Course Code and Title: GEMA2 – Mathematics in the Modern World

Lesson Number: Lesson 3 (Week 4)

Topic: MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS

https://7esl.com/mathematics-symbols/

Introduction:
This chapter aims to introduce a mathematical way of thinking that can serve you in a
wide variety of situations. When you want to start to work on a mathematical problem, you
often wonder how to proceed. You may reread the problem, focus more on the details, look at
some examples, and analyze. The closer you get to a solution, the more you need to
understand, and the more you need to understand the language that expresses mathematical
ideas clearly, precisely, and unambiguously.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
 Identify the different mathematical symbols;
 Show perseverance in doing one’s work; and
 Use the language, symbols, and notation of mathematics.
Lesson Presentation:
Here are some of the particular language that is a foundation for much mathematical thought,
the language of variables, sets, relations, and functions.

Mathematical symbols are grouped into four, can you name each of them?
I. OPERATION SYMBOLS

𝑥 𝑎⁄
+ ̶ ( ) • ÷ : 𝑏 √𝑚 ∛n 𝑎2 ∪ ∩ x *
𝑦

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 II. GROUPING SYMBOLS
( ) [ ] { } a + b ̶2(x ̶ y)

III. RELATION SYMBOL (stated with the words “is to” for relationship)
= ≠ < > ≤ ⟘ ≥ ≈ //

IV. REPLACEMENT (PLACEHOLDER) SYMBOLS

a b c X Y Z

Sometimes the replacement symbols could be thought as a mathematical “John Joe”,

wherein it can be used as a placeholder symbols speciallyif when you want to talk about
something such as (a) you imagine that it has one or more values, but you don’t know what
they are, or (b) you want whatever you say about it to be equally valid for all elements in given
set, and so you don't want to be restricted to considering only a particular, concrete value for
it.

Let's consider the following question: Is there any number with the next property, when it
doubles, and add 3 gives the same result as squared it? In this sentence, you can introduce a
variable to replace the ambiguous word "it."

Is there a number x with the property that 2 x + 3 = 𝑥 2 ?

The advantage of using a variable is that it allows you to give a temporary name to what you
are seeking to perform concrete computations with it to help discover its possible values.

EXAMPLE: Writing Sentences Using Variables

Rewrite the following sentences more formallyby using any variable.
1. Are there numbers with the property that the sum of their squares
equals the square of their sum?
2. Given any real numbers, its square is nonnegative.

SOLUTION: Let a and b be the numbers

1. Are there numbers a and b with the property that 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = (𝑎 + 𝑏)2 ?
Or: Are there numbers a and b such that 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = (𝑎 + 𝑏)2 ?

Or: Do there exist any numbers a and b such that 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = (𝑎 + 𝑏)2 ?

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 2. Let r be the real numbers
Given any real number r, 𝑟 2 is nonnegative.
Or: For any real number r, 𝑟 2 ≥ 0.
Or: For all real numbers r, 𝑟 2 ≥ 0.
EXPRESSIONS versus SENTENCES
Important Kinds of Mathematical Statements
• UNIVERSAL STATEMENT - it is a certain property that is true for all
elements in a set.
(Example: All positive numbers are greater than zero.)
• CONDITIONAL STATEMENT - it is a property that if one thing is true, then
another thing also has to be true.
(Example: If 378 is divisible by 18, then 378 is divisible by 6.)
• EXISTENTIAL STATEMENT - it says that there is at least one thing for which
the property is true.
(Example: There is a prime number that is even.)
It is for us to realize that combinations of these statements can be expressed
in various ways. One way is use as ordinary, everyday language, and another shows
the statement using one or more variables.
A. Universal Conditional Statements

Universal statements contain some variation of the words "for all" and conditional
statements contain versions of the words "if-then." Therefore, a universal conditional
statement is a statement that is both universal and conditional.

(Example: Let a represent as a dog

For all animals a, if ais a dog, then a is a mammal.)

Or If an animal is a dog, then the animal is a mammal.

EXERCISES: Fill in the blanks to rewrite the following statement:

For all real numbers x, if x is nonzero, then 𝑥 2 is positive.
a. If a real number is nonzero, then its square _________________.

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 b. For all nonzero real numbers x, ____________________.
c. If x _______________, then _________________.
d. The square of any nonzero number is _____________________.
e. All nonzero real numbers have ___________________.
SOLUTION:
a. is positive.
b. 𝑥 2 is positive.
c. It is a nonzero real number; 𝑥 2 is positive.
d. Positive.
e. Positive squares (or: positive squares).

B. Universal Existential Statements

A universal existential statement is a statement that is universal because
its first part says that a certain property is true for all objects of a given
type. It is existential because its second part asserts the existence of
something.
Example: Every real number has an additive inverse.
Knowing that an additive inverse is a real number, you can rewrite this
statement in several ways, some less formal and some more formal: All
real numbers have additive inverses.
Or: For all real numbers r, there is an additive inverse for r.
Or: For all real numbers r, there is a real number s such that x is
an additive inverse for r.
EXERCISES: Fill in the blanks to rewrite the following statement:
Every pot has a lid.
a. All pots ____________.
b. For all pots P, there is _______________.
c. For all pots P, there is a lid L, such that _________________.

SOLUTION:
a. have lids.

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 b. A lid for P.
c. L is a lid for P.

C. Existential Universal Statements

An existentialuniversal statement is a statement that is existential
because its first part asserts that a certain object exists and is universal
because its second part says that the object satisfies a certain property for
all things of a certain kind.
Example: There is a positive integer that is less than or equal to
every positive integer.
This statement is true because the number one is a positive integer, and it
satisfies the property of being less than or equal to every positive integer.
We can rewrite the statement in several ways:
Some positive integer is less than or equal to every positive
integer.
Or: There is a positive integer m that is less than or equal to
every positive integer.
Or: There is a positive integer m such that every positive
integer is greater than or equal to m.
Or: There is a positive integer m with the property for all
positive integers n, m≤n.
EXERCISES: Rewriting a Universal Existential Statement
Fill in the blanks to rewrite the following statement in three different
ways:
There is a person in my class who is at least as old as every person in
my class.
a. Some ______________________ is at least as old as
________________.
b. There is a person p in my class such that p is
___________________.
c. There is a person p in my class with the property that for every

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 person q in my class, p is _______________________.
SOLUTION:
a. the person in my class; every person in my class.
b. At least as old as every person in my class.
c. At least as old as q.

Summary:
This lesson is aboutmathematical language and symbols. You learned to:
 Name the different symbols and their uses and what category does it belong whether it
is operation symbol, grouping symbol, relation symbol and placeholder symbols; and
 Use the different kinds of mathematical statements in rewriting different statements in 3
ways.
References:
Augmann, Richard, Abad , Edmundo, et al. "Mathematics in the Modern World." Rex
Bookstore, Incorporated

Enriquez, Ymas Jr., Patiak, Estuchi, Escalona, and Pelayo (2005), " College Algebra
with Recreational Mathematics," Sta. Monica Printing Corporation