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How to find the intersection between a set of two ranges of number.

let me explain the question with an example,

{2,3} {3,8} would result to 0
{2,5} {3,8} would result to 2
{3,6} {3,8} would result to 3
{4,5} {3,8} would result to 1
{4,5} {3,8} would result to 1
{8,9} {3,8} would result to 0

Note:This could be easily done with series of if in a computer application, I am hungry for a mathematical solution!

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  • $\begingroup$ By "intersection", you mean the number of "units" of overlap between the two given intervals? $\endgroup$
    – J. M. ain't a mathematician
    Dec 29, 2010 at 9:08
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    $\begingroup$ What are "tow ranges"? $\endgroup$
    – Pete L. Clark
    Dec 29, 2010 at 9:13
  • $\begingroup$ @ J.M yes , and @ Pete L.Clark I mean set of two numbers $\endgroup$
    – Thunder
    Dec 29, 2010 at 9:15
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    $\begingroup$ There is a great grief about this notation of yours, $(3,8)$ usually indicates all the real numbers which are strictly greater than $3$ and strictly smaller than $8$. Not just the integers, which is what seems to be your meaning. $\endgroup$
    – Asaf Karagila ♦
    Dec 29, 2010 at 9:20
  • $\begingroup$ @Asaf Karagila I have changed to {,} I am new so not sure this is correct ,thanks $\endgroup$
    – Thunder
    Dec 29, 2010 at 9:41

1 Answer 1

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If I understood you correctly, you have $\{x,x+1,\ldots,x+n\}$ and $\{y,y+1,\ldots,y+k\}$ and granted $x,y$ are integers you want to find out the number of elements in the intersections (i.e. how many numbers appear in both sets).

Well, take: $$\max\{0,\min\{y+k,x+n\}-\max\{x,y\}\}$$ and that should be it.

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  • $\begingroup$ well the result is not a set but a number , that represents the value in the intersection set. $\endgroup$
    – Thunder
    Dec 29, 2010 at 9:40
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    $\begingroup$ @Thunder: Yes, and Asaf's construction does return the number you (seem to) want. $\endgroup$
    – J. M. ain't a mathematician
    Dec 29, 2010 at 9:50
  • $\begingroup$ yes this the correct answer ... thanks $\endgroup$
    – Thunder
    Dec 29, 2010 at 9:52

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