Mathematical Language and

Symbols
 Mathematical Language and Symbols

Introduction
People frequently have trouble understanding mathematical ideas: not
necessarily because the ideas are difficult, but because they are being
presented in a foreign language - the language of mathematics.
 Mathematical Language and Symbols
Characteristics of the language of Mathematics
The language of mathematics makes it easy to express the kinds of thoughts
that mathematicians like to express. It is:
• Precise (able to make very fine distinctions)
• Concise (able to say things briefly)
• Powerful (able to express complex thoughts with relative ease)
The language of mathematics can be learned, but requires the efforts needed to
learn any foreign language.
 Mathematical Language and Symbols
Characteristics of the language of Mathematics
English: Nouns vs. Sentences
In English, nouns are used to name things we want to talk about (like people,
places and things); whereas sentences are used to state complete thought.
A typical English sentences has at least one noun, and at least one verb. For
example, consider the sentence:
Anne hates mathematics
Anne, Mathematics = nouns
Hates = verb
 Mathematical Language and Symbols
Characteristics of the language of Mathematics
Mathematics: Expressions vs. sentences
• `nouns' of mathematics (used to name mathematical objects of interest) are
called expression
• `sentences' of mathematics (which state complete mathematical thoughts)
are also called sentence.
ENGLISH MATHEMATICS
Name given to an Noun Expression
object of interest (person, place, things) Ex: 5, 2 + 3, ½, Set A
Ex: Carol, Philippines, Book
A complete thought Sentence Sentence:
Ex: Ex:
The capital of the Philippines is 3+4=7
Manila. 3+4=8
Isaiah owns that book. 2+2<4
 Mathematical Language and Symbols
Characteristics of the language of Mathematics
Example: Classify the entries below as: an English noun (EN), or a Mathematical
expression (ME), English sentence (ES), or a Mathematical sentence (MS)
1. Cat EN
2. 3 ME

3. The word ‘cat’ begins with letter ‘k’ ES

4. 1 + 2 = 4 MS
5. 6 – 3 ME
6. 5 – 3 = 2 MS
7. The cat is black ES
8. x ME
9. x = 1 MS
10. t + 3 = 3 + t MS
 Mathematical Language and Symbols
Characteristics of the language of Mathematics
Mathematics: Expressions vs. sentences
Expressions have lot of different names, the same as the concepts of
“synonyms” in English language.
Example: The expressions
5, 1 + 4, 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1, 10/2, 20-15
Look different but are just different names for the same number.
Note: The symbols +, -, ×, ÷ are called connectors. They are use to connect two
or more expressions to form another expression.
 Mathematical Language and Symbols
Characteristics of the language of Mathematics
Mathematical ‘Verbs’
• In the mathematical sentence “3 + 4 = 7”, the verb is “=“
• Popular verbs in mathematics:
Symbol Name Meaning/Definition Example
= Equal sign Equality 5=2+3
 Not equal sign Inequality 54
 Approximately equal Approximation XY
> Strict inequality Greater than 5>4
< Strict inequality Less than 4<5
≥ Inequality Greater than or equal to 5≥4
≤ inequality Less than or equal to 4≤5
 Mathematical Language and Symbols
Characteristics of the language of Mathematics
Mathematical Symbols
Symbol Meaning
Uppercase Designates set name
Lowercase Designates set elements
{ } Enclose elements in set
 or  Is (or is not) an element of
 Is a subset of
 Is a proper subset of
 Is not a subset of
 Is a superset of
| or : Such that
| | The cardinality of a set
 Mathematical Language and Symbols
The Language of Mathematics
The Language of Mathematics
The Language of Mathematics was designed so we can write about:
• Things like Numbers, Sets, Functions, etc
• What we Do with those things (add, subtract, multiply, divide, join together,
etc)
 Mathematical Language and Symbols
The Language of Mathematics
Symbols
Mathematics uses symbols instead of words:
• There are the 10 digits: 0, 1, 2, ... 9
• There are symbols for operations: +, −, ×, /, ...
• And symbols that "stand in" for values: x, y, ...
• And many special symbols: π, =, <, ≤, ...
 Mathematical Language and Symbols
The Language of Mathematics
Letter Conventions
Letters often have special uses:
Examples What they usually mean
Start of the alphabet: a, b, c, ... constants (fixed values)
From i to n: i, j, k, l, m, n positive integers (for counting)
End of the alphabet: ... x, y, z variables (unknowns)
Those are not rules, but they are often used that way.
Example: y = ax + b
People will assume that a and b are fixed values,
And that x is the one that changes, which in turn makes y change.
 Mathematical Language and Symbols
The Language of Mathematics
UPPERCASE vs lowercase
It is also common to use
• lowercase for variables (like x or y) or counting values (like m or n) and
• UPPERCASE for sets (like X or Y) and special constants
Example:
A = {1, 2, 3}
Using an uppercase "A" makes it easy to tell it is a set.
 Mathematical Language and Symbols
The Language of Mathematics
Nouns, Verbs, Sentences
We don't use the words "noun", "verb", or "pronoun" in Mathematics, but we
can imagine these similarities to English:
Nouns could be fixed things, such as numbers, or expressions with numbers:
15 2(3-1/2) 42
The Verb could be the equals sign "=", or an inequality like < or >
Pronouns (things like it, he, you, etc) could be variables like x or y:
5x-7 xy2 -3/x
And they could be put together into a Sentence like this:
3x + 7 = 22
(And we actually do use the word sentence in mathematics!)
 Mathematical Language and Symbols
Translate Phrases to Mathematical Expressions
Many words and phrases suggest mathematical operations. The following
common words and phrases indicate addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division.
 Mathematical Language and Symbols
Translate Phrases to Mathematical Expressions
Verbal phrases can be translated into variable expressions. Some examples are
below.
 Mathematical Language and Symbols
Translate Phrases to Mathematical Expressions
Whenever possible, select a single variable to represent an unknown quantity.
Then express related quantities in terms of the first variable selected.
Examples
For each relationship, select a variable to represent one quantity and state what
that variable represents. Then express the second quantity in terms of the
variable selected.
a) The Kings scored 7 more points than the Rangers.
Let r = number of points scored by the Rangers
Let r + 7 = number of points scored by the Kings
b) Bob and Marc share $65.
Let a = how much Bob receives.
Let 65 - a = amount Marc receives.
 Mathematical Language and Symbols
Exercises
Translate the following:
1. Twelve more than a number. 12 + X
2. Twelve more than a number is twenty. 12 + X = 20
3. X – 2 = 10 When two is subtracted from some
number, the result is ten.
4. 2X – 7 = 25 Twice a number is decreased by seven
resulting to 25
 Mathematical Language and Symbols
Exercises
Translate the following phrases into mathematical expressions or equations:
1. Six less than twice a number is forty five.
2. A number minus seven yields ten
3. A total of six and some number
Translate the mathematical expression into English:
1. x + 12 = 8
2. 3x = 15
3. 5(x + 4)