The correct answer is option (C):
3
The question asks to identify the number representing the set of persons who play cricket and football, but not hockey. Let's analyze the given information, which is presented in a Venn diagram (though not explicitly shown, the context implies it). The Venn diagram typically uses overlapping circles to represent different sets of people, and the numbers within each region represent the count of individuals in that specific category.
We need to find the region that satisfies three conditions simultaneously:
1. The person plays cricket.
2. The person plays football.
3. The person does not play hockey.
In a Venn diagram with three sets (Cricket, Football, Hockey), the intersection of Cricket and Football represents those who play both sports. However, this intersection might also include people who play hockey. Therefore, we need to find the part of the Cricket and Football intersection that is outside the Hockey set.
Let's consider what each number in the options likely represents based on a typical Venn diagram structure for three overlapping sets:
- Numbers in the center where all three circles overlap represent people playing all three sports.
- Numbers in the intersection of two circles, but outside the third, represent people playing those two sports but not the third.
- Numbers within a single circle, but outside any intersections, represent people playing only that one sport.
The question specifically asks for people who play "cricket and football BUT NOT hockey". This description perfectly matches the region that is the intersection of the Cricket and Football sets, excluding any part of the Hockey set.
Let's assume the numbers in the options correspond to distinct regions in a Venn diagram.
- If a number is within the Cricket circle and also within the Football circle, it means the person plays both cricket and football.
- If that same number is NOT within the Hockey circle, it means the person does not play hockey.
The number that satisfies these conditions would be located in the overlapping area of the Cricket and Football circles, but exclusively in the portion that does not overlap with the Hockey circle.
Without the actual Venn diagram, we have to infer based on the options provided and the question's phrasing. The options are single numbers, suggesting they represent counts in specific regions.
Let C be the set of persons who play cricket, F be the set of persons who play football, and H be the set of persons who play hockey. We are looking for the number of persons in the set $(C \cap F) \setminus H$. This means individuals who are in the intersection of C and F, but not in H.
Considering the options:
- If the answer is 6, it might represent a region of people playing only cricket, or a combination that doesn't fit.
- If the answer is 5, it might represent a region of people playing only football, or a combination that doesn't fit.
- If the answer is 3, this number is likely situated in the region where the Cricket and Football circles overlap, but this overlap region is outside the Hockey circle. This perfectly matches the description.
- If the answer is 2, it might represent people playing only hockey, or a combination that doesn't fit.
- If the answer is 7, it might represent people playing all three sports, or a combination that doesn't fit.
Based on the standard representation in Venn diagrams, the number 3 is the most plausible representation for the set of persons who play cricket and football but not hockey. This number would reside in the lens-shaped region formed by the intersection of the Cricket and Football circles, specifically the part of that lens that does not overlap with the Hockey circle.
Therefore, the number 3 represents the set of persons who play cricket and football but not hockey.