$ ./bsearch.pl 1,2,11-16,6,7,19,9,5-8,13,14,15,4 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 11 12 16 17 18 19 20 $Set = [[1,2],[4,9],[11,16],19]; 1 is in the set 2 is in the set 3 is not in the set 4 is in the set 5 is in the set 8 is in the set 9 is in the set 10 is not in the set 11 is in the set 12 is in the set 16 is in the set 17 is not in the set 18 is not in the set 19 is in the set 20 is not in the set