Recursive set union: how does it work really?

Question

I am currently taking the Scala course on Coursera on my free time after work, in an attempt to finally give a try to functional programming. I am currently working on an as

Answer 1

  2
 / \  union  4
1   3

((1 union 3) union 4) incl 2
  ^^^^^^^^^......................................assume it works

(((E union E) union 3 incl 1) union 4) incl 2
   ^^^^^^^^^.....................................still E

(E union E) union 3 incl 1 = E union 3 incl 1 = 3 incl 1

The following subtree should be 3 incl 1

(  3             ) 
(    \   union D ) incl 2
(      1         )


(((1 union E) union 4) incl 3) incl 2
   ^^^^^^^^^.......................................expand

(((( (E union E) union E) incl 1) union 4) incl 3) incl 2
      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^..................still 1

((1 union 4) incl 3) incl 2
   ^^^^^^^^......................................continue

((((E union E) union 4) incl 1) incl 3) incl 2
   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^..........expand 1 union 4

((4 incl 1) incl 3) incl 2
  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^............Final union result 

Thanks @Rex Kerr draws out the steps. I substitute the second step with the actual runtime step, which may give a more clear description of the Scala union function.