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Mathematical Language and Symbols Version2

The document discusses the language of mathematics. It explains that mathematical language: - Uses precise symbols and expressions instead of words to concisely express complex ideas. - Draws analogies between English nouns/sentences and mathematical expressions/sentences. - Relies on letters, especially from the beginning and end of the alphabet, to represent specific types of values.

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1K views4 pages

Mathematical Language and Symbols Version2

The document discusses the language of mathematics. It explains that mathematical language: - Uses precise symbols and expressions instead of words to concisely express complex ideas. - Draws analogies between English nouns/sentences and mathematical expressions/sentences. - Relies on letters, especially from the beginning and end of the alphabet, to represent specific types of values.

Uploaded by

Levysoriano
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Mathematical Language and Symbols

 Facilitates communication and clarifies meaning


 Allow people to express themselves and maintain their identity

Characteristics of the language of Mathematics


The language of mathematics makes it easy to express the kinds of thoughts that
mathematicians like to express. It is:
 Precise – able to make very fine distinctions
 Concise – able to say things briefly
 Powerful – able to express complex thoughts with relative ease.

English: Nouns vs. Sentences


In English, nouns are used to name things we want to talk about (like people, places and
things); whereas sentences are used to state complete thought.

A typical English sentences has at least one noun, and at least one verb. For example, consider
the sentence: Anne hates mathematics

Annie, Mathematics = nouns


Hates = verb

Mathematics: Expressions vs. sentences


 The mathematical analogue of a noun will be called an expression
 Thus, an expression is a name given to a mathematical object of interest. Whereas in
English we need to talk about people, places, and things, we’ll see that mathematics has
much different “objects of interest”.
 The mathematical analogue of a “sentence” will also be called a sentence
 A Mathematical sentence, just as an English sentence, must state a complete thought.

ENGLISH MATHEMATICS
Name given to an Noun Expression
object of interest (person, place, things) Ex: 5, 2 + 3, 1/2
Ex: Carol, Philippines, Book
A complete thought Sentence Sentence:
Ex: Ex:
The capital of the Philippines is 3+4=7
Manila. 3+4=8
The capital of the Philippines is
Quezon City.

Numbers have lots of different names


For example, the expressions
 5
 2+3
 10 ÷ 2
 (6 – 2) + 1
 1+1+1+1+1
All look different, but are all just different names for the same number.

MATHEMATICAL SYMBOLS
Symbol Name Meaning/Definition Example
= Equal sign Equality 5=2+3
 Not equal sign Inequality 54
 Approximately equal Approximation XY
> Strict inequality Greater than 5>4
< Strict inequality Less than 4<5
≥ Inequality Greater than or equal to 5≥4
≤ inequality Less than or equal to 4≤5

Symbol Meaning
Uppercase Designates set name
Lowercase Designates set elements
{ } Enclose elements in set
 or  Is (or is not) an element of
 Is a subset of
 Is a proper subset of
 is not a subset of
 Is a superset of
| or : Such that
| | The cardinality of a set

The Language of Mathematics

The Language of Mathematics

The Language of Mathematics was designed so we can write about:


Things like Numbers, Sets, Functions, etc
What we Do with those things (add, subtract, multiply, divide, join together, etc)

Symbols

Mathematics uses symbols instead of words:

 There are the 10 digits: 0,1,2,...9


 There are symbols for operations: + - x /
 And symbols that "stand in" for values: x, y, ...
 And many special symbols: π = < ≤, ...

Letter Conventions

Often (but not always) letters have special uses:


Examples What they usually mean
Start of the alphabet: a, b, c, ... constants (fixed values)
From i to n: i, j, k, l, m, n positive integers (for counting)
End of the alphabet: ... x, y, z variables (unknowns)

Those are not rules, but they are often used that way.

Example:
y = ax + b

People will assume that a and b are fixed values,

And that x is the one that changes, which in turn makes y change.

Nouns, Verbs, Sentences

Even though we don't use the words "noun", "verb", or "pronoun" in Mathematics, you can
imagine these similarities to English:

Nouns could be fixed things, such as numbers, or expressions with numbers:


15 2(3-1/2) 42
The Verb could be the equals sign "=", or an inequality like < or >

Pronouns (things like it, he, you, etc) could be variables like x or y:
5x-7 xy2 -3/x
And they could be put together into a Sentence like this:

3x + 7 = 22
(And we actually do use the word sentence in mathematics!)

Translate Phrases to Mathematical Expressions

Many words and phrases suggest mathematical operations . The following common words and
phrases indicate addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Verbal phrases can be translated into variable expressions. Some examples are below.

Whenever possible, select a single variable to represent an unknown quantity. Then express
related quantities in terms of the first variable selected.

Examples
For each relationship, select a variable to represent one quantity and state what that variable
represents. Then express the second quantity in terms of the variable selected.

a) The Kings scored 7 more points than the Rangers.


Let r = number of points scored by the Rangers
Let r + 7 = number of points scored by the Kings

b) Bob and Marc share $65.


Let a = how much Bob receives.
Let 65 - a = amount Marc receives.

EXERCISES:

Translate the following:

1. Twelve more than a number. 12 + X


2. Twelve more than a number is twenty. 12 + X = 20
3. X – 2 = 10 When two is subtracted from some number, the
result is ten.
4. 2X – 7 = 25 Twice a number is decreased by seven resulting to
25

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