ECZ 2011 · O-Level Paper 1 — Sets

A set has 6 proper subsets. How many elements does it have?

  • A. 3
  • B. 2
  • C. 6
  • D. 4

Verified working — step 1

Here "proper subsets" is being counted as 2^n - 2, excluding both the empty set and the set itself. So 2^n - 2 = 6 gives 2^n = 8 and n = 3. Note the usual definition of a proper subset excludes only the set itself, which would give 2^n - 1 = …

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Original examination question © Examinations Council of Zambia. Worked solution and commentary © G12 Titan — not to be reproduced without permission.

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