Chapter 2 Mathematical Language and Symbols

Mathematical Language

Language is “a systematic means of communicating by use of sounds or

conventional symbols” (Chen, 2010, p. 353). It is the code humans use as a form of
expressing themselves and communicating with others. It may also be defined as a
system of words in a particular discipline.

These definitions describe language in terms of the following components:

• A vocabulary of symbols or words

• A grammar consisting of rules on the use of these symbols
• A community of people who use and understand these symbols
• A range of meanings that can be communicated with these symbols

Since all the components are found in mathematics, it also qualifies as 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 in the subject. Regardless
of where in the world learners of math come from or what language they speak, they will
likely understand what those symbols mean. It must be noted that no language is self-
explanatory. The language of mathematics is certainly non-instinctive and must be
learned.

Now, why would anyone want to learn mathematics? What is it useful for? Think of
mathematics as a collection of useful tools to help you get things done. These tasks may
be as simple as budgeting money or complex like calculating a satellite’s speed as it
orbits the Earth. All of these are built on the same knowledge expressed using
mathematical language.

Mathematics is a universal language, the only one shared by all human beings
regardless of culture, religion or gender. A person uses the same calculation process when
computing, for example, interest earned for investments in peso, dollar, euro or yen. Not
everyone can be proficient in English, French, Chinese, or Japanese but most possess
math literacy. This shared language called numeracy connects people across continents
and through time. Mathematics is not just for mathematics majors, but for everyone. It is
not just about calculating complicated equations, but about making lives more efficient,
more secure and richer and fuller.

Characteristics of Mathematical Language

• Precise Able to make fine distinctions

• Concise Able to say things briefly
• Powerful Able to express complex thoughts with relative ease

Elements of the Mathematical

Like other languages, mathematics has nouns, pronouns, verbs, and sentences. It
has its own vocabulary, grammar, syntax, synonyms, negations, sentence structure,
paragraph structure, conventions, and abbreviations. It is designed in such a way that
one can write about numbers, sets, functions, etc. as well as the process undergone by
these elements (like adding, multiplying, grouping, and evaluating).

Mathematics uses many symbols. There are ten digits (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9),
symbols for operation (+, - , ÷ , × ), symbols that represent values (x, y, z, etc.), and many
other special symbols (=, <, ≤, 𝜋𝜋, etc.).

Letters often (but not always) have special uses as follows:

Start of the alphabet a, b, c For constants (fixed values)

From i to n I, j, k, n Positive integers (for counting
End of the alphabet x, y, z For variables (unknowns)
Like in normal languages, the correspondence between symbols and their meaning
are conventions rather than rules.

• Nouns could be constants, such as numbers or expressions with numbers

• A verb could be equal sign or inequality symbols
• Pronouns could be variables

A variable is sometimes thought to of as a mathematical “John Doe” because you

can use it as a placeholder when you want to talk about something but either (1) you
imagine that it has one or more values but you don’t know what they are, or (2) you want
whatever you say about it to be equally true for all elements of in a given set, and so you
don’t want to be restricted to considering only a particular, concrete value for it. To
illustrate the first use, consider asking

Is there a number with the following property: doubling it and adding 3 gives the same
result as squaring?

In this sentence you can introduce a variable to replace the potentially ambiguous
word “it”

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

The advantage of using a variable is that it allows you to give a temporary name to
what you are seeking so that you can perform concrete computations with it to help
discover its possible values. To emphasize the role of the variable as a placeholder, you
might write the following:

𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 ⬚ 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤ℎ 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑒 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝑡𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 2 ∙ ⬚ + 3 = ⬚2

The emptiness of the box can help you imagine filling it in with variety of different
values, some of which might make the two sides equal and others of which might not.

To illustrate the second use of variables, consider the statement:

No matter what number might be chosen, if it is greater than 2, then its square is
greater than 4.

In this case introducing a variable to give temporary name to the (arbitrary) number
you might choose enables you to maintain the generality of the statement, and replacing
all instances of the word “it” by the name of the variable ensures that possible ambiguity
is avoided:
 No matter what number n might be chosen, if n is greater than 2, then 𝑛𝑛2 is greater
than 4.

Propositional Calculus

A proposition is a complete declarative sentence that is either true or false but not
both.

All of the following are propositions

a. Manila is the capital of the Philippines

b. Shanghai is the capital of China
c. 1+1=2
d. 2+2=3

The following are not propositions

a. Is it time?
b. Pay attention to this.
c. x+1=2
d. x+y=z

If a proposition is true, its truth value is true, denoted by T. If it is false, its truth values is
false, denoted by F.

Connectives and Compound Propositions

A propositional connective is an operation that combines two propositions to yield

a new one whose truth value depends only on the truth values of the two original
propositions. Propositions built up by combining propositions using propositional
connectives are called compound propositions.

Let p and q be our propositions

Connectives

Conjunction (AND) Conjunction of p and q, denoted 𝑝𝑝 ∧ 𝑞𝑞, is the proposition “p

and q.” 𝑝𝑝 ∧ 𝑞𝑞 is true exactly when both p and q are true.
Disjunction (OR) Disjunction of p and q, denoted 𝑝𝑝 ∨ 𝑞𝑞, is the proposition “p or
q.” 𝑝𝑝 ∨ 𝑞𝑞 is true exactly when at least ONE p or q is true.
Negation (NOT/NO) Negation of p, denoted ¬𝑝𝑝, is the proposition “not p.” ¬𝑝𝑝 is
true exactly when p is false.

Conditionals

Conditional p is the antecedent (Hypothesis) and q is the consequent

(𝑝𝑝 ⇒ 𝑞𝑞) (conclusion). 𝑝𝑝 ⇒ 𝑞𝑞 is the proposition “If p, then q.” The
conditional sentence is true if and only if p is false or q is true.
Biconditional 𝑝𝑝 ⇔ 𝑞𝑞 is the proposition “p if and only if q.” The biconditional
(𝑝𝑝 ⇔ 𝑞𝑞) sentence is true exactly when p and q have the same truth
value.
Exclusive OR

Exclusive or (XOR) Denoted by ⨁. If either proposition is true, then the result is

true, but if both propositions are true, then the result is false,

Truth Table

p q 𝑝𝑝 ∧ 𝑞𝑞 𝑝𝑝 ∨ 𝑞𝑞 (𝑝𝑝⨁ 𝑞𝑞) (𝑝𝑝 ⇒ 𝑞𝑞) (𝑝𝑝 ⇔ 𝑞𝑞)

T T T T F T T
T F F T T F F
F T F T T T F
F F F F F T T

p ¬𝒑𝒑
T F
F T

Example:

Let p and q be the propositions “Today is Friday” and “It is raining today”
respectively. Find:

a. 𝑝𝑝 ∧ 𝑞𝑞
b. 𝑝𝑝 ∨ 𝑞𝑞
c. (𝑝𝑝 ⇔ 𝑞𝑞)
d. (𝑝𝑝 ⇒ 𝑞𝑞)
e. ¬𝑝𝑝

Solution:

a. Today is Friday and it is raining today.

b. Today is Friday or it is raining today.
c. Today is Friday if and only if it is raining today
d. If today is Friday, then it is raining today.
e. Today is not Friday.
Problem Set For Chapter 2

Instructions: Write your answers on A4-size bond papers. PLEASE DO NOT WRITE your
answers on the back part of the bond paper. Write your LAST NAME first, then GIVEN
NAME and MIDDLE INITIAL. For your set, PLEASE WRITE IT IN THE FORMAT BSCE-1X, X being
the letter of your set. If you are unsure whether or not your answers will be able to fit in two
columns, stick to one column. If you can fit your answers and it is quite presentable and
the answers can be seen clearly, you can use two columns. Please CHOOSE one column
or two columns, DO NOT CHOOSE BOTH. Erasures will garner demerit points. There will be
deductions for those who are not following instructions.

1. Identify the following as either expressions or sentences

a. 3𝑥𝑥 + 7
b. 𝑥𝑥 = 2𝑥𝑥 − 5
c. 𝑥𝑥 2
d. 𝑥𝑥 = 8
e. 𝑥𝑥 + 4 = 13
f. 𝑥𝑥 + 3𝑥𝑥 = 2𝑥𝑥
g. 𝑥𝑥 + 3𝑥𝑥
h. 𝑥𝑥 = 12
i. 2 < 5
j. 2 + 5
k. 2 + 3 = 5
l. 2𝑥𝑥 + 3
m. 2 + 4
n. 𝑥𝑥 < 6
o. 𝑥𝑥 2 < 25
p. 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑎𝑎
2. Determine which of the following sentences are propositions and indicate their truth
values.
a. Legazpi is the capital of Albay.
b. 3 + 4 = 7
c. 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑦𝑦 + 𝑥𝑥 for every pair of real numbers x and y
d. 𝑥𝑥 + 1 = 5 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑥𝑥 = 1
e. Answer this question.
3. Provide the negation of each of the following propositions.
a. Today is Tuesday.
b. There is no pollution in Makati.
4. Write the conjunction and the disjunction of each of the given pairs of propositions
p and q below. Then indicate which, if any, of these statements is true.
a. p: Three is an even integer. q: Ten is a positive integer.
b. p: The Pacific is an ocean. q: The Nile is a river.
c. p: Birds have four legs. q: Hamsters have wings.
5. Let p and q be propositions:
p: I buy a lotto ticket today.
q: I win the 135-million-peso jackpot on Saturday.
Express each of the following propositions as an English sentence.
a. 𝑝𝑝 ∧ 𝑞𝑞
b. ¬𝑝𝑝 ∨ (𝑝𝑝 ∧ 𝑞𝑞)
c. (𝑝𝑝 ⇒ 𝑞𝑞)
d. (𝑝𝑝 ⇔ 𝑞𝑞)
e. ¬𝑝𝑝
6. Let p and q be propositions:
p: It is very cold.
q: It is raining.
Write the following propositions using p, q, and logical connectives.
a. It is very cold and raining.
b. It is very cold but not raining.
c. If it is cold, it is also raining.
d. It is neither very cold nor raining, but it is not raining if it is very cold.
7. Let p, q and r be propositions:
p: You are sick.
q: You miss the final examination.
r: You pass this subject.
Express each of the following propositions as an English sentence.
a. 𝑝𝑝 ⇒ 𝑞𝑞
b. ¬𝑞𝑞 ⇔ 𝑟𝑟
c. (𝑝𝑝 ∧ 𝑞𝑞) ∨ (¬𝑞𝑞 ∧ 𝑟𝑟)
8. Write each of the following statements in the form “If p, then q.”
a. It rains whenever the blows from the southwest.
b. The mango tree will bloom if it stays warm for a week.
9. Construct a truth table for each of the following compound propositions.
a. ¬𝑝𝑝 ∧ 𝑝𝑝
b. 𝑝𝑝 ⇒ ¬𝑞𝑞
c. ¬𝑝𝑝⨁¬𝑞𝑞
d. (𝑝𝑝 ∨ 𝑞𝑞) ⇒ (𝑝𝑝 ∧ 𝑞𝑞)
e. (𝑝𝑝 ⇒ 𝑞𝑞) ⇒ (𝑝𝑝 ∨ 𝑟𝑟)
10. Let P(x) be the statement “The word x contains the letter a.” What are the truth
values of the following?
a. P(orange)
b. P(lemon)
11. Which of the following sets are equal?
𝐴𝐴 = {𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏, 𝑐𝑐, 𝑑𝑑 }
𝐵𝐵 = {𝑑𝑑, 𝑒𝑒, 𝑎𝑎, 𝑐𝑐 }
𝐶𝐶 = {𝑑𝑑, 𝑏𝑏, 𝑎𝑎, 𝑐𝑐 }
𝐷𝐷 = {𝑎𝑎, 𝑎𝑎, 𝑑𝑑, 𝑒𝑒, 𝑐𝑐, 𝑒𝑒}
12. Write in words how to read each of the following out loud.
a. {𝑥𝑥 ∈ ℝ+ | 0 < 𝑥𝑥 < 1}
b. {𝑥𝑥 ∈ ℝ|𝑥𝑥 ≤ 0 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑥𝑥 ≥ 1}
c. {𝑛𝑛 ∈ ℤ|𝑛𝑛 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑎𝑎 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 6}
d. {𝑛𝑛 ∈ ℤ+ |𝑛𝑛 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑎𝑎 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 6}
13. Answer the following questions.
a. Is 4 = {4}
b. How many elements are in the set {3,4,3,5}
c. How many elements are in the set {1, {1}, {1, {1}}}}?
14. Answer the following questions.
a. 2 ∈ {2}?
b. How many elements are in the set {2,2,2,2}?
c. How many elements are in the set �0, {0}�?
d. 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 {0} ∈ �{0}, {1}�?
e. 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 0 ∈ �{0}, {1}�
15. Which of the following sets are equal?

𝐴𝐴 = {0,1,2}
𝐵𝐵 = {𝑥𝑥 ∈ ℝ|−1 ≤ 𝑥𝑥 < 3}
𝐶𝐶 = {𝑥𝑥 ∈ ℝ|−1 < 𝑥𝑥 < 3}
𝐷𝐷 = {𝑥𝑥 ∈ ℤ|−1 < 𝑥𝑥 < 3}
𝐸𝐸 = {𝑥𝑥 ∈ ℤ+ |−1 < 𝑥𝑥 < 3}

16. Let 𝐴𝐴 = {𝑐𝑐, 𝑑𝑑, 𝑓𝑓, 𝑔𝑔}, 𝐵𝐵 = {𝑓𝑓, 𝑗𝑗} 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝐶𝐶 = {𝑑𝑑, 𝑔𝑔}. Answer each of the following questions.
Give the reasons for your answers.
a. 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 𝐵𝐵 ⊆ 𝐴𝐴?
b. 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 𝐶𝐶 ⊆ 𝐴𝐴?
c. 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 𝐶𝐶 ⊆ 𝐶𝐶?
d. 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 𝐶𝐶 ⊂ 𝐴𝐴?
17. Answer each of the following questions.
a. 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 3 ∈ {1,2,3}?
b. 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 1 ⊆ {1}?
c. 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 {2} ∈ {1,2}?
d. 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 {3} ∈ �1, {2}. {3}�?
e. 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 1 ∈ {1}?
f. 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 {2} ⊆ �1, {2}, {3}�?
g. 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 {1} ⊆ {1,2}?
h. 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 1 ∈ �{1}, 2�?
i. 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 {1} ⊆ �1, {2}�?
j. 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 {1} ⊆ {1}