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Exercise 627Logic, sets and proofs › Sets and mapsL1Added 4 Nov 2026

Inclusion and union with the complement

#inclusion#complement#equivalence

Statement

Let A,B⊆EA,B\subseteq E and Aˉ\bar A the complement of AA in EE. Prove the equivalence
A⊆B  ⟺  Aˉ∪B=E.A\subseteq B\iff\bar A\cup B=E.

Hint

Prove both implications separately, by element chasing.

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Solution

⇒\Rightarrow. Suppose A⊆BA\subseteq B and let x∈Ex\in E. If x∈Bx\in B, then x∈Aˉ∪Bx\in\bar A\cup B. If x∉Bx\notin B, then x∉Ax\notin A (since A⊆BA\subseteq B), so x∈Aˉ⊆Aˉ∪Bx\in\bar A\subseteq\bar A\cup B. Hence every element of EE is in Aˉ∪B\bar A\cup B.

⇐\Leftarrow. Suppose Aˉ∪B=E\bar A\cup B=E. If A⊈BA\not\subseteq B, there is x∈Ax\in A with x∉Bx\notin B. Then x∉Aˉx\notin\bar A and x∉Bx\notin B, so x∉Aˉ∪Bx\notin\bar A\cup B, contradicting Aˉ∪B=E\bar A\cup B=E. Hence A⊆BA\subseteq B.

Conclusion. The equivalence holds.