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Mathematical Language and Symbols

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47 views20 pages

Mathematical Language and Symbols

hhhhhhh

Uploaded by

elyza
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Mathematical Language

and Symbols
Objectives:
At the of this lesson, students are expected to:

1. discuss the language, symbols, and


conventions used in mathematics;
2. explain the nature of mathematics
as a language;
3. evaluate mathematical expressions
correctly; and
4. recognize that mathematics is a
useful language.
The Language of Mathematics
Communication, just love and
war, is necessary in mathematics.
To be able to communicate well
means being able to understand
each other better.
I wish everybody can
communicate mathematically, so
that misunderstanding is avoided.
The Language of Mathematics
Have you experienced communicating
with a someone who speaks an
entirely different language from
yours?
• That can be done
through certain non-verbal gestures
• or sign language.
The Language of Mathematics
• Language facilitates
communication and meaning-
making.
• It allows people to express
themselves and maintain their
identity.
The Language of Mathematics
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
—the language of mathematics.
First we build our mathematics.

Mathematics start with undefined


terms and axioms or postulates.

One of the most common mistake


of a mathematics teacher is to
define everything, or in our favorite
lingo, “wordize” every thing.
Mathematics start with concepts
which are not formally defined, but
accepted to exists without any
formal definition.
Examples of undefined terms are
set, point, line and plane.

Although we can intuitively


define these terms, we do not
define them formally.
Characteristics of Mathematical
Language
• It is precise because it can
Mathematical be stated clearly.
• It is concise because it can
Language is be stated briefly.

• precise • It is powerful because it is


capable of expressing
complex ideas into simpler
• concise forms.

• Powerful • It is nontemporal (i.e. it has


no tenses) which makes it
so unique as compared to
other languages.
• It also has vocabulary and
parts of speech.
Parts of Speech for Mathematics
Just like any ordinary language, mathematics also has
syntax and structure which can be categorized into five
forms.
1. Numbers are very first symbols that can be
used to represents quantity. These are nouns
(objects) in the English language.
2. Operation symbols like +, ÷, ,, , and 
can act as connectives in a mathematical
sentence.
Parts of Speech for Mathematics

3. Relation symbols such as =, ≤, and ~ are


used for comparison and acts as verbs in the
mathematical language.
4. Grouping symbols such as ( ),{ }, [ ] are
used to associate groups of numbers and
operators.
5. Variables are letters that represent
quantities and act as pronouns.
SYMBOLS/ Basic English Terms
OPERATIONS

+ Plus, add, sum, total, added to/by/from

Minus, difference, subtracted to/by/from,


– diminish, less, less than, decreased

x or * or . times, multiplied, product by/to/from

/ or I Divided by, quotient, per, ratio, over

equals, is equal to, is, are, is similar to,


= is equivalent to
Basic Mathematical English Translation
Statements
“Eight added to three is eleven.”
8 + 3 = 11 “Eight more than three is equal to eleven.”
“The sum of 8 and 3 is equivalent to 11.”

15 – 9 = 6

7 * 2 = 14

16÷4 = 4
Algebraic English Translations
Statements

2x = 18 Twice a number is
eighteen.

5(x–1)=7 Five times the difference


of a number and one is 7.

3(4 x  5) The ratio of thrice the sum


 11 of four times a number
8 and five, and eight is
eleven.
5( x  7)
 18
2x  3
Numerator: 5 times the difference of a number and 7
Denominator: the sum of twice a number and three

The ratio of 5 times the difference of


a number and 7 and the sum of twice
a number and three is eighteen.
Example:
Consider the sentence:
“The sum of any two real
numbers is also a real number.”
In mathematical notation, this
declarative sentence can be written as:

 a, b  ,a+b
Characteristics of Mathematical Language
Mathematics is a symbolic language.
Some symbols that we may encounter are the following:
 sum of  union
 there exists
 for every (for any)  intersection

 element of (or member of)


 not an element  or
 subset of
 and
 if….,then or implies
 if and only if
Expressions vs. Sentences
A sentence is a complete thought.
An expression is a name given to a mathematical
expression but not a mathematical sentence.
Examples:
1. (a,b) an ordered pair
2. (a,b,c) an ordered triple
3. a matrix
4. f(x) a function
5. {1,2,3,4} a set
The Greek alphabet
A α alpha I ι iota P ρ rho
B β beta K κ kappa Σ σ sigma
Γ γ gamma Λ λ lambda T τ tau
∆ δ delta M µ mu Υ υ upsilon
E  epsilon N ν nu Φ φ phi
Z ζ zeta Ξ ξ xi X χ chi
H η eta O o omicron Ψ ψ psi
Θ θ theta Π π pi Ω ω omega

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