Mathematics

Language and
Symbols
“The Book of Nature is
written in the language of
mathematics and its
characters are triangles,
circles and other geometric
figures.”
- Galileo Galilei
What is language?
• A systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds
or conventional symbols (Chen)
• A non-instinctive system of communication using symbols
possessing arbitrary (conventional, learned) meanings and
shared by a community (Esty)
Importance of Language
 To understand the expressed ideas
 To communicate ideas to others
Components of Language

• There must be a vocabulary of words and symbols.

• A language employs grammar which is a set of rules that
outline how vocabulary is used.
• A syntax organizes symbols into linear structures or
propositions.
• A community of people who use and understand these
symbols.
Language of Mathematics
• As a language, 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 on the
subject.
• Its vocabulary draws from many different alphabets and
includes symbols unique to math.
Vocabulary, Grammar and Syntax in
Mathematics
• International rules:
• Formulas are read from left to right.
• The Latin alphabet is used for parameters and variables.
• To some extent, the Greek alphabet is also used.
• The starting letters a, b, c, … represent constants, the middle
letters i, j, k, … for integers and the ending letters w, x, y, z for
variables.
• The Greek alphabet is also used to represent specific concepts
(e. g.,  for wavelength and  for density).
• Parentheses and brackets indicate the order in which the
symbols interact.
English: Nouns vs. Sentences
• Nouns are used to name things we want to talk about
(like people, places, and things).
• Sentences are used to state complete thoughts. A typical
English sentence has at least one noun, and at least one
verb.

Consider the sentence

Carol loves mathematics.
Here we have two nouns – ‘Carol’ and ‘mathematics’
and one verb – ‘loves.’
Mathematics: Expressions vs. Sentences
• An expression is a name given to a mathematical object
of interest. It is the mathematical analogue of a ‘noun.’
• The mathematical analogue of a ‘sentence’ is also called a
sentence. A mathematical sentence, just as an English
sentence, must state a complete thought.
 English Language vs Mathematics
Language
ENGLISH MATHEMATICS
name given NOUN (person, place, thing) EXPRESSION
to an object or PRONOUN 2
Examples: 20, , 3,
3
of interest: Examples: Harry, Molave,
𝑥 + 𝑦, 𝜋, log 𝑥
tablet, she,
a complete SENTENCE SENTENCE
thought Example: Molave is a Examples:
municipality in Zamboanga 3<4
del Sur. 1+2=4
𝑥+1=5
Types of Expression in Mathematics
• Numbers are the most common type of expression and
numbers have lots of different names.
• What can you say each of the following expressions?
𝟕, 𝟑 + 𝟒, 𝟏𝟐 − 𝟓, 𝟑𝟓 ÷ 𝟓,
𝟒𝟗 , 𝟐 𝟓 −𝟑
• This “same object, different name” idea plays a very
fundamental role in mathematics. (English has the same
concept: synonyms are words that have the same or “nearly the
same” meaning.)
• Sets and functions are also common expressions.
Exercises
1. Give several synonyms for the English word ‘similarity.’
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 multiplication sign, ×
e. a name using a division sign, ÷
f. a name using a minus sign and a division sign
Verbs and Connectives in Mathematics
• In the sentence “3 < 4”, the verb is “<” which is read as “is
less than.”
• In the sentence “𝑥 + 1 = 5” the verb is “=” which we read
as “is equal to” or “equals.”
• The plus sign “+” is an example of a connective which is used
to ‘connect’ objects of a given type to form a “compound’
object of the same type.
A sentence is either TRUE or FALSE.
• “3 < 4” is true.
• “1 + 2 = 4” is false.
• The sentence “𝑥 + 1 = 5” is true if 𝑥 is replaced by 4. It is
false if 𝑥 is replaced by other numbers.
• A sentence that is “sometimes true/sometimes false” is called
an open sentence.
Exercises
If possible, classify the entries below as:
• An English noun, or a mathematical expression
• An English sentence, or a mathematical sentence
1. cat
2. 2
3. The word ‘cat’ begins with the letter ‘k’.
4. 1 + 2 = 4
5. 5 – 3
6. 5 – 3 = 2
Exercises

7. The cat is black.

8. 𝑥
9. 𝑥 − 2 = 1
10.𝑥 + 0 = 𝑥
11.This sentence is false.
12.Hat sat bat.
Exercises
Consider the entries in the previous exercises that are
sentences. Which are true? False? Are there possibilities
other than true and false?
Characteristics of the Mathematical
Language
 Precise (able to make very fine distinctions or
definitions)
 Concise (able to say things briefly)
 Powerful (able to express complex thoughts with
relative ease)
Mathematical Language is precise (able
to make very fine distinctions or
definitions).
4 1
“ is equivalent to .” is considered to be more
8 2
4 1
precise than “ is the same as .”
8 2
 We are not being precise when we say:
To simplify a fraction, we cancel common factors in
the numerator and denominator.
Mathematical Language is concise
(able to say things briefly).
 A rectangle is a quadrilateral all four of whose
angles are right angles.

The following definition of a rectangle is NOT CONCISE:

 A rectangle is a parallelogram in which the
diagonals have the same length and all the
angles are right angles. It can be inscribed in a
circle and its area is given by the product of its
adjacent sides.
Mathematical Language is powerful. (able
to express complex thoughts with
relative ease)
 English sentence: The sum of a number and five
is seven.
 Math sentence: 𝑛 +5=7