Last modified: 11 Nov 2025 11:16
Set theory was introduced by Cantor in 1872, who was attempting to understand the concept of "infinity" which defied the mathematical world since the Greeks. Set Theory is fundamental to modern mathematics - any mathematical theory must be formulated within the framework of set theory, or else it is deemed invalid. It is the alphabet of mathematics.
In this course we will study naive set theory. Fundamental object such as the natural numbers and the real numbers will be constructed. Structures such as partial orders and functions will be studied. And of course, we will explore infinite sets.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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Syllabus
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 45 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
3 x Class Test (15% each) |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Apply | Have a working knowledge of basic logic. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand the natural numbers. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand functions between sets, and relations. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand the algebra of sets (including the empty set, intersection, union of sets). |
| Procedural | Apply | Solve problems, of varying levels of difficulty, on the material from the course. |
| Procedural | Understand | Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of proof techniques from the course. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Apply | Have a working knowledge of basic logic. |
| Conceptual | Create | Be able to give examples to illustrate the theorems from the course. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand functions between sets, and relations. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand countability. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand Zorn's lemma. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand the natural numbers. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand the algebra of sets (including the empty set, intersection, union of sets). |
| Factual | Remember | Be able to state the main definitions and theorems from the course. |
| Procedural | Apply | Solve problems, of varying levels of difficulty, on the material from the course. |
| Procedural | Understand | Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of proof techniques from the course. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
6 x Short Take-Home Assignments (5% each) |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Apply | Have a working knowledge of basic logic. |
| Conceptual | Create | Be able to give examples to illustrate the theorems from the course. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand the natural numbers. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand functions between sets, and relations. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand the algebra of sets (including the empty set, intersection, union of sets). |
| Procedural | Apply | Solve problems, of varying levels of difficulty, on the material from the course. |
| Procedural | Understand | Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of proof techniques from the course. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Best of (resit exam mark) or (resit exam mark combined with CA marks) |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Create | Be able to give examples to illustrate the theorems from the course. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand functions between sets, and relations. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand Zorn's lemma. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand countability. |
| Factual | Remember | Be able to state the main definitions and theorems from the course. |
| Procedural | Apply | Solve problems, of varying levels of difficulty, on the material from the course. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand the algebra of sets (including the empty set, intersection, union of sets). |
| Procedural | Understand | Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of proof techniques from the course. |
| Conceptual | Apply | Have a working knowledge of basic logic. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand the natural numbers. |
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