Why do we say 'Pairwise Disjoint', rather than 'Disjoint'?












14












$begingroup$


I don't see the ambiguity that 'Pairwise' resolves.



Surely if A,B,C are disjoint sets then they are pairwise disjoint and vice versa?



Or am I being dim?










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$

















    14












    $begingroup$


    I don't see the ambiguity that 'Pairwise' resolves.



    Surely if A,B,C are disjoint sets then they are pairwise disjoint and vice versa?



    Or am I being dim?










    share|cite|improve this question









    $endgroup$















      14












      14








      14


      2



      $begingroup$


      I don't see the ambiguity that 'Pairwise' resolves.



      Surely if A,B,C are disjoint sets then they are pairwise disjoint and vice versa?



      Or am I being dim?










      share|cite|improve this question









      $endgroup$




      I don't see the ambiguity that 'Pairwise' resolves.



      Surely if A,B,C are disjoint sets then they are pairwise disjoint and vice versa?



      Or am I being dim?







      elementary-set-theory






      share|cite|improve this question













      share|cite|improve this question











      share|cite|improve this question




      share|cite|improve this question










      asked 12 hours ago









      John Lawrence AspdenJohn Lawrence Aspden

      32418




      32418






















          7 Answers
          7






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          14












          $begingroup$

          ${1,2},{2,3},{1,3}$ are disjoint but not pairwise disjoint.






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$









          • 6




            $begingroup$
            Really? Who would call those disjoint sets?
            $endgroup$
            – John Lawrence Aspden
            12 hours ago






          • 15




            $begingroup$
            Everyone. Disjoint means their intersection is empty.
            $endgroup$
            – saulspatz
            12 hours ago






          • 9




            $begingroup$
            If sets $A_1,A_2,dots,A_n$ are said to be disjoint then usually it is meant that the sets are pairwise disjoint. See Wolfram for instance. In the other case one says simply that the sets have an empty intersection.
            $endgroup$
            – drhab
            12 hours ago








          • 10




            $begingroup$
            So be it. But actually I am the living proof that "everyone" in your first comment is not correct. Lots of times I heard "them" say things like: "we have $mu(bigcup_{n=1}^{infty}A_n)=sum_{n=1}^{infty}mu(A_n)$ if the sets are disjoint" (so leaving out pairwise). I do that myself too. It is a good thing however to have a proper definition of this excluding ambiguities. So let's look at this as abuse of language.
            $endgroup$
            – drhab
            12 hours ago








          • 7




            $begingroup$
            These sets are not disjoint, at least not by the modern usage of the word “disjoint,” which afaik is used interchangeably with “pairwise disjoint.”
            $endgroup$
            – Shalop
            11 hours ago





















          14












          $begingroup$

          As evidenced by the answers and comments on this page, the term "disjoint" is ambiguous - some use it to mean "pairwise disjoint", others use it to mean "empty intersection".



          Thus, for the sake of clarity, I'd recommend avoiding "disjoint" and using "pairwise disjoint".






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$





















            6












            $begingroup$

            In this context disjoint means $A cap B cap C = emptyset$.






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$









            • 8




              $begingroup$
              Is that a standard meaning? I never saw the term formally defined that way in four years of undergrad math classes.
              $endgroup$
              – Connor Harris
              12 hours ago










            • $begingroup$
              me neither, but four people have answered the question this way in four minutes!
              $endgroup$
              – John Lawrence Aspden
              12 hours ago






            • 1




              $begingroup$
              If you define "disjoint" to mean "empty intersection" (which is the standard definition) then formally for a family of sets "disjoint" would mean the intersection of the entire family is empty unless stated otherwise. The use of the pleonastic term "pairwise" helps to avoid confusion.
              $endgroup$
              – Umberto P.
              12 hours ago












            • $begingroup$
              This is not the standard definition of disjoint. Google it if you like.
              $endgroup$
              – Marc van Leeuwen
              8 hours ago










            • $begingroup$
              @MarcvanLeeuwen Be warned that Google likes to tell people what they want to hear. If you use it as support in an argument, there is a chance that Google will tell your opponent that he's right, while still telling you that you're right.
              $endgroup$
              – Brilliand
              5 hours ago



















            4












            $begingroup$

            The word "pairwise" in "pairwise disjoint" is superfluous: a collection of sets is disjoint if no element appears in more than one of the sets at a time, and this means that every pair of distinct sets in the collection has an empty intersection. However including the "pairwise" emphasizes that the property can be checked at the level of pairs from the collection (unlike for instance linear independence of vectors in linear algebra). A "disjoint union" is a union of pairwise disjoint sets; one does not say "pairwise disjoint union".






            share|cite|improve this answer









            $endgroup$





















              3












              $begingroup$

              More generally, sets are disjoint when their intersection is empty, but pairwise disjoint when any two of them are disjoint.






              share|cite|improve this answer









              $endgroup$









              • 2




                $begingroup$
                I have never seen this sense of disjoint for more than two sets been defined or used in mathematics. The Wikipedia article for disjoint sets does not mention it, and the notion of "disjoint union" definitely refers to pairwise disjoint sets.
                $endgroup$
                – Marc van Leeuwen
                8 hours ago










              • $begingroup$
                @MarcvanLeeuwen Three-or-more sets that are disjoint-but-not-pairwise-disjoint in the sense I describe probably warrant some name, but as you note it's not usually the nomenclature I mentioned, probably because it makes "pairwise" compulsory more than anyone wants to write it.
                $endgroup$
                – J.G.
                8 hours ago





















              3












              $begingroup$

              Consider the sets $A = {1,2}$, $B = {2,3}$, $C = {3, 1}$. Then $Acap Bcap C = varnothing$, but $A,B,C$ are not pairwise disjoint.






              share|cite|improve this answer








              New contributor




              Kyle Duffy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.






              $endgroup$





















                2












                $begingroup$

                Let $A={1,2}, B={2,3},C={3,4}$. Then the sets are disjoint because $Acap Bcap C=emptyset$, but not pairwise disjoint because you have pairs such as $A,B$ such that $Acap Bnot =emptyset$.






                share|cite|improve this answer











                $endgroup$













                • $begingroup$
                  Rats! What is the notation for an empty set?
                  $endgroup$
                  – Oscar Lanzi
                  12 hours ago










                • $begingroup$
                  Thank you, @jg.
                  $endgroup$
                  – Oscar Lanzi
                  12 hours ago











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                7 Answers
                7






                active

                oldest

                votes








                7 Answers
                7






                active

                oldest

                votes









                active

                oldest

                votes






                active

                oldest

                votes









                14












                $begingroup$

                ${1,2},{2,3},{1,3}$ are disjoint but not pairwise disjoint.






                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$









                • 6




                  $begingroup$
                  Really? Who would call those disjoint sets?
                  $endgroup$
                  – John Lawrence Aspden
                  12 hours ago






                • 15




                  $begingroup$
                  Everyone. Disjoint means their intersection is empty.
                  $endgroup$
                  – saulspatz
                  12 hours ago






                • 9




                  $begingroup$
                  If sets $A_1,A_2,dots,A_n$ are said to be disjoint then usually it is meant that the sets are pairwise disjoint. See Wolfram for instance. In the other case one says simply that the sets have an empty intersection.
                  $endgroup$
                  – drhab
                  12 hours ago








                • 10




                  $begingroup$
                  So be it. But actually I am the living proof that "everyone" in your first comment is not correct. Lots of times I heard "them" say things like: "we have $mu(bigcup_{n=1}^{infty}A_n)=sum_{n=1}^{infty}mu(A_n)$ if the sets are disjoint" (so leaving out pairwise). I do that myself too. It is a good thing however to have a proper definition of this excluding ambiguities. So let's look at this as abuse of language.
                  $endgroup$
                  – drhab
                  12 hours ago








                • 7




                  $begingroup$
                  These sets are not disjoint, at least not by the modern usage of the word “disjoint,” which afaik is used interchangeably with “pairwise disjoint.”
                  $endgroup$
                  – Shalop
                  11 hours ago


















                14












                $begingroup$

                ${1,2},{2,3},{1,3}$ are disjoint but not pairwise disjoint.






                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$









                • 6




                  $begingroup$
                  Really? Who would call those disjoint sets?
                  $endgroup$
                  – John Lawrence Aspden
                  12 hours ago






                • 15




                  $begingroup$
                  Everyone. Disjoint means their intersection is empty.
                  $endgroup$
                  – saulspatz
                  12 hours ago






                • 9




                  $begingroup$
                  If sets $A_1,A_2,dots,A_n$ are said to be disjoint then usually it is meant that the sets are pairwise disjoint. See Wolfram for instance. In the other case one says simply that the sets have an empty intersection.
                  $endgroup$
                  – drhab
                  12 hours ago








                • 10




                  $begingroup$
                  So be it. But actually I am the living proof that "everyone" in your first comment is not correct. Lots of times I heard "them" say things like: "we have $mu(bigcup_{n=1}^{infty}A_n)=sum_{n=1}^{infty}mu(A_n)$ if the sets are disjoint" (so leaving out pairwise). I do that myself too. It is a good thing however to have a proper definition of this excluding ambiguities. So let's look at this as abuse of language.
                  $endgroup$
                  – drhab
                  12 hours ago








                • 7




                  $begingroup$
                  These sets are not disjoint, at least not by the modern usage of the word “disjoint,” which afaik is used interchangeably with “pairwise disjoint.”
                  $endgroup$
                  – Shalop
                  11 hours ago
















                14












                14








                14





                $begingroup$

                ${1,2},{2,3},{1,3}$ are disjoint but not pairwise disjoint.






                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$



                ${1,2},{2,3},{1,3}$ are disjoint but not pairwise disjoint.







                share|cite|improve this answer












                share|cite|improve this answer



                share|cite|improve this answer










                answered 12 hours ago









                saulspatzsaulspatz

                16.6k31333




                16.6k31333








                • 6




                  $begingroup$
                  Really? Who would call those disjoint sets?
                  $endgroup$
                  – John Lawrence Aspden
                  12 hours ago






                • 15




                  $begingroup$
                  Everyone. Disjoint means their intersection is empty.
                  $endgroup$
                  – saulspatz
                  12 hours ago






                • 9




                  $begingroup$
                  If sets $A_1,A_2,dots,A_n$ are said to be disjoint then usually it is meant that the sets are pairwise disjoint. See Wolfram for instance. In the other case one says simply that the sets have an empty intersection.
                  $endgroup$
                  – drhab
                  12 hours ago








                • 10




                  $begingroup$
                  So be it. But actually I am the living proof that "everyone" in your first comment is not correct. Lots of times I heard "them" say things like: "we have $mu(bigcup_{n=1}^{infty}A_n)=sum_{n=1}^{infty}mu(A_n)$ if the sets are disjoint" (so leaving out pairwise). I do that myself too. It is a good thing however to have a proper definition of this excluding ambiguities. So let's look at this as abuse of language.
                  $endgroup$
                  – drhab
                  12 hours ago








                • 7




                  $begingroup$
                  These sets are not disjoint, at least not by the modern usage of the word “disjoint,” which afaik is used interchangeably with “pairwise disjoint.”
                  $endgroup$
                  – Shalop
                  11 hours ago
















                • 6




                  $begingroup$
                  Really? Who would call those disjoint sets?
                  $endgroup$
                  – John Lawrence Aspden
                  12 hours ago






                • 15




                  $begingroup$
                  Everyone. Disjoint means their intersection is empty.
                  $endgroup$
                  – saulspatz
                  12 hours ago






                • 9




                  $begingroup$
                  If sets $A_1,A_2,dots,A_n$ are said to be disjoint then usually it is meant that the sets are pairwise disjoint. See Wolfram for instance. In the other case one says simply that the sets have an empty intersection.
                  $endgroup$
                  – drhab
                  12 hours ago








                • 10




                  $begingroup$
                  So be it. But actually I am the living proof that "everyone" in your first comment is not correct. Lots of times I heard "them" say things like: "we have $mu(bigcup_{n=1}^{infty}A_n)=sum_{n=1}^{infty}mu(A_n)$ if the sets are disjoint" (so leaving out pairwise). I do that myself too. It is a good thing however to have a proper definition of this excluding ambiguities. So let's look at this as abuse of language.
                  $endgroup$
                  – drhab
                  12 hours ago








                • 7




                  $begingroup$
                  These sets are not disjoint, at least not by the modern usage of the word “disjoint,” which afaik is used interchangeably with “pairwise disjoint.”
                  $endgroup$
                  – Shalop
                  11 hours ago










                6




                6




                $begingroup$
                Really? Who would call those disjoint sets?
                $endgroup$
                – John Lawrence Aspden
                12 hours ago




                $begingroup$
                Really? Who would call those disjoint sets?
                $endgroup$
                – John Lawrence Aspden
                12 hours ago




                15




                15




                $begingroup$
                Everyone. Disjoint means their intersection is empty.
                $endgroup$
                – saulspatz
                12 hours ago




                $begingroup$
                Everyone. Disjoint means their intersection is empty.
                $endgroup$
                – saulspatz
                12 hours ago




                9




                9




                $begingroup$
                If sets $A_1,A_2,dots,A_n$ are said to be disjoint then usually it is meant that the sets are pairwise disjoint. See Wolfram for instance. In the other case one says simply that the sets have an empty intersection.
                $endgroup$
                – drhab
                12 hours ago






                $begingroup$
                If sets $A_1,A_2,dots,A_n$ are said to be disjoint then usually it is meant that the sets are pairwise disjoint. See Wolfram for instance. In the other case one says simply that the sets have an empty intersection.
                $endgroup$
                – drhab
                12 hours ago






                10




                10




                $begingroup$
                So be it. But actually I am the living proof that "everyone" in your first comment is not correct. Lots of times I heard "them" say things like: "we have $mu(bigcup_{n=1}^{infty}A_n)=sum_{n=1}^{infty}mu(A_n)$ if the sets are disjoint" (so leaving out pairwise). I do that myself too. It is a good thing however to have a proper definition of this excluding ambiguities. So let's look at this as abuse of language.
                $endgroup$
                – drhab
                12 hours ago






                $begingroup$
                So be it. But actually I am the living proof that "everyone" in your first comment is not correct. Lots of times I heard "them" say things like: "we have $mu(bigcup_{n=1}^{infty}A_n)=sum_{n=1}^{infty}mu(A_n)$ if the sets are disjoint" (so leaving out pairwise). I do that myself too. It is a good thing however to have a proper definition of this excluding ambiguities. So let's look at this as abuse of language.
                $endgroup$
                – drhab
                12 hours ago






                7




                7




                $begingroup$
                These sets are not disjoint, at least not by the modern usage of the word “disjoint,” which afaik is used interchangeably with “pairwise disjoint.”
                $endgroup$
                – Shalop
                11 hours ago






                $begingroup$
                These sets are not disjoint, at least not by the modern usage of the word “disjoint,” which afaik is used interchangeably with “pairwise disjoint.”
                $endgroup$
                – Shalop
                11 hours ago













                14












                $begingroup$

                As evidenced by the answers and comments on this page, the term "disjoint" is ambiguous - some use it to mean "pairwise disjoint", others use it to mean "empty intersection".



                Thus, for the sake of clarity, I'd recommend avoiding "disjoint" and using "pairwise disjoint".






                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$


















                  14












                  $begingroup$

                  As evidenced by the answers and comments on this page, the term "disjoint" is ambiguous - some use it to mean "pairwise disjoint", others use it to mean "empty intersection".



                  Thus, for the sake of clarity, I'd recommend avoiding "disjoint" and using "pairwise disjoint".






                  share|cite|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$
















                    14












                    14








                    14





                    $begingroup$

                    As evidenced by the answers and comments on this page, the term "disjoint" is ambiguous - some use it to mean "pairwise disjoint", others use it to mean "empty intersection".



                    Thus, for the sake of clarity, I'd recommend avoiding "disjoint" and using "pairwise disjoint".






                    share|cite|improve this answer









                    $endgroup$



                    As evidenced by the answers and comments on this page, the term "disjoint" is ambiguous - some use it to mean "pairwise disjoint", others use it to mean "empty intersection".



                    Thus, for the sake of clarity, I'd recommend avoiding "disjoint" and using "pairwise disjoint".







                    share|cite|improve this answer












                    share|cite|improve this answer



                    share|cite|improve this answer










                    answered 8 hours ago









                    BlueRaja - Danny PflughoeftBlueRaja - Danny Pflughoeft

                    5,64532843




                    5,64532843























                        6












                        $begingroup$

                        In this context disjoint means $A cap B cap C = emptyset$.






                        share|cite|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$









                        • 8




                          $begingroup$
                          Is that a standard meaning? I never saw the term formally defined that way in four years of undergrad math classes.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Connor Harris
                          12 hours ago










                        • $begingroup$
                          me neither, but four people have answered the question this way in four minutes!
                          $endgroup$
                          – John Lawrence Aspden
                          12 hours ago






                        • 1




                          $begingroup$
                          If you define "disjoint" to mean "empty intersection" (which is the standard definition) then formally for a family of sets "disjoint" would mean the intersection of the entire family is empty unless stated otherwise. The use of the pleonastic term "pairwise" helps to avoid confusion.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Umberto P.
                          12 hours ago












                        • $begingroup$
                          This is not the standard definition of disjoint. Google it if you like.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Marc van Leeuwen
                          8 hours ago










                        • $begingroup$
                          @MarcvanLeeuwen Be warned that Google likes to tell people what they want to hear. If you use it as support in an argument, there is a chance that Google will tell your opponent that he's right, while still telling you that you're right.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Brilliand
                          5 hours ago
















                        6












                        $begingroup$

                        In this context disjoint means $A cap B cap C = emptyset$.






                        share|cite|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$









                        • 8




                          $begingroup$
                          Is that a standard meaning? I never saw the term formally defined that way in four years of undergrad math classes.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Connor Harris
                          12 hours ago










                        • $begingroup$
                          me neither, but four people have answered the question this way in four minutes!
                          $endgroup$
                          – John Lawrence Aspden
                          12 hours ago






                        • 1




                          $begingroup$
                          If you define "disjoint" to mean "empty intersection" (which is the standard definition) then formally for a family of sets "disjoint" would mean the intersection of the entire family is empty unless stated otherwise. The use of the pleonastic term "pairwise" helps to avoid confusion.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Umberto P.
                          12 hours ago












                        • $begingroup$
                          This is not the standard definition of disjoint. Google it if you like.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Marc van Leeuwen
                          8 hours ago










                        • $begingroup$
                          @MarcvanLeeuwen Be warned that Google likes to tell people what they want to hear. If you use it as support in an argument, there is a chance that Google will tell your opponent that he's right, while still telling you that you're right.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Brilliand
                          5 hours ago














                        6












                        6








                        6





                        $begingroup$

                        In this context disjoint means $A cap B cap C = emptyset$.






                        share|cite|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$



                        In this context disjoint means $A cap B cap C = emptyset$.







                        share|cite|improve this answer












                        share|cite|improve this answer



                        share|cite|improve this answer










                        answered 12 hours ago









                        Umberto P.Umberto P.

                        39.8k13267




                        39.8k13267








                        • 8




                          $begingroup$
                          Is that a standard meaning? I never saw the term formally defined that way in four years of undergrad math classes.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Connor Harris
                          12 hours ago










                        • $begingroup$
                          me neither, but four people have answered the question this way in four minutes!
                          $endgroup$
                          – John Lawrence Aspden
                          12 hours ago






                        • 1




                          $begingroup$
                          If you define "disjoint" to mean "empty intersection" (which is the standard definition) then formally for a family of sets "disjoint" would mean the intersection of the entire family is empty unless stated otherwise. The use of the pleonastic term "pairwise" helps to avoid confusion.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Umberto P.
                          12 hours ago












                        • $begingroup$
                          This is not the standard definition of disjoint. Google it if you like.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Marc van Leeuwen
                          8 hours ago










                        • $begingroup$
                          @MarcvanLeeuwen Be warned that Google likes to tell people what they want to hear. If you use it as support in an argument, there is a chance that Google will tell your opponent that he's right, while still telling you that you're right.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Brilliand
                          5 hours ago














                        • 8




                          $begingroup$
                          Is that a standard meaning? I never saw the term formally defined that way in four years of undergrad math classes.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Connor Harris
                          12 hours ago










                        • $begingroup$
                          me neither, but four people have answered the question this way in four minutes!
                          $endgroup$
                          – John Lawrence Aspden
                          12 hours ago






                        • 1




                          $begingroup$
                          If you define "disjoint" to mean "empty intersection" (which is the standard definition) then formally for a family of sets "disjoint" would mean the intersection of the entire family is empty unless stated otherwise. The use of the pleonastic term "pairwise" helps to avoid confusion.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Umberto P.
                          12 hours ago












                        • $begingroup$
                          This is not the standard definition of disjoint. Google it if you like.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Marc van Leeuwen
                          8 hours ago










                        • $begingroup$
                          @MarcvanLeeuwen Be warned that Google likes to tell people what they want to hear. If you use it as support in an argument, there is a chance that Google will tell your opponent that he's right, while still telling you that you're right.
                          $endgroup$
                          – Brilliand
                          5 hours ago








                        8




                        8




                        $begingroup$
                        Is that a standard meaning? I never saw the term formally defined that way in four years of undergrad math classes.
                        $endgroup$
                        – Connor Harris
                        12 hours ago




                        $begingroup$
                        Is that a standard meaning? I never saw the term formally defined that way in four years of undergrad math classes.
                        $endgroup$
                        – Connor Harris
                        12 hours ago












                        $begingroup$
                        me neither, but four people have answered the question this way in four minutes!
                        $endgroup$
                        – John Lawrence Aspden
                        12 hours ago




                        $begingroup$
                        me neither, but four people have answered the question this way in four minutes!
                        $endgroup$
                        – John Lawrence Aspden
                        12 hours ago




                        1




                        1




                        $begingroup$
                        If you define "disjoint" to mean "empty intersection" (which is the standard definition) then formally for a family of sets "disjoint" would mean the intersection of the entire family is empty unless stated otherwise. The use of the pleonastic term "pairwise" helps to avoid confusion.
                        $endgroup$
                        – Umberto P.
                        12 hours ago






                        $begingroup$
                        If you define "disjoint" to mean "empty intersection" (which is the standard definition) then formally for a family of sets "disjoint" would mean the intersection of the entire family is empty unless stated otherwise. The use of the pleonastic term "pairwise" helps to avoid confusion.
                        $endgroup$
                        – Umberto P.
                        12 hours ago














                        $begingroup$
                        This is not the standard definition of disjoint. Google it if you like.
                        $endgroup$
                        – Marc van Leeuwen
                        8 hours ago




                        $begingroup$
                        This is not the standard definition of disjoint. Google it if you like.
                        $endgroup$
                        – Marc van Leeuwen
                        8 hours ago












                        $begingroup$
                        @MarcvanLeeuwen Be warned that Google likes to tell people what they want to hear. If you use it as support in an argument, there is a chance that Google will tell your opponent that he's right, while still telling you that you're right.
                        $endgroup$
                        – Brilliand
                        5 hours ago




                        $begingroup$
                        @MarcvanLeeuwen Be warned that Google likes to tell people what they want to hear. If you use it as support in an argument, there is a chance that Google will tell your opponent that he's right, while still telling you that you're right.
                        $endgroup$
                        – Brilliand
                        5 hours ago











                        4












                        $begingroup$

                        The word "pairwise" in "pairwise disjoint" is superfluous: a collection of sets is disjoint if no element appears in more than one of the sets at a time, and this means that every pair of distinct sets in the collection has an empty intersection. However including the "pairwise" emphasizes that the property can be checked at the level of pairs from the collection (unlike for instance linear independence of vectors in linear algebra). A "disjoint union" is a union of pairwise disjoint sets; one does not say "pairwise disjoint union".






                        share|cite|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$


















                          4












                          $begingroup$

                          The word "pairwise" in "pairwise disjoint" is superfluous: a collection of sets is disjoint if no element appears in more than one of the sets at a time, and this means that every pair of distinct sets in the collection has an empty intersection. However including the "pairwise" emphasizes that the property can be checked at the level of pairs from the collection (unlike for instance linear independence of vectors in linear algebra). A "disjoint union" is a union of pairwise disjoint sets; one does not say "pairwise disjoint union".






                          share|cite|improve this answer









                          $endgroup$
















                            4












                            4








                            4





                            $begingroup$

                            The word "pairwise" in "pairwise disjoint" is superfluous: a collection of sets is disjoint if no element appears in more than one of the sets at a time, and this means that every pair of distinct sets in the collection has an empty intersection. However including the "pairwise" emphasizes that the property can be checked at the level of pairs from the collection (unlike for instance linear independence of vectors in linear algebra). A "disjoint union" is a union of pairwise disjoint sets; one does not say "pairwise disjoint union".






                            share|cite|improve this answer









                            $endgroup$



                            The word "pairwise" in "pairwise disjoint" is superfluous: a collection of sets is disjoint if no element appears in more than one of the sets at a time, and this means that every pair of distinct sets in the collection has an empty intersection. However including the "pairwise" emphasizes that the property can be checked at the level of pairs from the collection (unlike for instance linear independence of vectors in linear algebra). A "disjoint union" is a union of pairwise disjoint sets; one does not say "pairwise disjoint union".







                            share|cite|improve this answer












                            share|cite|improve this answer



                            share|cite|improve this answer










                            answered 8 hours ago









                            Marc van LeeuwenMarc van Leeuwen

                            88k5111226




                            88k5111226























                                3












                                $begingroup$

                                More generally, sets are disjoint when their intersection is empty, but pairwise disjoint when any two of them are disjoint.






                                share|cite|improve this answer









                                $endgroup$









                                • 2




                                  $begingroup$
                                  I have never seen this sense of disjoint for more than two sets been defined or used in mathematics. The Wikipedia article for disjoint sets does not mention it, and the notion of "disjoint union" definitely refers to pairwise disjoint sets.
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – Marc van Leeuwen
                                  8 hours ago










                                • $begingroup$
                                  @MarcvanLeeuwen Three-or-more sets that are disjoint-but-not-pairwise-disjoint in the sense I describe probably warrant some name, but as you note it's not usually the nomenclature I mentioned, probably because it makes "pairwise" compulsory more than anyone wants to write it.
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – J.G.
                                  8 hours ago


















                                3












                                $begingroup$

                                More generally, sets are disjoint when their intersection is empty, but pairwise disjoint when any two of them are disjoint.






                                share|cite|improve this answer









                                $endgroup$









                                • 2




                                  $begingroup$
                                  I have never seen this sense of disjoint for more than two sets been defined or used in mathematics. The Wikipedia article for disjoint sets does not mention it, and the notion of "disjoint union" definitely refers to pairwise disjoint sets.
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – Marc van Leeuwen
                                  8 hours ago










                                • $begingroup$
                                  @MarcvanLeeuwen Three-or-more sets that are disjoint-but-not-pairwise-disjoint in the sense I describe probably warrant some name, but as you note it's not usually the nomenclature I mentioned, probably because it makes "pairwise" compulsory more than anyone wants to write it.
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – J.G.
                                  8 hours ago
















                                3












                                3








                                3





                                $begingroup$

                                More generally, sets are disjoint when their intersection is empty, but pairwise disjoint when any two of them are disjoint.






                                share|cite|improve this answer









                                $endgroup$



                                More generally, sets are disjoint when their intersection is empty, but pairwise disjoint when any two of them are disjoint.







                                share|cite|improve this answer












                                share|cite|improve this answer



                                share|cite|improve this answer










                                answered 12 hours ago









                                J.G.J.G.

                                29.1k22845




                                29.1k22845








                                • 2




                                  $begingroup$
                                  I have never seen this sense of disjoint for more than two sets been defined or used in mathematics. The Wikipedia article for disjoint sets does not mention it, and the notion of "disjoint union" definitely refers to pairwise disjoint sets.
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – Marc van Leeuwen
                                  8 hours ago










                                • $begingroup$
                                  @MarcvanLeeuwen Three-or-more sets that are disjoint-but-not-pairwise-disjoint in the sense I describe probably warrant some name, but as you note it's not usually the nomenclature I mentioned, probably because it makes "pairwise" compulsory more than anyone wants to write it.
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – J.G.
                                  8 hours ago
















                                • 2




                                  $begingroup$
                                  I have never seen this sense of disjoint for more than two sets been defined or used in mathematics. The Wikipedia article for disjoint sets does not mention it, and the notion of "disjoint union" definitely refers to pairwise disjoint sets.
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – Marc van Leeuwen
                                  8 hours ago










                                • $begingroup$
                                  @MarcvanLeeuwen Three-or-more sets that are disjoint-but-not-pairwise-disjoint in the sense I describe probably warrant some name, but as you note it's not usually the nomenclature I mentioned, probably because it makes "pairwise" compulsory more than anyone wants to write it.
                                  $endgroup$
                                  – J.G.
                                  8 hours ago










                                2




                                2




                                $begingroup$
                                I have never seen this sense of disjoint for more than two sets been defined or used in mathematics. The Wikipedia article for disjoint sets does not mention it, and the notion of "disjoint union" definitely refers to pairwise disjoint sets.
                                $endgroup$
                                – Marc van Leeuwen
                                8 hours ago




                                $begingroup$
                                I have never seen this sense of disjoint for more than two sets been defined or used in mathematics. The Wikipedia article for disjoint sets does not mention it, and the notion of "disjoint union" definitely refers to pairwise disjoint sets.
                                $endgroup$
                                – Marc van Leeuwen
                                8 hours ago












                                $begingroup$
                                @MarcvanLeeuwen Three-or-more sets that are disjoint-but-not-pairwise-disjoint in the sense I describe probably warrant some name, but as you note it's not usually the nomenclature I mentioned, probably because it makes "pairwise" compulsory more than anyone wants to write it.
                                $endgroup$
                                – J.G.
                                8 hours ago






                                $begingroup$
                                @MarcvanLeeuwen Three-or-more sets that are disjoint-but-not-pairwise-disjoint in the sense I describe probably warrant some name, but as you note it's not usually the nomenclature I mentioned, probably because it makes "pairwise" compulsory more than anyone wants to write it.
                                $endgroup$
                                – J.G.
                                8 hours ago













                                3












                                $begingroup$

                                Consider the sets $A = {1,2}$, $B = {2,3}$, $C = {3, 1}$. Then $Acap Bcap C = varnothing$, but $A,B,C$ are not pairwise disjoint.






                                share|cite|improve this answer








                                New contributor




                                Kyle Duffy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                Check out our Code of Conduct.






                                $endgroup$


















                                  3












                                  $begingroup$

                                  Consider the sets $A = {1,2}$, $B = {2,3}$, $C = {3, 1}$. Then $Acap Bcap C = varnothing$, but $A,B,C$ are not pairwise disjoint.






                                  share|cite|improve this answer








                                  New contributor




                                  Kyle Duffy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






                                  $endgroup$
















                                    3












                                    3








                                    3





                                    $begingroup$

                                    Consider the sets $A = {1,2}$, $B = {2,3}$, $C = {3, 1}$. Then $Acap Bcap C = varnothing$, but $A,B,C$ are not pairwise disjoint.






                                    share|cite|improve this answer








                                    New contributor




                                    Kyle Duffy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.






                                    $endgroup$



                                    Consider the sets $A = {1,2}$, $B = {2,3}$, $C = {3, 1}$. Then $Acap Bcap C = varnothing$, but $A,B,C$ are not pairwise disjoint.







                                    share|cite|improve this answer








                                    New contributor




                                    Kyle Duffy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                    share|cite|improve this answer



                                    share|cite|improve this answer






                                    New contributor




                                    Kyle Duffy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                    answered 12 hours ago









                                    Kyle DuffyKyle Duffy

                                    312




                                    312




                                    New contributor




                                    Kyle Duffy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.





                                    New contributor





                                    Kyle Duffy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.






                                    Kyle Duffy is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.























                                        2












                                        $begingroup$

                                        Let $A={1,2}, B={2,3},C={3,4}$. Then the sets are disjoint because $Acap Bcap C=emptyset$, but not pairwise disjoint because you have pairs such as $A,B$ such that $Acap Bnot =emptyset$.






                                        share|cite|improve this answer











                                        $endgroup$













                                        • $begingroup$
                                          Rats! What is the notation for an empty set?
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – Oscar Lanzi
                                          12 hours ago










                                        • $begingroup$
                                          Thank you, @jg.
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – Oscar Lanzi
                                          12 hours ago
















                                        2












                                        $begingroup$

                                        Let $A={1,2}, B={2,3},C={3,4}$. Then the sets are disjoint because $Acap Bcap C=emptyset$, but not pairwise disjoint because you have pairs such as $A,B$ such that $Acap Bnot =emptyset$.






                                        share|cite|improve this answer











                                        $endgroup$













                                        • $begingroup$
                                          Rats! What is the notation for an empty set?
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – Oscar Lanzi
                                          12 hours ago










                                        • $begingroup$
                                          Thank you, @jg.
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – Oscar Lanzi
                                          12 hours ago














                                        2












                                        2








                                        2





                                        $begingroup$

                                        Let $A={1,2}, B={2,3},C={3,4}$. Then the sets are disjoint because $Acap Bcap C=emptyset$, but not pairwise disjoint because you have pairs such as $A,B$ such that $Acap Bnot =emptyset$.






                                        share|cite|improve this answer











                                        $endgroup$



                                        Let $A={1,2}, B={2,3},C={3,4}$. Then the sets are disjoint because $Acap Bcap C=emptyset$, but not pairwise disjoint because you have pairs such as $A,B$ such that $Acap Bnot =emptyset$.







                                        share|cite|improve this answer














                                        share|cite|improve this answer



                                        share|cite|improve this answer








                                        edited 12 hours ago









                                        J.G.

                                        29.1k22845




                                        29.1k22845










                                        answered 12 hours ago









                                        Oscar LanziOscar Lanzi

                                        13k12136




                                        13k12136












                                        • $begingroup$
                                          Rats! What is the notation for an empty set?
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – Oscar Lanzi
                                          12 hours ago










                                        • $begingroup$
                                          Thank you, @jg.
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – Oscar Lanzi
                                          12 hours ago


















                                        • $begingroup$
                                          Rats! What is the notation for an empty set?
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – Oscar Lanzi
                                          12 hours ago










                                        • $begingroup$
                                          Thank you, @jg.
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – Oscar Lanzi
                                          12 hours ago
















                                        $begingroup$
                                        Rats! What is the notation for an empty set?
                                        $endgroup$
                                        – Oscar Lanzi
                                        12 hours ago




                                        $begingroup$
                                        Rats! What is the notation for an empty set?
                                        $endgroup$
                                        – Oscar Lanzi
                                        12 hours ago












                                        $begingroup$
                                        Thank you, @jg.
                                        $endgroup$
                                        – Oscar Lanzi
                                        12 hours ago




                                        $begingroup$
                                        Thank you, @jg.
                                        $endgroup$
                                        – Oscar Lanzi
                                        12 hours ago


















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