Venn Diagram – Definition, Uses And Some Examples
VENN DIAGRAM – in this topic, we will now talk about the meaning of a Venn diagram, how it is used and some of its examples.
Definition
Also known as a primary diagram, set diagram, or logic diagram, a Venn diagram is clearly a diagram that shows all possible relations and contrasts between two or more things.
It was invented in the year 1880 by John Venn, an English mathematician, logician and philosopher, who used this diagram in a paper entitled “On the Diagrammatic and Mechanical Representation of Propositions and Reasonings” which shows different ways to show propositions with the use of diagrams.
Uses
- It is a graphic organizer which enables students to organize very complex relationships in a visible way.
- Ideas shown in the diagram can be entertainingly visible.
- Can be used to compare and contrast certain things.
- For teachers, it is useful for formative assessment due to its ability to generate discussion and provide lecturers with info about how students think.
- In the field of science, it is useful for classification.
- In mathematics, it is to see the relationships between two sets and to depict set interactions.
Examples
1. Comparing and contrasting birds and bats:
Comparison:
- Has 2 legs
- Warm-blooded
- Wings for forelimbs
- Vertebrate animals
- Fying creatures
Contrast:
For bats:
- have fur and teeth
- live young
- are born the same way as humans
- have lungs
- nocturnal animals and uses echolocation to see in the dark
For birds:
- have beak and feathers
- born from eggs
- complex respiratory system
- normal like bats but relies on light
In the diagram expression:
2. Comparing and contrasting mammals and reptiles
Comparison:
- Vertebrate animals
- Breathe with lungs
Contrast:
For mammals:
- Warm-blooded animals
- Have hair or fur
- Have live births
For reptiles
- Cold-blooded animals
- Scaly skin
- Born mostly from eggs
In the diagram, it’s displayed like this:
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