STL_set——set::equal_range

Reference:
Returns a pair of iterators respectively to the first element in a set with a key that is greater than a specified key and to the first element in the set with a key that is equal to or greater than the key.

Function:
pair <const_iterator, const_iterator> equal_range (
   const Key& _Key
) const;
pair <iterator, iterator> equal_range (
   const Key& _Key
) const;

Parameter:
_Key:The argument key to be compared with the sort key of an element from the set being searched.

Return Value:
A pair of iterators where the first is the lower_bound of the key and the second is the upper_bound of the key.
To access the first iterator of a pair pr returned by the member function, use pr.first, and to dereference the lower bound iterator, use *(pr.first). To access the second iterator of a pair pr returned by the member function, use pr.second, and to dereference the upper bound iterator, use *(pr.second).

Example:

#include <set>
#include <iostream>

int main( )
{
   using namespace std;
   typedef set<int, less< int > > IntSet;
   IntSet s1;
   set <int, less< int > > :: const_iterator s1_RcIter;
   
   s1.insert( 10 );
   s1.insert( 20 );
   s1.insert( 30 );

   pair <IntSet::const_iterator, IntSet::const_iterator> p1, p2;
   p1 = s1.equal_range( 20 );

   cout << "The upper bound of the element with "
        << "a key of 20 in the set s1 is: "
        << *(p1.second) << "." << endl;

   cout << "The lower bound of the element with "
        << "a key of 20 in the set s1 is: "
        << *(p1.first) << "." << endl;

   // Compare the upper_bound called directly 
   s1_RcIter = s1.upper_bound( 20 );
   cout << "A direct call of upper_bound( 20 ) gives "
        << *s1_RcIter << "," << endl
        << "matching the 2nd element of the pair"
        << " returned by equal_range( 20 )." << endl;

   p2 = s1.equal_range( 40 );

   // If no match is found for the key,
   // both elements of the pair return end( )
   if ( ( p2.first == s1.end( ) ) && ( p2.second == s1.end( ) ) )
      cout << "The set s1 doesn't have an element "
           << "with a key less than 40." << endl;
   else
      cout << "The element of set s1 with a key >= 40 is: "
           << *(p1.first) << "." << endl;
}

Output:
The upper bound of the element with a key of 20 in the set s1 is: 30.
The lower bound of the element with a key of 20 in the set s1 is: 20.
A direct call of upper_bound( 20 ) gives 30,
matching the 2nd element of the pair returned by equal_range( 20 ).
The set s1 doesn't have an element with a key less than 40.