Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

proper-subset

Noun

/ˈprɒpər ˈsʌbˌsɛt/

Definition

A proper subset is a set that contains some, but not all, elements of another set.

Examples

If A = {1, 2} and B = {1, 2, 3}, then A is a proper subset of B.
In mathematics, understanding proper subsets helps in comparing the sizes of different sets.
All finite sets have proper subsets, as they can be formed by selecting some but not all elements.

Meaning

In set theory, if set A is a proper subset of set B, then every element of A is also an element of B, but B contains at least one element not found in A.