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Gec 4 - Module 2

Chapter 2 discusses the characteristics and conventions of mathematical language, emphasizing its precision, conciseness, and power. It distinguishes between mathematical expressions and sentences, introduces basic concepts such as sets, relations, functions, and binary operations, and highlights their significance in mathematics. The chapter also provides definitions, examples, and methods for describing sets and operations, along with resources for further learning.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
12 views8 pages

Gec 4 - Module 2

Chapter 2 discusses the characteristics and conventions of mathematical language, emphasizing its precision, conciseness, and power. It distinguishes between mathematical expressions and sentences, introduces basic concepts such as sets, relations, functions, and binary operations, and highlights their significance in mathematics. The chapter also provides definitions, examples, and methods for describing sets and operations, along with resources for further learning.

Uploaded by

Azy Dizon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHAPTER

2
Mathematic
al Language
and
Symbols
Chapter Outline
2.1Introduction
2.2Characteristics of Mathematical Language
2.3Conventions in the Mathematical Language
2.4Expression vs. Sentence
2.5Basic Concepts

Learning Objectives

1. Identify the characteristics of mathematical language.


2. Distinguish the difference between mathematical expression and sentences.
3. Convert mathematical expression or statement into a mathematical symbol.
4. Use the four basic concepts of mathematics in a mathematical statement.
5. Appreciate the uses of mathematical concepts, symbols, and
conventions of mathematics in everyday life.
Chapter 2. Mathematical Language and Symbols

2.1 Introduction
Many mathematicians regard Mathematics as a universal language. Its characteristic as a
language is evident in the numbers, variables, symbols, and operations used to form equations that
are common in every part of the world.

In this chapter, we will be dealing with such language, the language of mathematics. We will
study mathematical language and its characteristics, convention of mathematical language and
mathematical symbols. We will also be dealing with the difference between mathematical
expression and mathematical sentence. Moreover, the four basic mathematical concepts such as
sets, functions, relations and binary operations will also be discussed.

2.2 Characteristics of Mathematical Language


Language is a system of communication used by a particular community that can either be
spoken or written. It is a way of transforming information and meaning. And the system used to
communicate mathematical ideas is called mathematical language.

To make the language of mathematics easy to express in the kind of thoughts that
mathematicians would like to say, the following characteristics of language are considered:

 precise (able to give very fine distinctions)


 concise (able to tell things briefly)
 powerful (able to convey complex thoughts with relative ease)

2.3 Conventions in the Mathematical Language


A Mathematical Convention is a fact, name, notation, or usage which is generally agreed
upon by mathematicians.

Mathematical symbols are very important in mathematical works. Instead of words, they
are used to describe the conventions used by mathematicians, even engineers, and scientists. Here
are some of the symbols commonly used in Mathematics:
 The 10 digits: 0, 1, 2, 3,…..9
 Symbols for operations: , , , , 
 Inequality symbols: ,*
 Grouping symbols: >, <, ≥, ≤
( ), [ ], { }

Another form of a mathematical symbol used when quantities take different values is
variables.

Definition 2.3.1. A variable is a symbol commonly represented by any letter that may assume various
values.

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Chapter 2. Mathematical Language and Symbols

For instance, the phrase “a number” is sometimes expressed as variable x, a, b, or any other
letter in the English alphabet.

There are many other conventions in Mathematics but only those conventions about the
translation of expression, sentences, sets, relations, and functions are the focus of the discussions
here.

2.4 Expression vs. Sentence


Mathematical language has expressions and sentences. There are several problems in our
everyday lives that are expressed in words and not in symbols. In mathematics, these problems
which are stated in words have to be translated into mathematical symbols first before they can be
solved.

Definition 2.4.1. A mathematical expression consists of terms. This term of mathematical expression
is separated from other terms with either plus or minus signs.

Definition 2.4.2. A mathematical sentence is a sequence of symbols that describes the relationship
between two or more expressions.

An expression does NOT state a complete thought. Thus, it does not make sense to ask if an
expression is true or false. On the other hand, mathematical sentences state a complete thought.
Thus, it can be true, false, or sometimes true/ sometimes false. The property of being true or false is
very important in the mathematical language.

A mathematical sentence can be an open or a closed sentence.

Definition 2.4.3. An open sentence means it is not known whether or not the mathematical
sentence is true or false.

Definition 2.4.4. A closed sentence is a mathematical sentence that is known to be either true or
false.

2.5Basic Concepts
2.5.1 Sets
Definition 2.5.1.1. A set is a collection of well-defined objects.

Definition 2.5.1.2. The individual objects in a set are called the members or elements and is
denoted by  .

A set is well-defined if it is possible to decide whether an object belongs to a given set or


not.

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Chapter 2. Mathematical Language and Symbols

Sets are denoted by any capital letter of the English alphabet, while, the elements by small
letters. Say, for instance, the set of integers is denoted by letter .

A set that has no element is called the empty set or null set and is denoted by Ø or { }. The
set {Ø} is not empty since it has one element, namely Ø.

In Mathematics, there are certain sets of numbers that are given special symbolic names.
Some of which are as follows:
R – set of all real numbers
R + – set of all positive real numbers
Q – set of all rational numbers
N – set of natural or counting numbers
W – set of whole numbers
–-– set of all negative integers

Two Ways of Describing a Set


There are two ways of describing a set, namely: the tabular or roster method and the rule
method.

 The tabular or roster method enumerates or lists the distinct elements of a set
 The rule method makes use of description by giving the common characteristics of the
elements.

In the roster method, the elements are separated by commas and are enclosed in braces { },
while, the rule method is customarily denoted by {x condition/characteristics of the elements}. The
vertical bar, , is a symbolic representation for the phrase “such that”.

Note that the notation in the rule method is called set-builder notation. This is a more
compact and efficient notation for describing sets especially those which cannot be specified by
enumeration.

Sets can be classified into either a finite set or an infinite set. A finite set has the property that
the process of enumerating the elements ends with a last one in the list while an infinite set does not
allow enumeration of all elements in the list. The number of distinct elements of a finite set is called
the cardinality of the set.

Subsets

 If A and B are set such that every element of A is also an element of B, then we say that A is a
subset of B, in symbol, A B. Also, we can use the phrases “A is contained in B” or “B
contains A” as alternative ways of saying that A is a subset of B.

 If there is at least one element of A that is not an element of B, then we say that A is not a
subset of B, in symbol, A B.

 If A is a subset of B and B is also a subset of A, then A and B are said to be equal, in symbol,
A  B . This concept may be written as,

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Chapter 2. Mathematical Language and Symbols

A  B  A B and B  A ; where  stands for the phrase “ if and only if”



If A B and A  B. , then we say that A is a proper subset of B, in symbol, A B.

Note that every set is a subset of itself and the empty set is a subset of every set.

Cartesian Product
The Cartesian product of sets A and B denoted by A x B (read as “A cross B”) is the set of all
ordered pairs (x, y) where x  A and y  B. In symbol, we write it as

A x B = {(x, y)x A and y  B}

An ordered pair denoted by (x, y), commonly known as point, has two components called
the x and y coordinates wherein x is strictly the first element and y is strictly the second element.

If A and B are finite sets, then the cardinal number of A x B is equal to the product of
the cardinal numbers of A and B. Symbolically,

n(AxB)= n(A)· n(B)

2.5.2 Relations and Functions

Another basic concept in mathematical language is relation and function. A relation is simply
an association between two objects.

From the mathematical standpoint, a relation is any set of ordered pairs (x,y) of real
numbers and is usually considered a subset of a cartesian product. The set of all values of x is called
the domain of the relation while the set of all values of y is called the range of the relation. We shall
denote the domain of the relation by D and the range of the relation by R.

A function is a special kind of relation in which every element of the domain is the x-
coordinate of an ordered pair of the function and no two ordered pairs have the same x-coordinate.
Hence, when all ordered pairs of a relation are listed, one can decide whether such a relation is a
function or not by simply examining its x-coordinates.

In discussing functions, it is customary to use lowercase letters. However, this is not


mandatory. Consider the function denoted by f, the symbol f(x) read as “f of x” or “f at x” is used as
an abbreviation to denote the unique y-coordinate. Hence, in general, if (x, y)  f, then y = f(x). Note
that it is f which represents the function while f(x) is the functional value of f at x. Another notation
of function is written symbolically as f: x  y, where x is an element of the domain, and y is an
element of the range.

Ways How to Write or Represent Relations

Aside from writing a relation in set notation, there are other ways of writing or representing
a relation. We can use a table, graph (plot in the Cartesian plane), and mapping diagram.

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Chapter 2. Mathematical Language and Symbols

2.5.3 Binary Operations

Also, another basic concept of utmost importance in mathematics is the binary operations.

A binary operation on a non-empty set A are functions from A x A (read “A cross A”) to A. It
is an operation of two elements of the set whose domain and co-domain are in the same set. It is
usually denoted by the symbol * (read “star”).

The binary operations associate any two components of a group. Some familiar examples of
binary operations are “addition” (+), “subtraction” (-), “multiplication”(x or  ), “division” (÷) and
“exponential.” Since the result of performing the operation on the pair of elements of set A is again
an element of set A, the operation is called a closed binary operation on A (sometimes expressed as
having the property of closure).

There are five other properties that a binary operation may have aside from closure
property these are as follows:

1. Commutative: Consider a non-empty set A. The operation ∗ is said to be commutative if


a ∗ b is always equal to b ∗ a. In symbol, a ∗ b = b ∗ a.

2. Associative: If for non-empty set A, a ∗ (b ∗ c) is always equal to (a ∗ b) ∗ c. In symbol,


a ∗ (b ∗ c)= (a ∗ b) ∗ c.

3. Distributive: Let ∗ and ∘ be two binary operations. The binary operations are distributive if
a ∗ (b ∘ c)= (a ∗ b) ∘ (a ∗ c) or (b ∘ c) ∗ a = (b ∗ a) ∘ (c ∗ a)

4. Identity: An element e of A is called an identity for ∗, if e ∗ a = a ∗ e = a for every element a


of A. The identities for “addition” and “multiplication”, respectively are 0 and 1.

5. Inverse: If ∗ has an identity e and a belongs to A, then an inverse for a is an element b


provided that a ∗ b = b ∗ a = e.

Note that the operations “addition” and “multiplication” are commutative and associative,
whereas “subtraction”, “division”, and “exponential” are neither commutative nor associative.

12
Chapter 2. Mathematical Language and Symbols

Watch the following videos for further explanation and examples:

 Translating words into symbols:


https://youtu.be/ZvyVh6p0vJE; https://youtu.be/-O3RfzinbLE; https://youtu.be/AdwLWACcqwE
 Sets:
https://youtu.be/05Z_dudVav0; https://youtu.be/r6xK7YkVjyg
 Cartesian Product:
https://youtu.be/rtdJCksfSaM
 Relations and Functions:
https://youtu.be/r6xK7YkVjyg; https://youtu.be/AvUlyCzhYBs
 Binary Operations:
https://youtu.be/VzsAehzmjrU

Download the following files for practice exercises:

 Practice exercises with Quiz about translation of mathematical statement into symbols:
https://imathblog.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/translation-of-mathematical-statement-in-
symbols/
 Practice Exercises about Sets:
https://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/sets/practice_unit15;
https://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/sets/challenge_unit15
 Practice Exercises about Relations and Functions:
https://www.teamtapiapshs.com/uploads/1/3/7/2/13720660/relations_practice.pdf

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Chapter 2. Mathematical Language and Symbols

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