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De-Morgan's Laws

De-Morgan's Laws

Edited By Komal Miglani | Updated on Jul 02, 2025 06:38 PM IST

De Morgan's Law in sets is one of the main concepts in the topic of sets, as it defines the properties of some operations on sets. De Morgan's Laws gives the relationship between union, complements and intersection of sets. De Morgan's Laws provide a way to simplify complex logical and set expressions by transforming them into an equivalent form. These laws are particularly useful in various fields such as computer science, digital logic design, and mathematics for simplifying expressions and proving equivalences. Now let us look in detail about what is the De Morgan's law.

This Story also Contains
  1. De Morgan's law in Sets
  2. De Morgan's Law Formula
  3. First Law:
  4. De Morgan's Law Example
  5. De Morgan's Law in Boolean Algebra
  6. Solved Examples Based On the De-Morgan's Law
De-Morgan's Laws
De-Morgan's Laws

In this article, we will cover the concept of the De-Morgan's Law. This concept falls under the broader category of sets relation and function, a crucial Chapter in class 11 Mathematics. It is not only essential for board exams but also for competitive exams like the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE Main), and other entrance exams such as SRMJEE, BITSAT, WBJEE, BCECE, and more. Over the last ten years of the JEE Main exam (from 2013 to 2023), a total of one question has been asked on this concept, including one in 2022.

De Morgan's law in Sets

In set theory, the relationship between union, complements, and intersection is provided by De Morgan's law. It provides the relationship between AND, OR, and the variable's complements in Boolean algebra; in logic, it provides the relationship between AND, OR, or the statement's negation. De Morgan's Law allows us to optimize different boolean circuits that use logic gates to do the same task with a minimum amount of equipment.

According to De Morgan's Laws:

  • The complement of the union of two sets is equal to the intersection of their individual complements.
  • Additionally, the complement of the intersection of two sets is equal to the union of their individual complements.
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De Morgan's Law Formula

De Morgan's Law Formula gives its first and second law and its truth tables.

First Law:

.The complement of the union of two sets is equal to the intersection of the complements of each set, according to the first application of De Morgan's law. If $A$ and $B$ are two sets, then First De Morgan's Law can be expressed mathematically as follows:

$
(A \cup B)^{\prime}=A^{\prime} \cap B^{\prime}
$

Where
$\cup$ stands for the Union operation between sets,' for the complement operation on a set, and $\cap$ for the intersection operation between sets.
Another name for it is De Morgan's Law of Union.

Second Law:

"The complement of intersection of two sets is equal to the union of the complements of each set," according to the second De Morgan's law. If $A$ and $B$ are two sets, then First De Morgan's Law can be expressed mathematically as follows:

$
(A \cap B)^{\prime}=A^{\prime} \cup B^{\prime}
$

Where
$\cup$ stands for the Union operation between sets,' for the complement operation on a set, and $\cap$ for the intersection operation between sets.
Another name for it is the Law of Intersection by De Morgan.

De Morgan's Law Proof

De Morgan's Law of Union: The complement of the union of the two sets $A$ and $B$ will be equal to the intersection of $A^{\prime}$ (complement of $A$) and $B ^{\prime}$(complement of $B$). This is also known as De Morgan's Law of Union. It can be represented as $(A ∪ B)^{\prime} = A^{\prime} ∩ B ^{\prime}$. We can also generalize this law.

Suppose we have $n$ sets given by $\{A1,A2,...,AnA1,A2,...,An\}$ then formula is given by $(⋃ni=1Ai)^{\prime}=⋂ni=1A^{\prime}i(⋃i=1nAi)^{\prime}=⋂i=1nAi^{\prime} $.

In set theory, Demorgan's law proves that the intersection and union of sets get interchanged under complementation. We can prove De Morgan's law both mathematically and by using truth tables.

1. $(A \cup B)^{\prime}=A^{\prime} \cap B^{\prime}$

Let $x$ be any element in $(A \cup B)^{\prime}$

$
x \in(A \cup B)^{\prime} \Leftrightarrow x \notin(A \cup B)
$

$\Leftrightarrow x \notin A$ and $x \notin B$ (As $x$ does not belong to $A \cup B$, it cannot belong to both A and B )

$
\begin{aligned}
& \Leftrightarrow x \in A^{\prime} \text { and } x \in B^{\prime} \\
& \Leftrightarrow x \in\left(A^{\prime} \cap B^{\prime}\right) \\
\therefore x \in(A \cup B)^{\prime} \Leftrightarrow & x \in\left(A^{\prime} \cap B^{\prime}\right)
\end{aligned}
$


So, any element that belongs to $(A \cup B)^{\prime}$ also belongs to $\left(A^{\prime} \cap B^{\prime}\right)$, and vice versa

So, these sets have exactly the same elements, hence they are equal

De Morgan's Law of Intersection: The complement of the intersection of $A$ and $B$ will be equal to the union of $A^{\prime}$ and $B^{\prime}$. This condition is called De Morgan's law of Intersection. It can be given by $(A ∩ B)^{\prime} = A^{\prime} ∪ B^{\prime}$. Similarly, as above this law can be generalized by the formula $(⋂ni=1Ai)^{\prime}=⋃ni=1A^{\prime}i(⋂i=1nAi)^{\prime}=⋃i=1nAi^{\prime}$.

2. $(A \cap B)^{\prime}=A^{\prime} \cup B^{\prime}$

Let x be any element in $(A \cap B)^{\prime}$

$
x \in(A \cap B)^{\prime} \Leftrightarrow x \notin(A \cap B)
$

$\Leftrightarrow x \notin A$ or $x \notin B \quad$ (as $x \notin(A \cap B)$, means it is not common in $A$ and $B$, and thus either it is not in $A$ or not in $B$ )

$
\begin{aligned}
& \Leftrightarrow x \in A^{\prime} \text { or } x \in B^{\prime} \\
& \Leftrightarrow x \in\left(A^{\prime} \cup B^{\prime}\right) \\
& \therefore x \in(A \cap B)^{\prime} \Leftrightarrow x \in\left(A^{\prime} \cup B^{\prime}\right)
\end{aligned}
$

So, any element that belongs to $(A \cap B)^{\prime}$ also belongs to $\left(A^{\prime} \cup B^{\prime}\right)$, and vice versa

So, these sets have exactly the same elements, hence they are equal.

De Morgan's Law Truth Table

De Morgan's First Law:

$
\begin{array}{|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|}
\hline A & B & A \cup B & (A \cup B)^{\prime} & A^{\prime} & B^{\prime} & A^{\prime} \cap B^{\prime} \\
\hline 1 & 1 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\
\hline 1 & 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\
\hline 0 & 1 & 1 & 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\
\hline 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 \\
\hline
\end{array}
$

De Morgan's Second Law:

$
\begin{array}{|l|l|l|l|l|l|l|}
\hline A & B & A \cap B & (A \cap B)^{\prime} & A^{\prime} & B^{\prime} & A^{\prime} \cup B^{\prime} \\
\hline 1 & 1 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\
\hline 1 & 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 & 1 & 1 \\
\hline 0 & 1 & 0 & 1 & 1 & 0 & 1 \\
\hline 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 \\
\hline
\end{array}
$

De Morgan's Law Example

Let us understand De Morgan's law with the help of a simple example. Let the universal set $U=\{7,8,9,10,11,12,13\}$. The two subsets are given by $A=\{11$, $12,13\}$ and $B=\{7,8\}$.

  • De Morgan's Law of Union Example: $(\mathrm{A} \cup \mathrm{B})=\{7,8,11,12,13\},(\mathrm{A} \cup$ $B)^{\prime}=\{9,10\} . A^{\prime}=\{7,8,9,10\}$ and $B^{\prime}=\{9,10,11,12,13\} . A^{\prime} \cap B^{\prime}=$ $\{9,10\}$. Thus, $(A \cup B)^{\prime}=A^{\prime} \cap B^{\prime}$
  • De Morgan's Law of Intersection Example: $(A \cap B)=\varnothing,(A \cap B)^{\prime}=\{7$, $8,9,10,11,12,13\} . A^{\prime} \cup B^{\prime}=\{7,8,9,10,11,12,13\}$. Hence, (A $\cap$ $B)^{\prime}=A^{\prime} \cup B^{\prime}$

De Morgan's Law in Boolean Algebra

The De Morgan's Law in Boolean Algebra is

1. $\overline{A+B}=\bar{A} \cdot \bar{B}$
2. $\overline{A \cdot B}=\bar{A}+\bar{B}$

Now let;'s look into De Morgan's law in Boolean Algebra proof.

De Morgan's law in Boolean Algebra Proof

De Morgan's law in Boolean Algebra Proof is,

1. $\overline{A+B}=\bar{A} \cdot \bar{B}$
$\overline{A+B}=1-(A+B)$ (Complement property)
$\quad \quad \quad =(1-A) \cdot(1-B)$ (Distributive property of subtraction)
We know that, $(1-A)=\bar{A}$ and $(1-B)=\bar{B}$ (Definition of complement)
$\Rightarrow \overline{A+B}=\bar{A} \cdot \bar{B}$

2. $\overline{A \cdot B}=1-(A \cdot B)$ (Complement property)
$\quad \quad \quad=(1-A)+(1-B)$ (Distributive property of subtraction)
We know that, $(1-A)=\bar{A}$ and $(1-B)=\bar{B}$ (Definition of complement)
$\Rightarrow \overline{A \cdot B}=\bar{A}+\bar{B}$

Recommended Video Based on the De-Morgan's Law



Solved Examples Based On the De-Morgan's Law

Example 1: If $(A \cup B)=P$, then evaluate $P^{\prime}$

1) $A^{\prime} \cup B$
2) $A \cap B^{\prime}$
3) $A^{\prime} \cup B^{\prime}$
4) $A^{\prime} \cap B^{\prime}$

Solution:
Using De-Morgan's Law:

$
P^{\prime}=(A \cup B)^{\prime}=A^{\prime} \cap B^{\prime}
$

Hence, the answer is the option 4.

Example 2: Which of the following is not a property of a union of sets?

1) $A \cup(B \cup C)=(A \cup B) \cup C$

2) $A \cup B=B \cup A$
3) $(A \cup B)^c=A^c \cup B^c$
4) $(A \cap B)^c=A^c \cup B^c$

Solution:
As we learned
UNION OF SETS -
Let $A$ and $B$ be any two sets. The union of $A$ and $B$ is the set which consists of all the elements of $A$ and all the elements of $B$, the common elements being taken only once. The symbol ' $u$ ' is used to denote the union.

Symbolically, we write $A \cup B=\{x: x \in A$ or $x \in B\}$.
De Morgans's Law -
$(A \cup B)^{\prime}=A^{\prime} \cap B^{\prime}$
Hence, option 3 is incorrect.
Hence, the answer is the option 3.

Example 3: If $(A \cap B \cap C)=P$. Then evaluate $P^{\prime}$

1) $A^{\prime} \cap B^{\prime} \cap C^{\prime}$
2) $A^{\prime} \cup B^{\prime} \cup C^{\prime}$
3) $A^{\prime} \cup B^{\prime} \cap C^{\prime}$
4) $A^{\prime} \cup B^{\prime} \cap C^{\prime}$

Solution:

$
\begin{aligned}
& \mathrm{P}^{\prime}=(\mathrm{A} \cap \mathrm{B} \cap \mathrm{C})^{\prime} \\
& =((\mathrm{A} \cap \mathrm{B}) \cap \mathrm{C})^{\prime} \\
& =(\mathrm{A} \cap \mathrm{B})^{\prime} \cup \mathrm{C}^{\prime} \ldots--\{\text { De-Morgans Law }\} \\
& =A^{\prime} \cup B^{\prime} \cup C^{\prime}
\end{aligned}
$

Hence, the answer is the option 2.

Example 4: If the set $A^{\prime}=\{3,5,7\}$ and $B^{\prime}=\{1,5,9\}$, then the set $(A \cup B)^{\prime}=$
1) $\{1,3,5,7,9\}$
2) $\{5,7\}$
3) $\{5\}$
4) $\{1,5,9\}$

Solution:
As we learned
De Morgans's Law:

$
(A \cup B)^{\prime}=A^{\prime} \cap B^{\prime}
$

The intersection of $\mathrm{A}^{\prime}$ and $\mathrm{B}^{\prime}$ is $\{5\}$.
Hence, the answer is the option 3.

Example 5: If $A-B=X$ and $A-C=Y$. then the simplification of $A-(B \cup C)$ is
1) $X \cap Y$
2) $X \cup Y$
3) $X-Y$
4) $Y-X$

Solution:
As we have learned,

$
P-Q=P \cap Q^{\prime}
$

So,

$
\begin{aligned}
& A-(B \cup C)=A \cap(B \cup C)^{\prime} \\
& A \cap\left(B^{\prime} \cap C^{\prime}\right)=\left(A \cap B^{\prime}\right) \cap\left(A \cap C^{\prime}\right)=(A-B) \cap(A-C) \\
& X \cap Y
\end{aligned}
$

Hence, the answer is the option 1.

List of Topics Related to De Morgan's Law


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the De Morgan's law?

De Morgan's Laws gives the relationship between union, complements and intersection of sets.

According to De Morgan's Laws:

  • The complement of the union of two sets is equal to the intersection of their individual complements.
  • Additionally, the complement of the intersection of two sets is equal to the union of their individual complements.

De Morgan’s First Law states that the complement of the union of two sets is the intersection of their complements.

2. What is De-Morgan's second law?

De Morgan’s second law states that the complement of the intersection of two sets is the union of their complements

3. If $\mathrm{A}=\{1,5,7\}$ and $\mathrm{B}=\{5,7,9\}$. and $\mathrm{U}=\{1,3,5,7,9\}$. Also, $C=(A \cap B)$. Then find $C^{\prime}$

De Morgan's Law $(\mathrm{A} \cap \mathrm{B})^{\prime}=\mathrm{A}^{\prime} \cup \mathrm{B}^{\prime}$
Now,
$A^{\prime}=\{3,9\}$ and $B^{\prime}=\{1,3\}$ (using the given universal set)
Thus $C^{\prime}=(A \cap B)^{\prime}=A^{\prime} \cup B^{\prime}=\{1,3,9\}$.

4. Simplify the equation $(A \cup B \cup C)^{\prime}$

De Morgans's Law: $(A \cup B)^{\prime}=A^{\prime} \cap B^{\prime}$
Now,
$(A \cup B \cup C)^{\prime}=((A \cup B) \cup C)^{\prime}=(A \cup B)^{\prime} \cap C^{\prime}=A^{\prime} \cap B^{\prime} \cap C^{\prime}$.

5. According to De-Morgan's Laws $(A \cap B)^{\prime}$ is equal to.

According to De-Morgan's Laws, $(A \cup B)^{\prime}=A^{\prime} \cup B^{\prime}$.

6. Can you explain the difference between the two forms of De Morgan's Laws?
The two forms of De Morgan's Laws are:
7. What are De Morgan's Laws and why are they important in set theory?
De Morgan's Laws are fundamental principles in set theory that describe the relationship between union, intersection, and complement operations. They state that the complement of a union of sets is equal to the intersection of their complements, and the complement of an intersection of sets is equal to the union of their complements. These laws are important because they allow us to simplify complex set operations and provide a powerful tool for logical reasoning in mathematics and computer science.
8. How do De Morgan's Laws relate to the concept of duality in set theory?
De Morgan's Laws are a prime example of duality in set theory. Duality refers to the principle that every theorem in set theory remains true when we interchange the words "union" and "intersection," as well as "subset" and "superset." De Morgan's Laws demonstrate this duality by showing how complementation interchanges union and intersection operations. Understanding this concept helps in recognizing patterns and relationships in set theory.
9. How do De Morgan's Laws help in simplifying set expressions?
De Morgan's Laws are powerful tools for simplifying set expressions. They allow us to:
10. What is the connection between De Morgan's Laws and Boolean algebra?
De Morgan's Laws are fundamental to Boolean algebra, which is the mathematical foundation of digital logic. In Boolean algebra:
11. How can De Morgan's Laws be proved mathematically?
De Morgan's Laws can be proved mathematically using set theory principles. One common method is to use the definition of set complement and the properties of union and intersection. Another approach is to use truth tables or logical equivalences. The proof typically involves showing that the left-hand side and right-hand side of each law contain exactly the same elements.
12. What is the relationship between De Morgan's Laws in set theory and logic?
De Morgan's Laws in set theory have a direct correspondence to logical operations. In logic, the laws state that:
13. How do De Morgan's Laws apply to finite sets?
De Morgan's Laws apply to finite sets in the same way they apply to any sets. For finite sets, these laws can be easily verified by listing out all elements and performing the operations. They help simplify set operations and are particularly useful when working with Venn diagrams or solving problems involving multiple sets.
14. How do De Morgan's Laws extend to more than two sets?
De Morgan's Laws can be extended to any number of sets. For n sets A1, A2, ..., An:
15. How can De Morgan's Laws be visualized using Venn diagrams?
Venn diagrams can effectively illustrate De Morgan's Laws. For example, to visualize (A ∪ B)' = A' ∩ B', draw two overlapping circles representing sets A and B. The complement of their union (everything outside both circles) is visually equivalent to the intersection of their individual complements (the overlap of areas outside each circle). This visual representation helps in understanding the concept intuitively.
16. How do De Morgan's Laws affect the interpretation of "neither" and "not both" in set theory?
De Morgan's Laws provide a formal way to interpret phrases like "neither" and "not both" in set theory:
17. How do De Morgan's Laws relate to the concept of set complement?
De Morgan's Laws are intimately related to set complements. They describe how complements interact with union and intersection operations. Specifically:
18. What is the significance of De Morgan's Laws in probability theory?
In probability theory, De Morgan's Laws are significant because:
19. What is the role of the universal set in De Morgan's Laws?
The universal set plays a crucial role in De Morgan's Laws as it defines the context for set complements. When we take the complement of a set, we are referring to all elements in the universal set that are not in the given set. Understanding the universal set is essential for correctly interpreting and applying De Morgan's Laws, especially when dealing with real-world problems where the context determines the relevant universal set.
20. Can you explain how De Morgan's Laws are used in computer programming?
In computer programming, De Morgan's Laws are used to:
21. What are some practical applications of De Morgan's Laws?
De Morgan's Laws have numerous practical applications, including:
22. What are some common real-world scenarios where De Morgan's Laws are applicable?
De Morgan's Laws can be applied in various real-world scenarios:
23. How do De Morgan's Laws relate to the concept of set partitions?
De Morgan's Laws can be useful when working with set partitions:
24. How do De Morgan's Laws interact with the concept of power sets?
De Morgan's Laws can be applied to power sets in interesting ways:
25. What common mistakes do students make when applying De Morgan's Laws?
Common mistakes when applying De Morgan's Laws include:
26. Can De Morgan's Laws be applied to infinite sets?
Yes, De Morgan's Laws apply to infinite sets just as they do to finite sets. The laws hold true regardless of the size of the sets involved. However, working with infinite sets may require more advanced mathematical techniques to prove or apply the laws, especially when dealing with different types of infinity or uncountable sets.
27. How can De Morgan's Laws be used to solve word problems involving sets?
De Morgan's Laws can be very useful in solving word problems involving sets. They allow us to:
28. How can students develop intuition for applying De Morgan's Laws?
Students can develop intuition for De Morgan's Laws by:
29. How do De Morgan's Laws interact with other set operations like symmetric difference?
De Morgan's Laws primarily deal with union, intersection, and complement operations. However, they can indirectly affect other set operations like symmetric difference. For example:
30. What is the historical context of De Morgan's Laws?
De Morgan's Laws are named after Augustus De Morgan, a 19th-century British mathematician and logician. However, the concepts were known earlier:
31. How can De Morgan's Laws be used to prove set identities?
De Morgan's Laws are powerful tools for proving set identities:
32. What are some limitations or potential misapplications of De Morgan's Laws?
While powerful, De Morgan's Laws have some limitations and potential misapplications:
33. Can De Morgan's Laws be extended to fuzzy set theory?
In fuzzy set theory, De Morgan's Laws are extended but with some modifications:
34. How do De Morgan's Laws contribute to the development of logic gates in digital circuits?
De Morgan's Laws play a crucial role in digital circuit design:
35. What is the relationship between De Morgan's Laws and the distributive property of sets?
De Morgan's Laws and the distributive property of sets are complementary:
36. How can De Morgan's Laws be used to simplify conditional statements in logic?
De Morgan's Laws are valuable for simplifying conditional statements:
37. What role do De Morgan's Laws play in the theory of Boolean functions?
In Boolean function theory, De Morgan's Laws are fundamental:
38. Can you explain how De Morgan's Laws are used in database query optimization?
In database query optimization, De Morgan's Laws are valuable tools:

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