What is an Element of a Set? Definition and Examples

An element of a set, also called member of a set, is an object that belongs to the set. For example, 13 is an element or object of the set of prime numbers.

More examples showing what an element of a set is

1. 

The set of natural numbers is {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... }

2 is an element of the set of natural numbers.

2. 

The set of countries in Europe is {France, Norway, Italy, Germany, Portugal, ... }

Portugal is an element of the set of countries in Europe.

3. 

The set of real numbers smaller than 10 and bigger than 2 can be written as {x / x is a real number and 2 < x < 10}

4.5693 is an element of the set of real numbers smaller than 10 and bigger than 2