Mathematical

Language and Symbols

Learning Objectives
› Discuss the language, symbols and conventions of
mathematics.
› Explain the nature of mathematics as a language.
› Compare and Contrast Expression and Equation
› Perform operations on mathematical expressions
correctly.
What is a Language?
- It is a systematic means of communicating ideas or
feelings by the use of conventional symbols,
sounds, or marks having understood meaning.
Mathematical Language
- It is a spoken and written natural languages for
expressing mathematical language.
- It is a system used to communicate mathematical
ideas.
- It consists of some natural language using technical
terms (mathematical terms) and grammatical
conventions supplemented by a highly specialized
symbolic notation for mathematical formulas.
Mathematical Language
Characteristics:
› Precise – able to make very fine distinctions
› Concise – able to say things briefly
› Powerful – able to express thoughts with relative
ease
Mathematical Symbols
- Instead of writing sentences into words,
mathematical sentences are written in terms of
numbers and symbols.
- Mathematics uses symbols instead of words. The
symbols can designate numbers, variables,
operations, functions, brackets, punctuations, and
groupings to help determine order of operations
Ex. There are 10 digits: (0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9)
There are symbols for operations : (+, -, x, ÷ )
Mathematical Symbols
= (equal) ≈ (approximately)
+ (addition) ≠ (not equal)
÷ (division  (element)
- (subtraction) ↔ (if and only if)
X (multiplication) → (implies)
< (less than) ∞ (infinity)
> (greater than) % (percent)
≤ (less than or equal) # (number)
≥ (greater than or equal) & (and)
Number Problems
-Sample of words used to represent mathematical
operations.
Add Subtract Multiply Divide
sum difference times Quotient
Increased by Decreased by product Per
More than fewer double Divided equally
total Less than Twice Split into
In all Diminished by - Fraction
Gain Reduced by - Ratio of
plus Minus -
Mathematical Language
Expression
- is a finite combination of symbols that is well-
defined according to rules that depend on the
context.
- It is the correct arrangement of mathematical
symbols to represent the object of interest, does
not contain a complete thought, and cannot be
determined if it is true or false.
Example of Mathematical Expression
The sum of 4 times a number x and 7

The sum of p and q less than the sum of n and m

The product of 3 and 2

Mathematical Language
Equation
- A group of number or variable with mathematical
operation separated by an equal sign.
- a statement that the values of two mathematical
expressions are equal.
Example of Mathematical Equations
The sum of 4 times a number x and 7 is 10
= 10
The sum of p and q less than the sum of n and m is
10
=10
The product of 3 and 2 is 6
=6
Expression vs Equation

Expression Equation
Sum of two numbers x and y Sum of two numbers is 10

X+Y X + Y = 10
Expression or equation?
Classify:
1. 2x-3
2. X=1
3. 12+3=15
4. X + 2x + 3x + 4x
5. X+y+3
 English words to Mathematics
Statement Expression/Equation

Five increased by four times a number 5+ 4 𝑥

Eight less than twice a number 2 𝑥 −8
Three times a number, increased by 9
3 𝑥+ 9
The product of 4, and a number decreased 4( 𝑥 −7)
by 7.
Three times a number, divided by 10 is 15 3𝑥
=15
10
10 less than the quotient of a number and
2 is zero ( )
𝑥
2
− 10= 0

12 more than the product of a number and

2 is 36
2 𝑥+12
Solving
- It is finding the value for the variable that makes
the sentence true.
Example:
Solve: The sum of 4 times a number x and 7 is
10
= 10
= 10-7
=
Functions/ Classifications of Numbers
› Nominal Numbers – attribute of subjects that is
used for naming, labeling and categorizing.
ex: House number, Jersey number, Phone
number
› Ordinal Numbers – characteristics of subjects that
is used for ranking or ordering.
ex : (1st)First, (2nd )Second, (3rd)Third, ……
› Cardinal Numbers – counting numbers that start
from 1 and go on sequentially.
ex : 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12, ……..
Difficulties in the Mathematical Language
› The word “and” means differently in Mathematics
from English in use. The Mathematics “and” is
equivalent to “plus” (+).
› The different uses of number to express quantity
(Cardinal). To indicate the order (Ordinal), and as a
label (Nominal).
› Mathematical objects can be represented in many
ways such as sets and function
Mathematical Conventions
- Is a fact, name, notation, or usage which is
generally agreed upon by mathematicians.

PEMDAS (Parenthesis, Exponent,

Multiplication, Division, Addition and Subtraction)
Example:
Convert the following English Statements
into Mathematical Expressions/Equations
1. The product of the sum and the difference of
eleven and nine.
2. One half of a number diminished by 10
3. One half of a number added top eight is less than
one third of a number minus 5.
4. Five less than six times a number is nineteen.
5. The ratio of sum and difference of a number and
three is five.