Venn — 7 regions for the union, plus 1 for "outside all":
- Only A
- Only B
- Only C
- A∩B only (not C)
- B∩C only (not A)
- A∩C only (not B)
- A∩B∩C (all three)
- None (outside all circles)
RRB-style question typically gives:
- Total surveyed people
- Number liking each of 2 or 3 items
- Pairwise overlaps
- All-three overlap
- Asks: how many like exactly one? exactly two? none?
Strategy:
- Draw the diagram and start from the centre (all-three overlap) and work outward.
- Subtract larger overlaps from smaller ones to find "exclusive" regions.
- "Only A" = |A| − |A∩B| − |A∩C| + |A∩B∩C|.
- "Exactly two" = sum of pairwise overlaps minus 3 × triple overlap.
Relational Venn (logic questions): given categories like "doctors", "men", "graduates", and asked to pick which Venn diagram represents them. Use:
- If A is a subset of B → A inside B.
- If A and B overlap partially → overlapping circles.
- If A and B are disjoint → separate circles.
Example 1 — Two-set:
In a class of 50, 30 like cricket and 25 like football. 10 like both. How many like neither?
Method: |C ∪ F| = 30 + 25 − 10 = 45. Neither = 50 − 45 = 5.
Example 2 — Three-set:
In a survey of 100 people: 60 like tea, 50 like coffee, 40 like milk. 30 like tea+coffee, 20 like coffee+milk, 25 like tea+milk. 15 like all three. How many like only tea?
Method: Only tea = Tea − (T∩C) − (T∩M) + (T∩C∩M) = 60 − 30 − 25 + 15 = 20.
Example 3 — Exactly two:
From the same data, how many like exactly two?
Method: Exactly two = (T∩C) + (C∩M) + (T∩M) − 3×(T∩C∩M) = 30 + 20 + 25 − 3×15 = 75 − 45 = 30.
Example 4 — None:
From above, how many liked none?
Method: Total who like at least one = 60+50+40 − 30−20−25 + 15 = 150 − 75 + 15 = 90.
None = 100 − 90 = 10.
Example 5 — Relational:
Which Venn diagram represents "Dogs, Mammals, Animals"?
Method: Dogs ⊂ Mammals ⊂ Animals. Three concentric circles: Dogs inside Mammals inside Animals.
Example 6 — Disjoint:
"Tigers, Lions, Sparrows".
Method: Tigers and Lions are disjoint (different species) but both are subsets of a wider "Animals" category. Sparrows are also separate. Three separate circles (perhaps inside a larger one labelled Animals).
Trap: in the three-set formula, the +15 at the end (for triple-overlap) is added, not subtracted — it was over-subtracted three times by the pairwise terms.