A sufficient and necessary condition for $A\cup (B \cap C) = (A \cup B) \cap C$

elementary-set-theory

Find a sufficient and necessary condition for $A\cup (B \cap C) = (A \cup B) \cap C$.

Here's my attempt:

For A ∪ (B ∩ C), I got X∈A or X∈B and X∈C. Now, for (A ∪ B) ∩ C, I got x∈A or x∈B and x∈C.

Therefore, I conclude that A∩C ≠ Ø

After that, do I have to prove the equality A ∪ (B ∩ C) = (A ∪ B) ∩ C by double inclusion or what I've done its sufficient (finding the condition A∩C ≠ Ø) ?

Best Answer

Claim: If $A\subset C$ then $A\cup(B\cap C)=(A\cup B)\cap C$.

Proof: This is "obvious", since $A\cup(B\cap C)=(A\cap C)\cup(B\cap C)=(A\cup B)\cap C$.

Claim: If $A\cup(B\cap C)=(A\cup B)\cap C$ then $A\subset C$.

Proof: Suppose that $A\not\subset C$. Then the Left Hand Side (LHS) of our equality is also not a subset of $C$, but the Right Hand Side (RHS) is, a contradiction.

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