Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2014/ia/paper-4/8e/i/solution

For finite sets , the inclusion-exclusion principle states
To 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 is
using 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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