Naive Set Theory

yeonsolkim
Yeonsol Kim

April 02, 2026


수학적으로 set이 어떤 개념인지 파악해보자.

1. Axiom of Extension.

\[\forall x\,(x\in A\leftrightarrow x\in B)\leftrightarrow A=B\]


2. Belonging. a binary “relation” $\in$. hierarchical한 느낌이다: e.g., $(\text{(n)-dimensional)}\in(\text{(n+1)-dimensional})$.

3. Inclusion.

\[A\subset B \leftrightarrow \forall x\,(x\in A \rightarrow x\in B).\]

여기서 두 set은 same-dimensional로 보여진다. $A\subset B\wedge B\subset C \rightarrow A\subset C\ (transitive)$

4. Axiom of Specification.

\[\forall A\,\forall p\,\exists B \,\forall x\,(x\in B\leftrightarrow x\in A\wedge \varphi (x,p)),\]

denoted by $B={x\in A:\varphi(x,p)}.$ given set이 있어야 carve out하여 new one을 만들 수 있다.

5.1. Axiom of Pairing.

\[\forall a\,\forall b\,\exists B\,\forall x\,(x\in B\leftrightarrow \varphi(x,a,b)) \text{ where } \varphi(x,a,b):x=a\lor x=b,\]

denoted by $B={a,b}$; the set is called the unordered pair. We may refer to the axiom as a pseudo-special cases of axiom of specification in the sense that if there were a universe, then the axiom would follow as a special case.

5.2. Notation. 앞으로 이런 generating axiom들이 추가될 예정이므로 이쯤에서 새 notation을 도입하자: If $\varphi(x,p)$ is a condition such that $x$’s that $\varphi(x,p)$ specifies constitute a set, then we denote that set by ${x:\varphi(x,p)}.$

6.1. Axiom of Unions. $\forall A\,\exists B\,\forall x\,(x\in B\rightarrow \exists y\,(y\in A\wedge x\in y)).$ There exists a comprehensive set. And, applying axiom of specification, we get

\[\forall A\,\exists B\,\forall x\,(x\in B\leftrightarrow \exists y\,(y\in A\wedge x\in y)),\]

denoted by $B=\bigcup A$; the union of $A$.

6.2. Notation. We introduce special notation for a pair: $X\cup Y=\bigcup{X,Y}$. It follows that $X\cup Y={x:x\in X\lor x\in Y}$ by general definition.

6.3. Definition. Now we can generalize pairs: ${a,b,c}={a}\cup {b}\cup {c}, \text{etc.}$

Proving Strategy
Goal: To explicate that a sentence is trivial.
Strategy 1: If a sentence has disjunction, then split into the cases.


7.1. Definition of Complement. Relative complement of $B$ in $A$ is the set $A-B$ defined by

\[A-B=\{x\in A:x\notin B\}.\]

Dealing with sets which are subsets of $E$, we can define absolute complement. Often used symbol for absolute complement of $A$ is $A’$.

7.2. Theorem(De Morgan Laws). Basically, they are about unions and intersections:

\[(A\cup B)'=A'\cap B',\ (A\cap B)'=A'\cup B'.\]