Gec 4 - Module 2
Gec 4 - Module 2
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
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.
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:
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.
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.
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 .
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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
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
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
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,
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.
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
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:
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)
Note that the operations “addition” and “multiplication” are commutative and associative,
whereas “subtraction”, “division”, and “exponential” are neither commutative nor associative.
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Chapter 2. Mathematical Language and Symbols
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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