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Python Programming Unlocked for Beginners

Chapter 3: Data Structures

3.3: Sets

A set is a collection data type in Python that is both unordered and unindexed. In other words, sets do not have any particular order and cannot be accessed by index. What's interesting about sets is that they store unique elements, which means that they do not allow duplicate values. This feature makes them particularly useful for certain tasks, such as removing duplicates from a list or performing mathematical set operations like union, intersection, and difference.  

Additionally, sets can be modified by adding or removing elements, which can be done using built-in methods like add() and remove(). In short, sets are a powerful tool in Python that can help streamline your code and make it more efficient by allowing you to work with unique elements in a flexible and intuitive way. 

3.3.1: Creating a Set:

To create a set, you can use curly braces {} and separate the elements with commas or use the built-in set() function. Remember that sets cannot have duplicate values.

Example:

my_set = {1, 2, 3, 4}
print(my_set)

# Creating a set using the set() function
my_set2 = set([1, 2, 3, 4])
print(my_set2)

Output:

{1, 2, 3, 4}
{1, 2, 3, 4}

3.3.2: Adding and Removing Elements:

To add an element to a set, you can use the add() method. To remove an element, you can use the remove() or discard() methods. The remove() method raises a KeyError if the element is not found, whereas the discard() method does not raise any error. 

Example:

my_set = {1, 2, 3, 4}

# Add an element to the set
my_set.add(5)
print(my_set)

# Remove an element from the set
my_set.remove(5)
print(my_set)

# Discard an element from the set
my_set.discard(4)
print(my_set)

Output:

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
{1, 2, 3, 4}
{1, 2, 3}

3.3.3: Set Operations:

You can perform mathematical set operations like union, intersection, and difference using Python's set methods or operators. 

Example:

set1 = {1, 2, 3, 4}
set2 = {3, 4, 5, 6}

# Union of two sets
print(set1.union(set2))  # Using the union() method
print(set1 | set2)       # Using the '|' operator

# Intersection of two sets
print(set1.intersection(set2))  # Using the intersection() method
print(set1 & set2)              # Using the '&' operator

# Difference of two sets
print(set1.difference(set2))  # Using the difference() method
print(set1 - set2)            # Using the '-' operator

Output:

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
{3, 4}
{3, 4}
{1, 2}
{1, 2}

In this section, you've learned about sets in Python, including what they are and how to create them. Sets are a data structure that allow you to store a collection of unique values. You also learned how to add and remove elements from a set, as well as perform various set operations such as union, intersection, and difference.

Sets are a powerful tool for dealing with unique values and performing mathematical operations on collections. They can be used to remove duplicates from a list, find common elements between multiple lists, and much more. In addition, sets are very efficient when it comes to membership testing, making them a good choice when dealing with large collections of data.

Overall, sets are a valuable tool to have in your Python toolkit, and can help you solve many different types of problems.

Exercise 3.3.1: Creating and Modifying Sets

In this exercise, you will create and modify sets to store unique elements.

Instructions:

  1. Create a set named fruits containing the strings "apple", "banana", "orange", "grape".
  2. Add "mango" to the set.
  3. Remove "grape" from the set.
  4. Print the fruits set.

Solution:

fruits = {"apple", "banana", "orange", "grape"}

fruits.add("mango")
fruits.remove("grape")

print(fruits)

Output:

{'orange', 'apple', 'mango', 'banana'}

Note: The order of elements in the output may vary.

Exercise 3.3.2: Set Operations

In this exercise, you will perform set operations like union and intersection.

Instructions:

  1. Create a set named set1 containing the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4.
  2. Create a set named set2 containing the numbers 3, 4, 5, and 6.
  3. Find the union of set1 and set2 and print the result.
  4. Find the intersection of set1 and set2 and print the result.

Solution:

set1 = {1, 2, 3, 4}
set2 = {3, 4, 5, 6}

union_result = set1.union(set2)
intersection_result = set1.intersection(set2)

print(union_result)
print(intersection_result)

Output:

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
{3, 4}

Exercise 3.3.3: Set Comprehension

In this exercise, you will use set comprehension to create a set of unique elements that meet a specific condition.

Instructions:

  1. Create a list named numbers containing the numbers 1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 5, 6, 5.
  2. Use set comprehension to create a set named even_numbers containing the unique even numbers from the numbers list.
  3. Print the even_numbers set.

Solution:

numbers = [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 5, 6, 5]

even_numbers = {num for num in numbers if num % 2 == 0}

print(even_numbers)

Output:

{2, 4, 6}

3.3: Sets

A set is a collection data type in Python that is both unordered and unindexed. In other words, sets do not have any particular order and cannot be accessed by index. What's interesting about sets is that they store unique elements, which means that they do not allow duplicate values. This feature makes them particularly useful for certain tasks, such as removing duplicates from a list or performing mathematical set operations like union, intersection, and difference.  

Additionally, sets can be modified by adding or removing elements, which can be done using built-in methods like add() and remove(). In short, sets are a powerful tool in Python that can help streamline your code and make it more efficient by allowing you to work with unique elements in a flexible and intuitive way. 

3.3.1: Creating a Set:

To create a set, you can use curly braces {} and separate the elements with commas or use the built-in set() function. Remember that sets cannot have duplicate values.

Example:

my_set = {1, 2, 3, 4}
print(my_set)

# Creating a set using the set() function
my_set2 = set([1, 2, 3, 4])
print(my_set2)

Output:

{1, 2, 3, 4}
{1, 2, 3, 4}

3.3.2: Adding and Removing Elements:

To add an element to a set, you can use the add() method. To remove an element, you can use the remove() or discard() methods. The remove() method raises a KeyError if the element is not found, whereas the discard() method does not raise any error. 

Example:

my_set = {1, 2, 3, 4}

# Add an element to the set
my_set.add(5)
print(my_set)

# Remove an element from the set
my_set.remove(5)
print(my_set)

# Discard an element from the set
my_set.discard(4)
print(my_set)

Output:

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
{1, 2, 3, 4}
{1, 2, 3}

3.3.3: Set Operations:

You can perform mathematical set operations like union, intersection, and difference using Python's set methods or operators. 

Example:

set1 = {1, 2, 3, 4}
set2 = {3, 4, 5, 6}

# Union of two sets
print(set1.union(set2))  # Using the union() method
print(set1 | set2)       # Using the '|' operator

# Intersection of two sets
print(set1.intersection(set2))  # Using the intersection() method
print(set1 & set2)              # Using the '&' operator

# Difference of two sets
print(set1.difference(set2))  # Using the difference() method
print(set1 - set2)            # Using the '-' operator

Output:

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
{3, 4}
{3, 4}
{1, 2}
{1, 2}

In this section, you've learned about sets in Python, including what they are and how to create them. Sets are a data structure that allow you to store a collection of unique values. You also learned how to add and remove elements from a set, as well as perform various set operations such as union, intersection, and difference.

Sets are a powerful tool for dealing with unique values and performing mathematical operations on collections. They can be used to remove duplicates from a list, find common elements between multiple lists, and much more. In addition, sets are very efficient when it comes to membership testing, making them a good choice when dealing with large collections of data.

Overall, sets are a valuable tool to have in your Python toolkit, and can help you solve many different types of problems.

Exercise 3.3.1: Creating and Modifying Sets

In this exercise, you will create and modify sets to store unique elements.

Instructions:

  1. Create a set named fruits containing the strings "apple", "banana", "orange", "grape".
  2. Add "mango" to the set.
  3. Remove "grape" from the set.
  4. Print the fruits set.

Solution:

fruits = {"apple", "banana", "orange", "grape"}

fruits.add("mango")
fruits.remove("grape")

print(fruits)

Output:

{'orange', 'apple', 'mango', 'banana'}

Note: The order of elements in the output may vary.

Exercise 3.3.2: Set Operations

In this exercise, you will perform set operations like union and intersection.

Instructions:

  1. Create a set named set1 containing the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4.
  2. Create a set named set2 containing the numbers 3, 4, 5, and 6.
  3. Find the union of set1 and set2 and print the result.
  4. Find the intersection of set1 and set2 and print the result.

Solution:

set1 = {1, 2, 3, 4}
set2 = {3, 4, 5, 6}

union_result = set1.union(set2)
intersection_result = set1.intersection(set2)

print(union_result)
print(intersection_result)

Output:

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
{3, 4}

Exercise 3.3.3: Set Comprehension

In this exercise, you will use set comprehension to create a set of unique elements that meet a specific condition.

Instructions:

  1. Create a list named numbers containing the numbers 1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 5, 6, 5.
  2. Use set comprehension to create a set named even_numbers containing the unique even numbers from the numbers list.
  3. Print the even_numbers set.

Solution:

numbers = [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 5, 6, 5]

even_numbers = {num for num in numbers if num % 2 == 0}

print(even_numbers)

Output:

{2, 4, 6}

3.3: Sets

A set is a collection data type in Python that is both unordered and unindexed. In other words, sets do not have any particular order and cannot be accessed by index. What's interesting about sets is that they store unique elements, which means that they do not allow duplicate values. This feature makes them particularly useful for certain tasks, such as removing duplicates from a list or performing mathematical set operations like union, intersection, and difference.  

Additionally, sets can be modified by adding or removing elements, which can be done using built-in methods like add() and remove(). In short, sets are a powerful tool in Python that can help streamline your code and make it more efficient by allowing you to work with unique elements in a flexible and intuitive way. 

3.3.1: Creating a Set:

To create a set, you can use curly braces {} and separate the elements with commas or use the built-in set() function. Remember that sets cannot have duplicate values.

Example:

my_set = {1, 2, 3, 4}
print(my_set)

# Creating a set using the set() function
my_set2 = set([1, 2, 3, 4])
print(my_set2)

Output:

{1, 2, 3, 4}
{1, 2, 3, 4}

3.3.2: Adding and Removing Elements:

To add an element to a set, you can use the add() method. To remove an element, you can use the remove() or discard() methods. The remove() method raises a KeyError if the element is not found, whereas the discard() method does not raise any error. 

Example:

my_set = {1, 2, 3, 4}

# Add an element to the set
my_set.add(5)
print(my_set)

# Remove an element from the set
my_set.remove(5)
print(my_set)

# Discard an element from the set
my_set.discard(4)
print(my_set)

Output:

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
{1, 2, 3, 4}
{1, 2, 3}

3.3.3: Set Operations:

You can perform mathematical set operations like union, intersection, and difference using Python's set methods or operators. 

Example:

set1 = {1, 2, 3, 4}
set2 = {3, 4, 5, 6}

# Union of two sets
print(set1.union(set2))  # Using the union() method
print(set1 | set2)       # Using the '|' operator

# Intersection of two sets
print(set1.intersection(set2))  # Using the intersection() method
print(set1 & set2)              # Using the '&' operator

# Difference of two sets
print(set1.difference(set2))  # Using the difference() method
print(set1 - set2)            # Using the '-' operator

Output:

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
{3, 4}
{3, 4}
{1, 2}
{1, 2}

In this section, you've learned about sets in Python, including what they are and how to create them. Sets are a data structure that allow you to store a collection of unique values. You also learned how to add and remove elements from a set, as well as perform various set operations such as union, intersection, and difference.

Sets are a powerful tool for dealing with unique values and performing mathematical operations on collections. They can be used to remove duplicates from a list, find common elements between multiple lists, and much more. In addition, sets are very efficient when it comes to membership testing, making them a good choice when dealing with large collections of data.

Overall, sets are a valuable tool to have in your Python toolkit, and can help you solve many different types of problems.

Exercise 3.3.1: Creating and Modifying Sets

In this exercise, you will create and modify sets to store unique elements.

Instructions:

  1. Create a set named fruits containing the strings "apple", "banana", "orange", "grape".
  2. Add "mango" to the set.
  3. Remove "grape" from the set.
  4. Print the fruits set.

Solution:

fruits = {"apple", "banana", "orange", "grape"}

fruits.add("mango")
fruits.remove("grape")

print(fruits)

Output:

{'orange', 'apple', 'mango', 'banana'}

Note: The order of elements in the output may vary.

Exercise 3.3.2: Set Operations

In this exercise, you will perform set operations like union and intersection.

Instructions:

  1. Create a set named set1 containing the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4.
  2. Create a set named set2 containing the numbers 3, 4, 5, and 6.
  3. Find the union of set1 and set2 and print the result.
  4. Find the intersection of set1 and set2 and print the result.

Solution:

set1 = {1, 2, 3, 4}
set2 = {3, 4, 5, 6}

union_result = set1.union(set2)
intersection_result = set1.intersection(set2)

print(union_result)
print(intersection_result)

Output:

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
{3, 4}

Exercise 3.3.3: Set Comprehension

In this exercise, you will use set comprehension to create a set of unique elements that meet a specific condition.

Instructions:

  1. Create a list named numbers containing the numbers 1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 5, 6, 5.
  2. Use set comprehension to create a set named even_numbers containing the unique even numbers from the numbers list.
  3. Print the even_numbers set.

Solution:

numbers = [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 5, 6, 5]

even_numbers = {num for num in numbers if num % 2 == 0}

print(even_numbers)

Output:

{2, 4, 6}

3.3: Sets

A set is a collection data type in Python that is both unordered and unindexed. In other words, sets do not have any particular order and cannot be accessed by index. What's interesting about sets is that they store unique elements, which means that they do not allow duplicate values. This feature makes them particularly useful for certain tasks, such as removing duplicates from a list or performing mathematical set operations like union, intersection, and difference.  

Additionally, sets can be modified by adding or removing elements, which can be done using built-in methods like add() and remove(). In short, sets are a powerful tool in Python that can help streamline your code and make it more efficient by allowing you to work with unique elements in a flexible and intuitive way. 

3.3.1: Creating a Set:

To create a set, you can use curly braces {} and separate the elements with commas or use the built-in set() function. Remember that sets cannot have duplicate values.

Example:

my_set = {1, 2, 3, 4}
print(my_set)

# Creating a set using the set() function
my_set2 = set([1, 2, 3, 4])
print(my_set2)

Output:

{1, 2, 3, 4}
{1, 2, 3, 4}

3.3.2: Adding and Removing Elements:

To add an element to a set, you can use the add() method. To remove an element, you can use the remove() or discard() methods. The remove() method raises a KeyError if the element is not found, whereas the discard() method does not raise any error. 

Example:

my_set = {1, 2, 3, 4}

# Add an element to the set
my_set.add(5)
print(my_set)

# Remove an element from the set
my_set.remove(5)
print(my_set)

# Discard an element from the set
my_set.discard(4)
print(my_set)

Output:

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
{1, 2, 3, 4}
{1, 2, 3}

3.3.3: Set Operations:

You can perform mathematical set operations like union, intersection, and difference using Python's set methods or operators. 

Example:

set1 = {1, 2, 3, 4}
set2 = {3, 4, 5, 6}

# Union of two sets
print(set1.union(set2))  # Using the union() method
print(set1 | set2)       # Using the '|' operator

# Intersection of two sets
print(set1.intersection(set2))  # Using the intersection() method
print(set1 & set2)              # Using the '&' operator

# Difference of two sets
print(set1.difference(set2))  # Using the difference() method
print(set1 - set2)            # Using the '-' operator

Output:

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
{3, 4}
{3, 4}
{1, 2}
{1, 2}

In this section, you've learned about sets in Python, including what they are and how to create them. Sets are a data structure that allow you to store a collection of unique values. You also learned how to add and remove elements from a set, as well as perform various set operations such as union, intersection, and difference.

Sets are a powerful tool for dealing with unique values and performing mathematical operations on collections. They can be used to remove duplicates from a list, find common elements between multiple lists, and much more. In addition, sets are very efficient when it comes to membership testing, making them a good choice when dealing with large collections of data.

Overall, sets are a valuable tool to have in your Python toolkit, and can help you solve many different types of problems.

Exercise 3.3.1: Creating and Modifying Sets

In this exercise, you will create and modify sets to store unique elements.

Instructions:

  1. Create a set named fruits containing the strings "apple", "banana", "orange", "grape".
  2. Add "mango" to the set.
  3. Remove "grape" from the set.
  4. Print the fruits set.

Solution:

fruits = {"apple", "banana", "orange", "grape"}

fruits.add("mango")
fruits.remove("grape")

print(fruits)

Output:

{'orange', 'apple', 'mango', 'banana'}

Note: The order of elements in the output may vary.

Exercise 3.3.2: Set Operations

In this exercise, you will perform set operations like union and intersection.

Instructions:

  1. Create a set named set1 containing the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4.
  2. Create a set named set2 containing the numbers 3, 4, 5, and 6.
  3. Find the union of set1 and set2 and print the result.
  4. Find the intersection of set1 and set2 and print the result.

Solution:

set1 = {1, 2, 3, 4}
set2 = {3, 4, 5, 6}

union_result = set1.union(set2)
intersection_result = set1.intersection(set2)

print(union_result)
print(intersection_result)

Output:

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
{3, 4}

Exercise 3.3.3: Set Comprehension

In this exercise, you will use set comprehension to create a set of unique elements that meet a specific condition.

Instructions:

  1. Create a list named numbers containing the numbers 1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 5, 6, 5.
  2. Use set comprehension to create a set named even_numbers containing the unique even numbers from the numbers list.
  3. Print the even_numbers set.

Solution:

numbers = [1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 5, 6, 5]

even_numbers = {num for num in numbers if num % 2 == 0}

print(even_numbers)

Output:

{2, 4, 6}