MATHEMATICAL

LANGUAGE &
SYMBOLS
Learning Outcomes:
1. Discuss the language, symbols, and
conventions of mathematics;
2. Recognize that mathematics is a relevant
and a useful language
People frequently have trouble
understanding mathematical ideas: not
necessarily because the ideas are
difficult, but because they are being
presented in a foreign language-the
language of mathematics.
Characteristics of Mathematics Language
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).

The language of mathematics can be learned, but requires

the efforts needed to learn any foreign language.
Words and Sentences in Mathematics
› `nouns' of mathematics (used to name mathematical
objects of interest) are called expression
› s` entences' of mathematics (which state complete
mathematical thoughts) are also called sentence.

ENGLISH MATHEMATICS

name given to an NOUN EXPRESSIONS:

object of interest: Examples: Manila, Examples:
book, Isaiah 2, ½, Set A
a complete thought: SENTENCE: SENTENCE:
Manila is the capital of 2+2=4
the Philippines. 2+2<4
Isaiah owns that book.
Expressions have lot of different names, the same as the
concepts of “synonyms” in English language.

Example: The expressions

5, 1+4, 1+1+1+1+1, 10/2, 20-15

look different but are just different names for the same number.

Note: The symbols +, -, ×,÷ are called connectors. They are

use to connect to or more expressions to form another
expression.
Mathematical ‘Verbs’
› In the mathematical sentence ` 3 + 4 = 7 ', the verb is `='.

› Popular verbs in mathematics:

= equal
≠ not equal
≤ Less than or equal
≥ Greater than or equal
< Less than
> Greater than
Truth of Sentence
› Sentences can be true or false. The notion of truth (i.e.,
the property of being true or false) is of fundamental
importance in the mathematical language;
Common Types of Problems involving
Expressions
SIMPLIFY: (some expression)
› To simplify an expression means to get a different name
for the expression, that in some way is simpler.
Examples
› FEWER SYMBOLS: Often, `simpler' means using fewer
symbols. ` 3 + 1 + 5 ' and ` 9 ' are both names for the
same number, but ` 9 ‘ uses fewer symbols.
› FEWER OPERATIONS: Sometimes, `simpler' means using
fewer operations (an `operation' is something like addition
or multiplication). For example, ` 3+3+3+3+3 ' and ` 5(3) '
are both names for the same number, but the latter uses
fewer operations. (Recall that the centered dot denotes
multiplication.) There are four additions used in ` 3 + 3 + 3
+ 3 + 3 ', but only one multiplication used in ` 5 (3) '.
There are two primary ways to decide whether
something is a sentence, or not
› Read it aloud, and ask yourself the question: Does it state a
complete thought? If the answer is `yes', then it's a sentence.

Notice that expressions do not state a complete thought. Consider,

for example, the number ` 1 + 2 ' . Say it aloud: `one plus two'. Have
you stated a complete thought? NO! But, if you say: ` 1 + 2 = 4 ' ,
then you have stated a complete (false) thought.

› Alternately, you can ask yourself the question: Does it make sense
to ask about the TRUTH of this object?
Consider again the number ` 1 + 2 ' . Is ` 1 + 2 ' true? Is ` 1 + 2 '
false?
Translating statement to mathematical
statement
The expression can also use variable to denote the
unknown numbers or mathematical object.
Noun Expression
The sum of a number and 9 x+9
The difference of a number and 10 x-10
Six times a number 6x
One-third of a number (1/3)n
Statement Mathematical Statement
The sum of a number and 6 is 12. x+6=12
The product of two numbers is xy=21
21.
Six less than twice a number is 2x-6=45
45
The number minus 7 yields 10. x-7=10
Five times the sum of a number 5(x+4)=21
and 4 is 21
Conventions in mathematical language
› Mathematical convention is a fact, name, notation or
usage which is generally agreed upon by mathematician

› Mathematical language makes use of symbolism such

numbers, letters, and special characters.
Sets
› The Roster Method.
The roster method is used to represent a set by listing each element of
the set inside a pair of braces. Commas are used to separate the
elements.
› Basic Number Sets
Natural Numbers or Counting Numbers N {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...}
Whole Numbers W {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...}
Integers I {..., 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, ...}
Rational Numbers Q = the set of all terminating or repeating decimals
Irrational Numbers  = the set of all nonterminating, nonrepeating
decimals
Real Numbers R = the set of all rational or irrational numbers
› Set-Builder Notation
Set-builder notation is used to represent a set, by describing
its elements.
› Cardinal Number of a Finite Set
The cardinal number of a finite set is the number of elements
in the set. The cardinal number of a finite set A is denoted by
the notation n(A).
› Equal Sets and Equivalent Sets
Two sets are equal if and only if they have exactly the same
elements. Two sets are equivalent if and only if they have the
same number of elements.
Complements, Subsets, and Venn Diagrams
› The Universal Set and the Complement of a Set
The universal set, denoted by U, is the set of all elements that are
under consideration.
The complement of set A, denoted by A , is the set of all elements
of the universal set that are not elements of A.
› Subset of a Set
Set A is a subset of set B, denoted by A B if and only if every
element of A is also an element of B.
› Proper Subset of a Set
Set A is a proper subset of set B, denoted by A  B, if every
element of A is an element of B and A B.
› The Number of Subsets of a Set
A set with n elements has 2𝑛 subsets.
Set Operations

› Intersection of Sets
The intersection of sets A and B, denoted by A  B, is the
set of elements common to both A and B.
𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 = {𝑥/𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 and 𝑥 ∈ 𝐵}
› Union of Sets
The union of sets A and B, denoted by A  B, is the set
that contains all the elements that belong to A or to B or
to both.
𝐴 ∪ 𝐵 = {𝑥/𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 or 𝑥 ∈ 𝐵}
› Venn Diagrams and the Equality of Set Expressions
Two sets are equal if and only if they each represent the
same region(s) on a Venn diagram. Venn diagrams can be
used to verify each of the following properties.
For all sets A, B, and C:
Applications of Sets
› Applications
Many counting problems that arise in applications
involving surveys can be solved by using sets and Venn
diagrams.
› The Inclusion-Exclusion Formula
For all finite sets A and B,
Infinite Sets
› One-to-One Correspondence and Equivalent Sets
Two sets A and B are equivalent, denoted by A  B, if
and only if A and B can be placed in a one-to-one
correspondence.
› Infinite Set
A set is an infinite set if it can be placed in a one-to-one
correspondence with a proper subset of itself.
Logic: Statements and Quantifiers
› Statements
› A statement is a declarative sentence that is either true
or false, but not both true and false. A simple statement
is a statement that does not contain a connective.
› Compound Statements
› A compound statement is formed by connecting simple
statements with the connectives and, or, if . . . then, and
if and only if.
› Truth Values
The conjunction p  q is true if and only if both p and q
are true. The disjunction p  q is true provide p is true,
q is true, or both p and q are true..
› The Negation of a Quantified Statement
The information in the following table can be used to
write the negation of many quantified statements.
Truth Tables, Equivalent Statements, and
Tautologies
› Construction of Truth Tables
1. If the given statement has n simple statements, then start with a
standard form that has 2n rows. Enter the truth values for each simple
statement and their negations.
2. Use the truth values for each simple statement and their negations to
enter the truth values under each connective within a pair of grouping
symbols—parentheses ( ), brackets [ ], braces { }. If some grouping
symbols are nested inside other grouping symbols, then work from the
inside out. In any situation in which grouping symbols have not been used,
then we use the following order of precedence agreement. First assign
truth values to negations from left to right, followed by conjunctions from
left to right, followed by disjunctions from left to right, followed by
conditionals from left to right, and finally by biconditionals from left to
right.
3. The truth values that are entered into the column under the connective
for which truth values
Truth Tables, Equivalent Statements, and
Tautologies
› Equivalent Statements
Two statements are equivalent if they both have the same
truth value for all possible truth values of their simple
statements. The notation p q is used to indicate that the
statements p and q are equivalent.
› De Morgan’s Laws for Statements
For any statements p and q,
(p  q)= p  q and (p q)= p  q
› Tautologies and Self-Contradictions
A tautology is a statement that is always true. A self-
contradiction is a statement that is always false.
The Conditional and the Biconditional
› Antecedent and Consequent of a Conditional
In a conditional statement represented by “if p, then q”
or by “if p, q,” the p statement is called the antecedent
and the q statement is called the consequent.
› Equivalent Disjunctive Form of p q
p q  p  q
The conditional p q is false when p is true and q is
false. It is true in all other cases.
› The Negation of p q
(p q)  p  q
The Conditional and the Biconditional
› The Biconditional p q
p q  (p q)  (q  p)
The biconditional p q is true only when p and q have
the same truth value.
The Conditional and Related Statements
› Equivalent Forms of the Conditional
› The conditional “if p, then q” can be stated, in English, in
several equivalent
› forms. For example, p only if q; p implies that q; and q
provided that
› p are all equivalent forms of if p, then q.
Symbolic Arguments
Valid Argument
› An argument consists of a set of statements called
premises and another statement called the conclusion.
› An argument is valid if the conclusion is true whenever all
the premises are assumed to be true.
› An argument is invalid if it is not a valid argument.
Symbolic Arguments
Symbolic Forms of Arguments
Components of all Functions and Relations
› All functions and relations have three components:
› Domain Component: The domain of a function or relation can be any collection of
objects. The domain variable of a function or relation represents all possible input values
and is said to be an independent variable.
› Range Component: The range of a function or relation can be any collection of objects.
The range variable of a function or relation represents all possible output values. Range
variables are called dependent variables, because their values depend on domain input
values.
› Matching Rule Component: The matching rule component tells us how to match domain
objects with range objects. Matching rules are usually in the form of an equation, table,
list of ordered pairs, catalog, or set of directions.
› Every function is a relation, but not every relation is a function. If a relation is a function,
every domain object is matched with only one range object. If a function is a one-to-one
function, then any two different input values always have different output values.
If a and b are domain input values, the symbols f(a) and f(b) represent the
corresponding output values. If f(x) is a one-to-one function and f(a) = f(b), then a = b.
› Source: Functions and Relations: Teaching the Concepts
https://blog.mathteachersresource.com/?p=132
Relation
› A relation is any set of ordered pairs of real numbers . It is a
rule of correspondence which relates two quantities to each
other.
› In defining a relation, one may list down the ordered pairs of
real numbers
y = {(1,2), (2,3), (3,4),…})
or described the relation in a rule form
y = {(x,y)|y=x+1, x  Z}
› The graph of a relation is the set of all points in the xy-plane
(rectangular coordinate system or Cartesian plane) which
represents the ordered pairs (x,y) such that (x,y) is in the
relation.
Cartesian Plane
› To graph an equation, one
can use the table of
values in order to find the
points represented by the
ordered pairs of numbers
and then plotting and
connecting it to form the
graph of the equation.

› Another way is by using

the intercepts. To find
the x-intercept (the
abscissa of the point
where the line crosses the
x-axis), let y = 0 then
solve for the value of x.
To find the y-intercept, let
x = 0 then solve for the
value of y.
Definition of a Function
› A function, denoted as , is a set of ordered pairs of real numbers
(x, y) in which no two distinct ordered pairs have the same first
number.
› The set of all admissible values of x is called the domain of the
function and the set of all resulting values of y is called the range
of the function.
› A function is a correspondence between two sets of real numbers,
the domain and the range, such that for each value in the domain,
there is exactly one value in the range.

Prepared by:
Cynthia P. San
› For instance, a man is riding in a car which
travels an average rate of 40 mph.
› The distance traveled (s) by the car is
determined by the time traveled (t) and the
rate (r), thus the relationship of the two
variables can be written in symbol as s =
40t.
› This defines s as a function of t because
for each value of t, there corresponds
exactly one value for s, hence s is called
the dependent variable and t is the
independent variable of the function, t  0.
› Given that that the distance traveled s is a
function of time traveled t, we can write it in
a functional notation as s = f(t) “ read as s
equals the f of t”.
Function Notation
› The symbols , g, and h are used to denote a function.
› If f is a function with variable x as its domain and
variable y as its range, the symbol f(x) , read as “f of x”
or “f at x” denotes a particular value of y that
corresponds to the value of x.

Example: If f = {(x, y)|y=x2 + 3} then

f(x) = x2 + 3.
Read as “the function f is a set of ordered
pairs (x, y) such that y = x2 + 3”.
Evaluating a function
Since f(x) = x2 + 3 , then Substitute the value
of x on the function,
to find the value of f
f(-1) = (-1)2 + 3 = 4

f(7) = (7)2 + 3 = 52

f(1/2) = (1/2)2 + 3 = 13/4

f(x-1) =(x -1)2 + 3 = x2 -2x + 4

Vertical Line Test for Functions
› The graph of a function can be intersected by a vertical
line in at most one point.
› A set of points in a coordinate plane is the graph of y as
a function of x if and only if no vertical line intersects
the graph at more than one point
Example: Which curves represent the graph of a function
in x?

𝑦=± 𝑥

y=2x+1

𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 1
 Sketch the graph of the equation
y =x2 - 3
› Assign arbitrary values for x
and compute the value for y
x -2 -1 0 1 2
y 1 -2 -3 -2 1

 Plot the points and connect

the points to see the graph of
the equation.
 Do the vertical line test.
Draw a vertical line on the
graph.
Since the vertical line intersects the
graph at exactly one point, the
equation is a function.

Prepared by:
Cynthia P. San
 Sketch the graph of the equation
y = ±x
› Assign arbitrary values for x
and compute the value for y

x 0 1 2 3 4
y 0 ±1 ±2 ±3 ±4

 Plot the points and connect

the points to see the graph of
the equation.
 Do the vertical line test.
Draw a vertical line on the
graph.
The graph of the equation is not
a function. It is simply a
relation.
Prepared by:
Cynthia P. San
 Sketch the graph of the equation
y = 2x + 3
 Assign arbitrary values for x
and compute the value for y

x -2 -1 0 1 2
y -1 1 3 5 7

 Plot the points and connect

the points to see the graph of
the equation.
 Do the vertical line test.
Draw a vertical line on the
graph.
Since the vertical line intersects the
graph at exactly one point, the
equation is a function.
Prepared by:
Cynthia P. San
Finding the Domain and Range
› The set of permissible value for the independent variable,
x, is called the domain of the function while the set of
corresponding values for the dependent variable, y or f(x),
is called the range of the function.
› The domain of a function is taken as the largest set of
real numbers for which the defining expression in x leads
to a real value.
Find the domain and the range of f defined
by the equation y =x2 - 3

Domain: {x|x  R}

Range: {y|y  R, y  -3}

Prepared by:
Cynthia P. San
 Find the domain and range of g defined by the
equation y = 2x + 3

Domain: {x|x  R}

Range: {y|y  R}

Prepared by:
Cynthia P. San
Find the domain and the range y
1
of f defined by the equation x

Domain: {x|x  R, x ≠ 0}

Range: {y|y  R, y ≠ 0}

Prepared by:
Cynthia P. San
References:
› Burn, C. (2016 July 23). One mathematical cat,please.
Retrieved from www.onemathematicalcat.org.
› Sirug, W. (2018). Mathematics in the Modern World.
Philippines: Mindshapers, Co. Inc.