2.

MATHEMATICAL
LANGUAGE &
SYMBOLS
ARIEL F. MELAD
VARIABLES

What is variable?
- a symbol that represents a quantity
VARIABLE

• Is there a number with a property:

“Doubling it and adding by 3 gives the same result

as squaring it?”
2𝑥 + 3 = 𝑥 2
VARIABLE

• Is there a number with the property:

“The sum of their squares equals the square of

their sum?”
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 𝑥 + 𝑦 2
VARIABLE

• Are there numbers whose squares are smaller than

the numbers themselves?
• Given any real number, its square is
a. nonnegative?
b. nonpositive?
THE LANGUAGE OF SETS

What is a set?
THE LANGUAGE OF SETS

• Set was introduced in 1879 by Georg Cantor (1845-1918).

• A collection of elements.
• Set is denoted by capital letters.
• The elements are objects belong to the set.
• Given A = {a, b, z} , we write, 𝑧 ∈ 𝐴. Also, 𝑝 ∉ 𝐴.
THE LANGUAGE OF SETS

Definition of Terms
• Finite and Infinite set. Elements are possibly enumerated are
finite set. Otherwise, infinite set.
• Null/empty set. A set is empty if does not contain any
element. Denoted by { } or ∅.
• Universal set. A set containing all elements, denoted by U.
THE LANGUAGE OF SETS

• Power set. A set whose elements are all the subsets of a

given set denoted by p(A), if A is the given set.
• Cardinal number. The number of elements of the given set
denoted by n(A), if A is the given set.
THE LANGUAGE OF SETS

• Is {0} = 0?
• Is {∅} = ∅
• How many elements of the given set?
A = {0,{0}, {0,0}}
THE LANGUAGE OF SETS

• Set Relations
a. Equal set
b. Equivalent set
c. Disjoint set
d. Overlapping set
e. Subset
THE LANGUAGE OF SETS

• Set Operations
a. Union
b. Intersection
c. Difference
d. Complement
e. Set product
THE LANGUAGE OF SETS

Venn Diagram. A very useful pictorial representation in

dealing with relations and operations involving after the
Cambridge Logician John Venn.
THE LANGUAGE OF SETS

30 students prefer Accountancy (A)

40 students prefer Entrepreneurship (E)
35 students prefer Business (B)
20 would like to consider careers in both
A
Accountancy and Entrepreneurship
25 Entrepreneurship and business
18 accountancy and business
10 would like to consider all these career
E B
paths
THE LANGUAGE OF SETS

QUESTIONS:
How many students who
1. do not like any of the three careers?
2. prefer business courses only?
3. prefer exactly one of the career paths?
THE LANGUAGE OF SETS

QUESTIONS:
How many students who
4. prefer exactly two of the career?
5. do not like business courses?
6. prefer both automotive and Entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship & business?
THE LANGUAGE OF SETS

• Homework. Answer all exercises in the module.

THE LANGUAGE OF RELATIONS AND FUNCTIONS