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Exercise 1618Combinatorics › Counting principlesL1Added 3 Nov 2026

Three-set inclusion-exclusion

#inclusion-exclusion#three sets#union

Statement

In a survey of 100100 people, 6060 read newspaper AA, 5050 read BB, 4040 read CC, 3030 read AA and BB, 2020 read BB and CC, 1515 read AA and CC, and 55 read all three. How many read at least one?

Hint

∣A∪B∪C∣=∑∣Ai∣−∑∣Ai∩Aj∣+∣A∩B∩C∣|A\cup B\cup C|=\sum|A_i|-\sum|A_i\cap A_j|+|A\cap B\cap C|.

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Solution

Compute.
60+50+40−30−20−15+5=150−65+5=90.60+50+40-30-20-15+5=150-65+5=90.

Conclusion. 9090 people read at least one newspaper. 1010 read none.