ThmDex – An index of mathematical definitions, results, and conjectures.
Result R219 on D70: Set difference
Difference of set and intersection equals union of differences
Formulation 0
Let $X$ be a D11: Set.
Let $E_j$ be a D11: Set for each $j \in J$.
Then \begin{equation} X \setminus \bigcap_{j \in J} E_j = \bigcup_{j \in J} (X \setminus E_j) \end{equation}
Formulation 1
Let $X$ be a D11: Set.
Let $E_j$ be a D11: Set for each $j \in J$.
Then \begin{equation} \left( \bigcap_{j \in J} E_j \right)^{\complement} = \bigcup_{j \in J} E^{\complement}_j \end{equation}
Also known as
De Morgan's law for set intersection, Complement of set intersection within an ambient set, Negation of set intersection within a domain of discourse
Proofs
Proof 2
Let $X$ be a D11: Set.
Let $E_j$ be a D11: Set for each $j \in J$.
Let $x \in X \setminus \bigcap_{j \in J} E_j$. Then $x \in X$ and $x \not\in \bigcap_{j \in J} E_j$. Since $x$ does not belong to the intersection, there is some $i \in J$ such that $x \not\in E_i$ and therefore $x \in X \setminus E_i$. Since $X \setminus E_i$ is part of the union, we have that $x \in \bigcup_{j \in J} (X \setminus E_j)$.

Conversely, let $x \in \bigcup_{j \in J} (X \setminus E_j)$. Then $x \in X \setminus E_i$ for some $i \in J$. That is, $x \in X$ and $x \not\in E_i$. Since $x \not\in E_i$, then also $x \not\in \bigcap_{j \in J} E_j$, and therefore $x \in X \setminus \bigcap_{j \in J} E_j$. $\square$