What does the notation "a ∩ b = ∅" indicate about the objects a and b?

The notation "a ∩ b = ∅" indicates that the intersection of sets a and b is empty, which means that there are no elements that belong to both sets. This directly implies that the two sets do not share any common elements, making them disjoint sets. In set theory, disjoint sets are defined as sets that have no elements in common, and the notation "∩" refers to the intersection operation that identifies common elements between sets.

This concept reinforces the understanding of how sets relate to one another within the realm of mathematics and data organization. The notion of sets being disjoint is crucial in various applications, including probability, statistics, and spatial analysis, where distinguishing unique categories is necessary.

Other options such as suggesting that the two sets are equal or that they intersect do not accurately describe the relationship indicated by the notation. Furthermore, stating that they "touch" can be misleading in this context, as "touching" might imply that there is a point of contact or a shared boundary, which contradicts the definition of disjoint sets.