A MODULE ON MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS

Introduction:

Language plays an important role in our life. It is hard for us to convey our thought
without using any form of language. And, according to Jamison 2000, "Once students
understand how things are said, they can better understand what is being said, and only
then do they have a chance to know why it is said.”

In this module, you will have to deal with the understanding of mathematics as a
language and its characteristics. You will also build a clear understanding about the
difference of mathematical expression and equation as well as other mathematical
symbols. These skills are so important to you to become a better problem solver.

Objectives:

This module aims to provide you with lessons and activities on reasoning.
Specifically, this module will enable you to:

1. discuss the characteristics of mathematical language;

2. differentiate mathematical expression to mathematical sentence;
3. identify the true, false, sometimes true and sometimes false statements;
4. translate mathematical sentence to English phrase and vice versa. .

Instructions to the User:

Welcome to this module on problem solving and reasoning. Before you
begin this module, find a comfortable place and take the pre-test below. The use of
internet, textbooks and other references are not allowed while answering the pretest.
Prepare your timer and activity notebook. At this point, you don’t have to use calculator.
Just remember to calm down yourself while answering. Answers are presented after the
pretest. Assign points for your score. More instructions about pretest are presented on the
next page.

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 In the lesson proper, you will see the characteristics of mathematical language.
After enjoying lesson, get ready your activity notebook to answer your activity. Set the
same 20-minute time limit on answering and then compare your scores on the pretest.
IT’S TIME TO HAVE FUN!!! ENJOY!

Pre-test:

At this point, set your timer for 20 minutes and answer the following items. Answers
are on the next page but refrain from looking at them until you are done with the test.

A. Write EXP if the following equation is a mathematical expression and if

mathematical sentence, write SEN, and identify if it is true T, false F, sometimes
true or sometimes false STSF.
1. 35 × x² = k

2. 1 + √y

3. 5 ÷ ½

4. x² - y² = y² - x²

5. 9 –5x

B. Translate the following phrase into symbols or vice versa.

6. The sum of two square numbers x and y.

7. The ratio of thirty-nine to the number of workers.

8. The difference of one hundred ten and the product of two numbers m and n.

9. 100= √x²

10. x - ( 15 ÷ y )

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Answer to Pre-test:

10 GENIUS Great! You identify multiple approaches solving the problem

YARN? and have clear and insightful mind! For sure you have fun
reading this module!
9-7 BRAINY Nice! You know well problem solving and have different
YARN? approaches too! You just have fun and may have few reviews.
6-4 LABAN Good! You appreciate the purpose of this module about
YARN? reasoning. Have own relaxing place to study more about this!
3-1 PRACTICE Don’t be upset! ☺ Chill! Relax and calm yourself. Free your mind
YARN? while reading and analyzing the instructions! Just follow the
instructions and for sure, you will enjoy this module while seeing
the beauty of mathematics!

A. (1 POINT EACH correct answer)

1. SEN SF/SF
2. EXP
3. EXP
4. SEN F
5. EXP
B.
6. x² + y²
7. 39 ÷ w
8. 110 – ( m × n)
9. One hundred is equal to square root of the squared of a number x.
10. The quotient of fifteen and a number y less than a number x

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Lesson Proper:

This module will teach you how to deal with the understanding of mathematics as
a language. Also, it will help you build a clear understanding about the difference of
mathematical expression and equation as well as other mathematical symbols. This
practice will help you on your future professions since ‘different professions deal with
different problems’.

Characteristics of Mathematical Language

Do you still remember what Jamison said previously in this module? You can only
understand why things are being said if you know how to things are being said. Now, you
have to be familiar on mathematical language and its characteristics. Math language is a
system used by mathematicians to communicate mathematically. Yet, all of the people is
associated and or using math language. They use mathematics to express, communicate
and share mathematical information.

The first characteristics of math language is its precision. It refers to the quality
and condition of being exact and accurate. Next is its conciseness. Due to appropriate and
minimal numbers of words to be used, it is easy to understand. Last, math language is
powerful. It was able to express complex thought. It provides powerful tools and aid that
humans need today, especially in the field of physics, medicine, computer programming,
etc.

Mathematical Expression VS. Mathematical Sentence

Mathematical expression is a name given to mathematical object of interest and

does not state a complete thought. It is a mathematical phrase that combines variables,
number, and operations to show the value of something.

Example:

a. 3
b. 12 + 500
c. y - z
d. 3x + 2

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 Now, it is easy for you to learn the mathematical sentence. It is said to be the
analogue of an English sentence. Unlike math expression, it is a correct arrangement
of mathematical symbol that expresses a complete thought. It also ask about the truth of
a sentence. Therefore, you can identify if the following sentence is true, false, sometimes
true or sometimes false. Check out this examples of mathematical sentence.

a. 12 + 10² = 112 SEN T – a true mathematical sentence

b. 12 + 10² = 12 - 100 SEN F – a false mathematical sentence
c. x + 5 = 5 SEN ST/SF – a sometimes true and sometimes false statement.
Remember: X is a variable and you can substitute any numbers to it. If x=0,
the equation will be 0 + 5 = 5, a TRUE sentence. While any numbers will
make it a FALSE one.
d. t × 1 = t SEN T, any number multiply to 1 is always equal to that number.
e. x² - √5x = √5x - x², SEN F, in the equation, x² is the minuend and √5x

Translating a Mathematical Phrase to English Sentence and Vice Versa

Math expressions are numbers and variables that are connected with
operations while equations have those also but with words like “is”, “equal”, “is equal to”.
And to translate a mathematical phrase, you should remember these 3 easy steps.

Step 1. Identify the constant/s and the variable/s.

Constants are represented by number/s and variables are the unknown

value, represented by small letters, that both stated in the equation.

Step 2. Determine the connectors.

Connectors are words that indicate the operation to be used. You can
use the table for your references. Be careful when using the words in to sentences The
meaning may varies if the words are improperly used.

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 Operation Symbols Words
Addition (+) Plus, sum, the sum of, the total of, altogether, added to,
increased, etc.
Subtraction (-) Minus, the difference of, subtracted to, less, less than,
decrease, take away, how many more etc.
Multiplication (×,(),•) Multiply, product, times, per, each, every, double, twice,
triple, trice… etc
Division (÷, /) Divide, quotient, the ratio of, percent, separated, etc.
Equation (=) Is, is equal to, equals, yields, etc.

Step 3: Perform the Translation

After analyzing the equation, numbers, connectors, and variables are

needed to have correct arrangement.

Lets try this one.

EXAMPLE:

The product of five and Gina's age is equal to Charlotte's age.

Step 1. Identify the constant/s and the variable/s.

CONSTANT: 5

VARIABLES: g and c

From the given equation, the constant is no other than five (5), while the
variables are Gina and Charlotte's age. You can use the first letter of the noun as your
variable. So the variables are g and c. Always use small letters for variables. You can now
proceed to the second step.

Step 2. Determine the connectors.

CONNECTORS: x, =

Connectors indicates the operation to be used. Here “the product of” indicates
that you will use multiplication, and “is equal to” , equals.

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 Step 3: Perform the Translation

ANSWER: 5 × g = c or 5g = c

Take note: multiplication of constant and variable can express by putting it

together.

Activity:

A. Write EXP if the following equation is a mathematical expression and if

mathematical sentence, write SEN, and identify if it is true T, false F,
sometimes true or sometimes false STSF.
________1.) 2 -√1

________2.) xy + 4

________3.) 34 + 15 – 35 = 14

________4.) 2 × 6 + 15 = 27

________5.) 35 – 10

________6.) s • 1 = 1 • s

________7.) x + ⅔ = ⅔

________8.) 22 – 8 × -2 = 6

________9. ) xy

________10.) 15 + 5

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References:
Y. Oussi, 2020 Understanding Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Bayan et.al. 2018 Deal with the World of Today Through Mathematics

https://math.libretexts.org/courses/Monroe_Community_College/MTH

https://courses.lumenlearning.com

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