In a class of 300 students, 242 take math, 208 take science, and 183 take both math and science. How many students take neither math nor science?

1 Answer
Aug 11, 2016

#33# students take neither of the subjects.

Explanation:

We will use the formulas # (1) : n(AuuB)=n(A)+n(B)-n(AnnB)#,

# (2) : n(A-AnnB) =n(A)-n(AnnB)#.

# (3) : (AuuB)'=A'nnB'#...............[De'Morgan's law].

where, #A & B sub U# and, #n(A)# denotes the Number of Elements in a Set #A sub U#, the Universal Set .

Let #M=# The Set of students taking Maths. , and, #S# that of

students taking Sc.. Hence, #MnnS# is the set of students taking both the subjects, whereas, #M'nnS'# is the set of students opting neither of the subjects.

Our goal is to find #n(M'nnS')=n((MuuS)'),# because of #(3)#.

Now, let us observe that, #(M-MnnS)uu(MnnS)=M# and, their intersection is #phi#, so, by #(1)#, we get,

#n(M)=n(M-MnnS)+n(MnnS)#, i.e.,

#242=n(M-MnnS)+183 rArr n(M-MnnS)=59#.

#(2) rArr n(M)-n(MnnS)=59#,

From #(1)#, then, we have,

#n(MuuS)=n(M)+n(S)-n(MnnS)=59+208=267#

Therefore, #n(M'nnS')=n((MuuS)')=n(U-MuuS)#

#=n(U)-n(MuuS)=300-267=33#.

Enjoy Maths.!