Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2014/ia/paper-4/8e/i/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2014 ia Paper 4 8E i Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-06
For finite sets , the inclusion-exclusion principle statesTo prove it, count the contribution of one element. If it belongs to exactly of the sets, it is counted by intersections of size . Its total weight isusing the binomial theorem. An element belonging to none contributes zero. Summing these weights gives the cardinality of the union and proves the inclusion-exclusion principle. Equivalently, within a finite ambient set , the number avoiding every is the sum over all , with sign and the empty intersection interpreted as .
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