# Set Difference Union Intersection

## Theorem

$S = \left({S \setminus T}\right) \cup \left({S \cap T}\right)$

## Proof 1

 $\displaystyle \paren {S \setminus T} \cup \paren {S \cap T}$ $=$ $\displaystyle \paren {\paren {S \setminus T} \cup S} \cap \paren {\paren {S \setminus T} \cup T}$ Union Distributes over Intersection $\displaystyle$ $=$ $\displaystyle S \cap \paren {\paren {S \setminus T} \cup T}$ Set Difference Union First Set is First Set $\displaystyle$ $=$ $\displaystyle S \cap \paren {S \cup T}$ Set Difference Union Second Set is Union $\displaystyle$ $=$ $\displaystyle S$ Intersection Absorbs Union

$\blacksquare$

## Proof 2

 $\displaystyle \left({S \setminus T}\right) \cup \left({S \cap T}\right)$ $=$ $\displaystyle S \setminus \left({T \setminus T}\right)$ Set Difference with Set Difference is Union of Set Difference with Intersection $\displaystyle$ $=$ $\displaystyle S \setminus \varnothing$ Set Difference with Self is Empty Set $\displaystyle$ $=$ $\displaystyle S$ Set Difference with Empty Set is Self

$\blacksquare$

## Proof 3

$S \setminus T \subseteq S$
$S \cap T \subseteq S$

Hence from Union is Smallest Superset:

$\left({S \setminus T}\right) \cup \left({S \cap T}\right) \subseteq S$

Let $s \in S$.

Either:

$s \in T$, in which case $s \in S \cap T$ by definition of set intersection

or

$s \notin T$, in which case $s \in S \setminus T$ by definition of set difference.

That is, $s \in \left({S \setminus T}\right) \cup \left({S \cap T}\right)$ by definition of set union, and so $S \subseteq \left({S \setminus T}\right) \cup \left({S \cap T}\right)$.

Hence the result by definition of set equality.

$\blacksquare$