Mathematical Language and Symbols The sum of 3 and 5 times the number x

THE ROLE OF LANGUANGE IN 3 + 5x

MATHEMATICS POWERFUL
Language is important in performing man’s
• Mathematics is powerful because you can
everyday activities. People use language to develop
only perform efficiently in problem solving if
ideas and to express them to other people.
you understand the language of mathematics.
Similarly in the field of mathematics, • To express mathematical ideas, you need to
mathematical language is adapted to express master requirements and conventions.
mathematical ideas. • Learning the language of mathematics
empowers you to be efficient problem
The purpose of mathematics is to arrive at a
solvers.
common understanding; that is; to avoid difficulties
in expressing mathematical objects. Mathematical language skills include the abilities:
All languages have their own vocabulary, and • to read with comprehension;
mathematics is no exception. • to express mathematical thoughts clearly;
• to reason logically; and
• to recognize and employ common patterns of
Characteristics of Mathematical Language mathematical thought.
PRECISE Mathematical Expressions and Sentences
• Mathematical expressions are very precise Expressions
and has its own distinct meaning.
• Mastery of such characteristics is best • Mathematics is powerful because you can
learned through understanding the language only perform efficiently in problem solving if
of mathematics. you understand the language of mathematics.
• The symbols retain the important • To express mathematical ideas, you need to
information, and the context needs only to be master requirements and conventions.
referred to again when stating a solution. • Learning the language of mathematics
empowers you to be efficient problem
Examples solvers.
The sum of five times a number and twelve Examples
5x + 12
Eight-O-seven The ratio of longer part a and a shorter part b.
08:07 a/b
Eight hundred nine The sum of a number and four
809 n+4
Twenty-nineteen One less than a number x
2019 x-1
φ2 - φ – 1
CONCISE
Sentences
• The language of mathematics is concise as it A mathematical sentence is a correct
use symbols instead of spelled-out words. arrangement of mathematical symbols that states a
• Using symbols, mathematical expressions or complete thought
sentences become brief, and ambiguities are The most common mathematical statements
avoided. or sentences are called equations and inequalities
=,>,<,≥,≤
Example
The square root of the sum of the quarter of a, and
Example
thrice of b
The golden ratio is defined as ratio of longer part a
√(a/4+3b)
and a shorter part b.
Sum of the squares of a number x and 3
φ = a/b
x2 + 32
Seven less than a number is three Algebraic Expression to Verbal Expressions
x-7=3 3n + 9
• It can be expressed as simply as, “Three times
n plus nine”
• The sum of thrice a number and 9
x-y
• The difference of a number x and another
number y
4(n - 7)
• The product of 4, and a number decreased by
Open Sentences 7

a mathematical sentence that is sometimes CONVENTIONS in the MATHEMATICAL

true or sometimes false LANGUAGE

2 – z < 2z – 7 Mathematics has its own conventions or

rules. Symbols and equations in mathematics are
An octagon has x sides particularly written as a precise form of shorthand.
3x – 2 = y – 5 1. Formulas and equations need to be
contained in complete sentences with proper
Close Sentences
punctuations.
closed sentence is a mathematical sentence in
Example: The area of a rectangle is given by
which we are sure that it is true or false
the equation
The cube root of 27 is 3
𝑨=𝑳𝑾
x–1=x+1
where 𝐿 is the length and 𝑊 is the width.
148 is an even number
Suppose we want to find the length of the
77 – 12 = 55 rectangle with the given area of 63 square meters and
a width of 7 meters.
The square root of -16 is -4
𝐴=𝐿𝑊
63=𝐿(7)
Verbal Expressions to Algebraic Expression
𝐿=63/7
• Five increased by four times a number
𝐿=9 meters.
5 + 4n
2. Important or long formulas are written
• Eight less than twice a number
on separate lines.
• Eight less twice a number
Example: The roots of the quadratic
2) 2n - 8
equation 𝑎𝑥^2+𝑏𝑥+𝑐=0, where 𝑎 , 𝑏 , 𝑐 are real
3) 8 - 2n numbers with 𝑎≠0, can be found by using the formula

• Express the area of a rectangle whose length

is twice its width decreased by 6.
lw
3. With a sequence of calculations,
l=2w-6 sometimes it is best to just place each equation on
a separate line
w • (2w - 6)
 4. For a difficult computation where the mathematical terms such as the names of the
reader might not readily understand each step, trigonometric functions and logarithmic
you can include words to describe the steps you functions.
take.
Example: We do not write tanx or tanx. The
proper way to typeset this is tan⁡𝑥. (only 𝑥 is
italicized)
Solution: Multiplying both sides of the equation by 8. Do not use * for multiplication or ^ for
the LCD=12, we get exponents. Leave this type of notation for writing
computer code. The use of this notation makes it
4(𝑥−2)+2(4−𝑥)=3𝑥+2
difficult to read. Also, avoid using slash ( / ) for
Using the distributive property of multiplication over division when using a complex fraction.
addition,
Example: It is very difficult to read the
4𝑥−8+8−2𝑥=3𝑥+2 fraction
Combining similar terms, we obtain (2*x^3-5*x^2+1/2)/(2*x/3-5).
𝑥=2.
5. Some things are best described in words.
But other things are best expressed with
mathematical solution.
Example: It is a bit hard or awkward to read
9. Don’t start a sentence with a formula.
“It follows that 𝑥 plus 5 is smaller than
While it may be grammatically correct, it look
zero.”
strange.
Using mathematical notation is more convenient
Examples:
“It follows that 𝑥+5<0.”
𝑥=2 and 𝑦=−1 is a solution to the equation
6. Use equation numbers if it is necessary 𝑥^2−3𝑦−7=0. (Wrong)
to refer to the same equation later. That equation
𝑓 is continuous at 𝑥=−2. (Wrong)
should be centered and assigned a number. The
number for the equation should be written in Adding just a word or two can fix those examples.
parentheses on the same line as the equation at the
right-hand margin. The values of 𝑥=2 and 𝑦=−1 is a solution to the
equation 𝑥^2−3𝑦−7=0.
The function 𝑓 is continuous at 𝑥=−2.

Basic Mathematical Concepts

Roster or List Method

7. Use italics for variables when using a Roster or List Method is easy to use
word processor. Mathematics that is written with especially if the set has only a few elements no matter
a word processor should look like typeset what they are.
mathematics. This means that variables should be
written in italics and regular font is used for For example,
A = { 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, … }
B = {0, 2, 4, 6, 8} • We define the size, or cardinal number, of
any set A as |A|.
C = {a, e, i, o, u}
For example, if A = {a, b, c, d, e, f, g}, then |A| = 7.
Subset
Rule or Description Method
By definition, set A is a subset of set B,
Rule or Description Method you can describe
written as A ⊂ B, if every member of A is also a
a set by giving a description that fits each and all of
member of B.
the elements.
Otherwise, we write A ⊄ B, read as “A is not
we are using the symbol “x|x” that reads “x
a subset of B” to mean there is at least one element
such that x” (in other book, it is written as “x:x”)
of A that is not in B.
Example:
For example,
A = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 }; B = { 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 };
A = { 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, … } A = {x|x is a whole C = { 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 }
number}
Is B⊂ A?
B = {0, 2, 4, 6, 8} B = {x|x is an even
Is C⊂ A?
number from 0 to 8}
C = {a, e, i, o, u} C = {x|x is vowel from No, because 0 ∉A

the English alphabet} Equal Sets

Don’ts: Do not express as {x|x is a set…} Moreover, we can say that two sets are equal
(or identical), written as A = B, if an only if they have
the same elements
Roster Vs. Rule Alternatively, we can say that A = B, if and
only if A ⊂ B and B ⊂ A.
• Roster is commonly used if the set contains
few elements. Equivalent Sets
• Roster is used if the elements do not have a
Equivalent sets compose of two or
common property.
more sets with the same number of elements.
Examples
1. {books, pen, dog, cat}
2. { m, a, t, h }
3. {plants, animals, microorganisms}
• If the element have infinite number of
elements
Examples
1. { x|x is a star in the universe}
• { x|x is a whole number}
• { x|x is a letter from the Engish alphabet }
Member
If an element x is a member of the set A, we
write x ∈ A; otherwise, we write x ∉ A.
For example, if A = {a, b, c, d, e, f, g}, then
f ∈ A but note that F ∉ A.
Size or Cardinal Number
• Size, or cardinal number is the number of
elements in the set
Operations on Sets