Absorption Laws (Set Theory)/Union Absorbs Intersection

Theorem

$S \cup \paren {S \cap T} = S$


Proof 1

\(\ds \) \(\) \(\ds \paren {S \cap T} \subseteq S\) Intersection is Subset
\(\ds \) \(\leadsto\) \(\ds S \cup \paren {S \cap T} = S\) Union with Superset is Superset‎

$\blacksquare$


Proof 2

\(\ds x\) \(\in\) \(\ds S \cup \paren {S \cap T}\)
\(\ds \leadstoandfrom \ \ \) \(\ds x\) \(\in\) \(\ds S \lor \paren {x \in S \land x \in T}\) Definition of Set Intersection and Definition of Set Union
\(\ds \leadstoandfrom \ \ \) \(\ds x\) \(\in\) \(\ds S\) Disjunction Absorbs Conjunction

$\blacksquare$


Also see

These two results together are known as the Absorption Laws, corresponding to the equivalent results in logic.


Sources

  • 1965: J.A. Green: Sets and Groups ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$. Sets: Exercise $3$
  • 1975: T.S. Blyth: Set Theory and Abstract Algebra ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 1$. Sets; inclusion; intersection; union; complementation; number systems: Exercise $3$
  • 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): absorption laws
  • 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): absorption laws
  • 2014: Christopher Clapham and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): absorption laws
  • 2021: Richard Earl and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (6th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): absorption laws