# Venn Diagrams: Explanation and Free Printable Templates

URL: https://sciencestruck.com/math/venn-diagrams-explanation-free-printable-templates
Category: Math
Published: 2014-11-01T09:08:00
Updated: 2014-11-01T09:08:00
The usage of Venn diagrams in mathematics, statistics, science, and engineering is widely known. While Venn diagrams ensure an easier representation of facts, they also aid the user in visualizing them. This ScienceStruck article helps you understand Venn diagrams with some examples, and also furnishes you with some free printable templates of the same.

###### Venn or Euler?

Venn and Euler diagrams look quite similar which makes it confusing to distinguish between the two. A Venn diagram shows all the possible combinations between sets even if there is no relation between them, whereas, a Euler diagram shows combinations only if they exist in the real world.

  
The name ‘Venn diagram’ is derived from its inventor John Venn. Widely used in mathematics, statistics, and engineering, it illustrates the relationship and the intersection between two or more sets. The intersection of sets defines the common elements between them. It is usually denoted by the ∩ symbol in set theory. While teaching mathematics, Venn diagrams are of great aid to teachers, as they help visualize the logical relations between sets. These diagrams are also used by professionals in making PowerPoint presentations to represent data or ideas. Let’s understand how to draw Venn diagrams with the help of a few examples and printable templates.  
  
  
  

How Does a Venn Diagram Look?

  
Typically, a Venn diagram is drawn in a rectangle which denotes the universal set. Individual sets are denoted by circles that are placed in the bigger rectangle. The intersection of circles denotes the elements common to the two sets. You can draw a Venn diagram with any number of circles. This article gives examples and templates for the commonly used ones; namely, two, three and four-circle Venn diagrams.  
  
**Examples**  
  

Two-circle Venn Diagram

  
  
  

Three-circle Venn Diagram

  
  
  

Four-circle Venn Diagram

  
  
  
Venn diagrams make understanding logic, math, and probability easier and more fun too. You can use the printable templates given here, to solve math problems using Venn diagrams. On a lighter side, you could use them to present ideas. For instance, success can be represented as an intersection set of passion, talent, and market demand. Or good business leaders can be represented as an intersection of sets representing people who dream big, and people who can take risks. To represent something funny, like ‘all women love shopping’, you can have a circle denoting ‘all women’ drawn inside a circle denoting ‘people who love shopping’. Be it school science or real-world scenarios, Venn diagrams are of great help in representing data sets and explaining the relations between them.