This key facts covers Common Venn Diagram Terms within Venn Diagrams for GCSE Mathematics. Revise Venn Diagrams in Probability for GCSE Mathematics with 14 exam-style questions and 12 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 6 of 7 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Common Venn Diagram Terms
| Term | Symbol | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union | A ∪ B | A or B (or both) | Plays football OR tennis |
| Intersection | A ∩ B | A and B (both) | Plays football AND tennis |
| Complement | A' | Not A | Does NOT play football |
| Universal Set | U | All possible outcomes | All students in the class |
Practice questions for Venn Diagrams
In a Venn diagram with two events A and B, which symbol represents the region where BOTH events occur at the same time?
A student claims: 'To find P(A ∪ B), you simply add P(A) and P(B).' Explain why this is not always correct, and state the correct formula with a reason.
Quick recall flashcards
What does A ∪ B mean?
The union - outcomes where AT LEAST ONE of event A or event B occurs. Includes only A, only B, and A ∩ B. The ∪ symbol looks like a U for Union.
What does A ∩ B mean?
The intersection - outcomes where BOTH event A AND event B occur. On the diagram it is the overlapping region between the two circles.