Mathematical Language and Symbols

MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE and SYMBOLS
Students must develop the skills of mathematical way of thinking. Understanding the
language of mathematics will help them overcome the challenge of learning mathematics. A good
foundation of mathematical thought will enable them to express mathematical ideas clearly ,
precisely and unambiguously .To be able to successfully obtain abilities, student must grasp the skill
in understanding mathematical language.
Mathematical way of speaking is temporal; it is devoid with emotional content and is precise.
Mathematical language is characterized by; abstraction symbols and rules, non-linearity and
complexity of language, arrangement, coding and decoding information. It is a system used to
express, communicate and convey mathematical information.
To express mathematical language it uses unique symbols form abstract ideas, symbols for
operations and variables as representation without ambiguity.
Variable – a symbol or a placeholder for a value we don’t know yet.

Illustration:
1. Is there a number with the following property: doubling it and adding 3 gives the same result as
squaring it?
 introduce a variable to replace the word “it”
Is there a number 𝑥 with the property that 2𝑥 + 3 = 𝑥 2
2. No matter what number might be chosen, if it is greater than 2, then its square is greater than 4.
 introduce a variable to replace the word “it”
Examples:
Use variables to rewrite the following sentences more formally.
1. Are there numbers with the property that the sum of their squares equals the square of their
sum?
Possible answers:
 Are there numbers 𝑎 and 𝑏 with the property that 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = (𝑎 + 𝑏)2 ?
 Are there numbers 𝑎 and 𝑏 such that 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = (𝑎 + 𝑏)2 ?
 Do there exist any numbers 𝑎 and 𝑏 such that 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = (𝑎 + 𝑏)2 ?
2. Given any real number, its square is nonnegative.

Possible answers:
 Given any real number 𝑟, 𝑟 2 is nonnegative.
 For any real number 𝑟, 𝑟 2 ≥ 0.
 For all real number 𝑟, 𝑟 2 ≥ 0
Universal, Conditional and Existential Statements
1. A Universal Statement expresses an idea that is true for all the elements in a set describe.
Example: All negative numbers are less than zero.
 Usually uses the words: “for all” , “for every” , “for each”
 Uses the symbol: ∀
2. A Conditional Statement expresses a conditional idea that if one thing is true then some other
thing also has to be true.
Example: If a number is even then it is a multiple of 2.
 Usually uses the words: “If then”
 Uses the symbol: →
3. An Existential Statement expresses an idea that may or may not be true or at least one thing for
which the property is true.
Example: There exist a prime number that is even.
 Usually uses the words: “there is”, “there exist”
 Uses the symbol: ∃
More Examples:
 Universal Statements
The sum of two even numbers is even.
The product of any real number is real.
 Conditional Statements
If a number in zero then it is a multiple of 5 and 10.
If I could play the violin, I would join the orchestra.
 Existential Statements
There exist a sum of two real numbers that is less than 5.
There is a natural number such that the square of the number is 36.
 Universal Conditional Statements

For all animals 𝑎, if 𝑎 is a dog, then 𝑎 is a mammal.
For any real number not equal to zero if the number is divided by itself is equal to 1.
 Universal Existential Statements

Every real number has an additive inverse.
For all real number , there exist number 1 as identity element for multiplication.
 Existential Universal Statements

There is a positive integer that is less than or equal to every positive integer.
There is a real number whose product with every real number equals zero.
Universal Conditional Statements – A statement that is both universal and conditional. Can be
rewritten to be purely universal or purely conditional.
Examples:
For all animals 𝑎, if 𝑎 is a dog, then 𝑎 is a mammal.
purely conditional: If 𝑎 is a dog, then 𝑎 is a mammal.

If an animal is a dog, then the animal is a mammal.
purely universal: For all dogs 𝑎, 𝑎 is a mammal.
All dogs are mammals.
Universal Existential Statements – A statement that is universal because its first part say that a certain
property is true for all objects of a given type and it is existential because its second part asserts the
existence of something.
Existential Universal Statements - A statement that is existential because its first part asserts that a
certain object exists and is universal because its second part say that the object satisfies a certain
property for all things of certain kind.
Exercises: (Mathematical Language and Symbols)
I. State whether the following are statement (S) or not a statement (NS). In the case a statement
classify if it is US, CS or ES and indicate if it is True or False.
Examples:
 The sum of two even numbers is even. Universal Statement (US);
True
 The sum of two odd numbers is an odd number. Universal Statement (US);
False
 If 𝑥 + 5 = 5, then 𝑥 = −5. Conditional
Statement(CS); False
1. The sum of real numbers is commutative.

2. If a real number is multiplied by zero then the product is equal to zero.
3. There exist a real number whose squares is less than itself.
4. For all real numbers there exist an additive inverse.
5. The sum of any odd number is odd.
II. Translate each of the following mathematical statement/phrases into mathematical expressions.
Use as few variables as possible.
Examples:
 There are twice as many apples as there are guavas.
ans: Let A = apples , G = guava
twice as many A as there are G : 2A = G
 There exist two distinct integers where sum is zero.
ans: ∃𝑚, 𝑛 ∈ ℤ, (𝑚 + 𝑛) = 0
1. The square of the sum of 8 and a number.

2. The one third of the sum of my age and brother’s age who is 10.
3. The sum of three consecutive odd numbers
4. For all real numbers, not zero, there exist a multiplicative inverse whose product of the
number and its multiplicative inverse is 1.
5. The sum of real numbers is real.
6. If 𝑎 is less than zero then the absolute value of 𝑎 is the negative of.
7. If the product of any two number is zero, then either of the two number is equal to zero.
8. For any real number the grouping and regrouping of its addends do not affect its sum.
III. Fill in the blanks to rewrite the following statement.

Example: For all real numbers 𝑥, if 𝑥 is nonzero then 𝑥 2 is positive.
a. If a real number is nonzero, the its square __________.
b. For all nonzero real numbers 𝑥, __________.
c. If 𝑥 _________, then _________.
d. The square of any nonzero real number is __________.
e. All nonzero real numbers have _________.
Answers:
a. is positive
b. 𝑥 2 is positive
c. is a nonzero real number; 𝑥 2 is positive
d. positive
e. positive squares (or squares that are positive)
1. Is there a real number whose square is −1?
a. Is there a real number 𝑥 such that ________?
b. Does there exist _______such that 𝑥 2 = −1?
2. Is there an integer that has a remainder of 2 when it is divided by 5 and remainder of 3
when divided by 6?
a. Is there an integer 𝑛 such that 𝑛 has _________?
b. Does there exist ______ such that if 𝑛 is divided by 5 the remainder is 2 and if ______?
3. For all objects 𝑂, if 𝑂 is a square then 𝑂 has four sides.
a. All squares _______.
b. Every square _______.
c. If an object is a square, then it ________.
d. If 𝑂 _______, Then 𝑂______.
e. For all squares 𝑂, ______.
4. Every nonzero real number has a reciprocal.
a. All nonzero real numbers ________.
b. For all nonzero real numbers 𝑟, there is _______ for 𝑟.
c. For all nonzero real numbers 𝑟, there is a positive number 𝑟 such that _______.
5. For all real numbers 𝑥, if 𝑥 is an integer, then 𝑥 is a rational number.
a. If a real number is an integer, then _____.
b. For all integers 𝑥, _____.
c. If 𝑥 _____, then ______.
d. All integers 𝑥 are ______.

Mathematical Language and Symbols

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Mathematical Language and Symbols

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Mathematical Language and Symbols

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE and SYMBOLS

Variable – a symbol or a placeholder for a value we don’t know yet.

2. Given any real number, its square is nonnegative.

 Universal Conditional Statements

 Universal Existential Statements

 Existential Universal Statements

purely conditional: If 𝑎 is a dog, then 𝑎 is a mammal.

Exercises: (Mathematical Language and Symbols)

1. The sum of real numbers is commutative.

1. The square of the sum of 8 and a number.

III. Fill in the blanks to rewrite the following statement.

You might also like