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CHAPTER 2

MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE
AND SYMBOLS
Imagine this scenario?
You are in a math class, and the instructor
passes a piece of paper to each student. It is
announced that the paper contains
Strategies in Solving Math Problems. You are
to read it and make comments. Upon
glancing the paper, you are surprised that it
is written in a foreign language that you do
not understand!

IS THE INSTRUCTOR BEING FAIR?


Analysis (the importance of Language)
Of course not. Indeed , the instructor is probably
trying to make a point. Although the ideas in the
paragraph may be simple, there is no access to the
ideas without a knowledge of the language in which
the ideas are expressed. This situation has a very
strong analogy in mathematics. People frequently
have trouble understanding mathematical ideas; not
necessarily because the ideas are difficult, but because
they are being presented in a foreign language –
T H E L A N G U A G E O F M AT H E M AT I C S !
Definition of a language
• Language is “a systematic means of
communicating by the use of sounds or
conventional symbol” (Chen, 2010)
• It is the code humans use as a form of
expressing themselves and communicating
with others
• It is also be defined as a system of words used
in a particular discipline
Language has the following components
1.A vocabulary of symbols or words
2.A grammar consisting of rules on the use of
these symbols
3.A community of people who use and
understand these symbols
4.A range of meanings that can be
communicated with these symbols
Mathematics is also a language
Why?

BECAUSE
 Mathematics is a system of communication
about objects like numbers, variables, sets,
operations, functions and equations.
 It is a collection of both symbols and their
meaning shared by a global community of
people who have an interest in the subject
Characteristics of Mathematical language:

1. Precise. (able to make very fine


distinction).
2. Concise. (able to say things
briefly)
3. Powerful. (able to express
complex thoughts with relative
ease)
Vocabulary versus sentences:

• Vocabulary – words used in a


language (with a particular meaning)
• Sentences – rules for combining
words into a complete thought.
NOUN versus Sentence
ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Noun
(name given to object of Interest like
Sentence
people, places and things) (must state a complete thought)

Note: A typical English sentence has at least


one noun, and at least one verb
Example: Carol loves mathematics
Carol and mathematics are nouns
Love is a verb
ELEMENTS OF THE MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE

• Uses symbols
• Nouns in mathematics could be
constants
• A verb could be the equal sign =, or
the inequality symbols like <,> or ≤
• Pronoun could be variables like x or
y
EXPRESSION AND MATHEMATICAL
SENTENCE
An Expression is the mathematical analogue of an English noun;
 it is a correct arrangement of mathematical symbols used to represent a mathematical
object of interest.
 It does not state a complete thought; It does not make sense to ask if an expression is
true or false.
 The most common expression types are numbers, sets and functions

A mathematical sentence is the analogue of English sentence:


 it is correct arrangement of mathematical symbols that states a complete thought.
 A sentence can be (always) true, (always) false, or sometimes true/sometimes false
Expression versus Sentence
MATHEMATICS

EXPRESSION Sentence
(name given mathematical
object of interest like numbers,
(must state a complete
sets, mean, ordered pair) thought)
summary
ENGLISH MATHEMATICS
NAME GIVEN TO AN NOUN (person, place, thing) EXPRESSION
OBJECT OF INTEREST
Examples: Examples:
Rizza, Baguio City, book 5, 2+3,

A
A COMPLETE
COMPLETE SENTENCE
SENTENCE SENTENCE
SENTENCE
THOUGHT
THOUGHT Examples:
Examples: Examples:
Examples:
The
The capital
capital of
of the
the Philippines
Philippines is
is 3
3++4
4==77
Manila
Manila 3
3++4
4==88
The
The capital
capital of
of the
the Philippines
Philippines is
is
Cebu
Cebu
Exercise: Classify each if it’s a english noun or an expression, an
english sentence or a mathematical sentence. If it’s a sentence
encircle the verb
1.cat
2.2
3.The word “cat” begins with the letter “k”
4.5-3
5.x + 0 = x
6.The cat is black.
NUMBERS HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT NAMES

WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE


FOLLOWING EXPRESSIONS

5 2+ 3 10÷2 (6-2) +1 1+1+1+1+1

This simply idea has the same concept in


English: SYNONYMS
Exercises
1.Give several synonyms for the English word
“similar”
2.The number “three” has lots of different
names. Give names satisfying the following
properties
a. The “standard” name
b.A name using a plus sign
c. A name using a minus sign
d.A name using a division sign
Truth of a sentence
• It can be true or false
Exercise: determine whether the sentence is
true or false
1.The word “cat” begins with the letter “k”
2. 5 – 3 = 3
3.x + 0 = x
4.The cat is black.
5. x = 1
6. x – 1 = 0
Notion of “simplier in math”

 fewer symbols
 Fewer operations
 Better suited for current use
 Preferred style/format
The Grammar of Mathematics

It is the structural rules governing the use of symbols


representing mathematical objects.
Express the following using mathematical symbols
a. 5 is the square root of 25
b. 5 is less than 10
c. 5 is an integer

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Some difficulties in math language
• The word "is" could mean equality, inequality
or membership in a set
• Different uses of a number; to express quantity
(cardinal), to indicate the order (ordinal), and
as a label (nominal)
• Mathematical objects may be represented in
many ways, such as sets and functions
• The words "and' & "or" means different from
its English use
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Objects that we use in Math
• Numbers (4 operations and properties)
• Variables
• Operations (unary & binary)

FOUR BASIC CONCEPTS:


• Sets (relationships, operations, properties)
• Relations (Equivalence relations)
• Functions ( injective, Surjective , Bijective)
• Binary Operations
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Activity: mind map
Numbers and 4 operations
Variable

A variable is any letter used to


stand for a mathematical object.

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Take note:

Start of the For constant


a,b,c
Alphabet (fixed values)
Positive Integers
From i to n i,j,k,n (for counting)
End of the x, y, z For variables
alphabet
Translate Activity

..\..\Desktop\Math in the Modern World (lecture)\Sect


2.5a 094.pdf
Translate
1.A real number whose square is -1
2.A constant equals to 5
3.Sum of real number is equal to 45
4.Cube root of any real number is negative
5.The sum of two squares is 30
Exercise
Translate each of the following phrases into mathematical symbols
1. The sum of a number and 10
2. Twice the sum of a number and 3
3. Three less that twice a number
4. There are 10 more cars (c) than jeeps
5. The area of a rectangle whose length is 7 more than the width
6. A real number whose square is -1
7. A constant equals to 5
8. Sum of real number is equal to 45
9. Cube root of any real number is negative
10. The sum of two squares is 30
Operations (Unary or Binary)
A Unary operation is an operation on a
single element.
Example: negative of 5
multiplicative inverse of 7
• A binary operation is an operation
that combines two elements of a set
to give a single element.
e.g. multiplication 3 x 4 = 12

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Sets

• Definition of a Set
• Methods of naming a set
• Properties
• Relationships between two sets
• Operation on Sets
• Venn Diagram

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