Learn Implementing Sets in Python

Breaking Down the Python Code

Defining Sets

A set is defined using curly brackets {} or the set() function. Sets do not allow duplicate values and do not maintain any specific order.


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# Define two sets
set_a = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
set_b = set([4, 5, 6, 7, 8])

print("Set A:", set_a)
print("Set B:", set_b)

Even if we define a set with duplicate values, Python automatically removes the duplicates.

Union of Sets

Combines elements from both sets. No duplicates are included.


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set_a = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
set_b = {4, 5, 6, 7, 8}

union_set = set_a.union(set_b)
print("Union:", union_set)

Intersection of Sets

Returns only the elements common to both sets.


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set_a = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
set_b = {4, 5, 6, 7, 8}

intersection_set = set_a.intersection(set_b)
print("Intersection:", intersection_set)

Difference of Sets

Finds elements in set_a that are NOT in set_b.


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set_a = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
set_b = {4, 5, 6, 7, 8}

difference_set = set_a.difference(set_b)
print("Difference (A - B):", difference_set)

Symmetric Difference

Finds elements that are in either set, but NOT in both.


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set_a = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
set_b = {4, 5, 6, 7, 8}

symmetric_difference_set = set_a.symmetric_difference(set_b)
print("Symmetric Difference:", symmetric_difference_set)

Subset and Superset Relationships

issubset() checks if all elements of one set exist in another;
issuperset() checks if one set fully contains another.


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set_a = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
set_b = {4, 5, 6, 7, 8}

print("Is A a subset of B?", set_a.issubset(set_b))
print("Is A a superset of {3, 4}?", set_a.issuperset({3, 4}))

Removing Duplicates Using Sets

A common real-world use case for sets is removing duplicates from a list.


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data = [1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5]
unique_data = set(data)
print("Unique values:", unique_data)

Since sets do not allow duplicates, converting a list into a set automatically removes repeated values.

How can you define a set in Python?

Select the correct answer

my_set = [1, 2, 3]

my_set = set([1, 2, 3])

my_set = (1, 2, 3)

my_set = {1, 2, 3}

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Section 2. Chapter 2

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