Program: BEEd, BSEd, BSBA, AOA

Course Code: GEC 04

Subject: Mathematics in the Modern World

Learning Module No. 2

Name Rating
Date of Submission Session

Topic: Mathematical Language and Symbols

Learning Outcomes: a. Discuss the language, symbols, and conventions used in mathematics.
b. Explain the nature of mathematics as a language.
c. Evaluate mathematical expressions correctly.
d. Recognize that mathematics is a useful language.
References: Baltazar, E. et al. Mathematics in the Modern World.
C & E Publishing, Inc., 2018.
Rodriguez, M. et al. Mathematics in the Modern World.
Nieme Publishing House Co. Ltd., 2018.

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 Discussion Proper:

2.1 The Language of Mathematics

ENGLISH vs MATHEMATICS

Can you imagine how you would be able to communicate with a seatmate in the bus who speaks an
entirely different language from yours? You may be able to tell him or her to watch over your bag as
you get off the bus for a while to buy something through certain nonverbal gestures. That can be done
with sign language. Language facilitates communication and meaning-making. It allows people to express
themselves and maintain their identity. Likewise, language bridges the gap among people from various
cultural origins without prejudice to their background and upbringing. If you plan to marry someone with
a different language and culture, you need to know his or her language and culture to be able to live with
him or her as a spouse.

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 Have you seen the characters of the Mandarin language? The Mandarin language has different charac-
ters for sun, moon, stars, things like house, chair, table, furniture, trees, plants, flowers, and relationships
like grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, sister, brother, etc. These unfamiliar characters in the
written Mandarin language may make learning Mandarin more difficult than the Greek language even if
Greek letters are different from the English alphabet. Mathematics is also a language. It has its own
symbol system, the same way the English or Greek languages have their own alphabet.

2.1.1 Characteristics of Mathematical Language

Mathematical language is precise which means it is able to make very fine distinctions or definitions among a
set of mathematical symbols. It is concise because a mathematician can express otherwise long expositions
or sentences briefly using the language of mathematics. The mathematical language is powerful, that is,
one can express complex thoughts with relative ease. For example, consider the sentence ”The sum of
any two real numbers is also a real number.” In mathematical notation, this declarative sentence can be
written as:
∀a, b, ∈ R, a + b ∈ R
Mathematics is a symbolic language. Some of the symbols you may encounter are the following.

Σ the sum of
∃ there exists
∀ for every (for any)
∈ element of (or member of)
∈
/ not an element of (or not a member of)
⊆ subset of
⇒ if ..., then
⇔ if and only if
R set of real numbers
N set of natural numbers
Z set of integers
Q set of rational numbers
∞ infinity

Mathematical language can describe a subset of the real world using only the symbols above. Problems
in physics like freely falling bodies, speed, and acceleration; quantities like the chemical content of vegetable;
the use of mathematical modeling in biological disease modeling; and the formulas employed in the social
sciences can all be expressed using mathematical sentences or formulas. Mathematics describes abstract
structures as well. There are areas of pure mathematics which deal with abstract structures, which have
no known physical counterparts at all. These are studied in areas of mathematics like abstract algebra,
linear algebra, topology, real analysis, and complex analysis.
Mathematics, therefore, is the language of the sciences, business, economics, music, architecture, arts,
and even politics. There is an intimate connection between the language of mathematics and the English
language. The left brain hemisphere which is responsible for controlling language is also the same part of
the brain in charge of tasks involving mathematics. Is it the left brain hemisphere that coordinates logical
or analytical thinking while the right brain hemisphere is responsible for creative thinking.
When you think about something, you first ask what this thing really is. Then you relate it with what
you already know or even classify it in your mind. Next, you think about rules that govern such things.
You do this mental task most of the time using the language that you use as part of your thought process.
When you think about mathematics in your class in elementary, junior, or senior high school, you usually
look for a definition of the mathematical word or concept you heard. You then apply this concept based
on the meanings attributed to it, most likely by identifying valid applications or operations of the concept.
With repeated practice, you then grasp the rules that govern its defined application.
Chinese, Greek, and English languages are the same because they communicate ideas through symbols
that feed the mind with information. More often however, a Chinese word or symbol may mean differently
in the Greek or English language resulting in confusion. Mathematics tries to avoid this difficulty by

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adopting a universally understood symbolic system for its language. Thus, the language of mathematics
can be considered a common language of the world. Any student learning mathematics in all parts of the
globe should be able to understand mathematics even if he or she does not understand English or Filipino.

2.2 Expressions vs. Sentences

A sentence must contain a complete thought. In the English language an ordinary sentence must contain a
subject and a predicate. The subject contains a noun or a whole clause. ”Manila” for example is a proper
noun but is not itself a sentence because it does not state a complete thought. Similarly, a mathematical
sentence must state a complete thought. An expression is a name given to a mathematical object of
interest. The term ”1 + 2” is a mathematical expression but not a mathematical sentence. Below are
examples of mathematical expressions:

1. An ordered triple (a, b, c)

 
1 4
2. A matrix
−2 3

3. A function f (x)

4. The set {1, 3, 5}

2.2.1 Truth of Sentences

Mathematical sentences may either be true or false but not both.
Example 1
Write as English sentences and say whether they are true or false.

1. ∀x ∈ R, x2 ≥ 0

2. ∀x, y ∈ R, (x + y)2 = x2 + 2xy + y 2

3. ∃m, n ∈ Z|m − n ≤ m + n

4. ∀a, b ∈ Q, ab = 0 ⇒ a = 0 ∨ b = 0

Solution
1. For any real number x, its square is greater than or equal to 0. TRUE

2. For any real numbers x and y, the square of their sum is equal to the sum of their squares plus
twice their product. TRUE

3. There exist integers m and n such that m minus n is less than or equal to m plus n. TRUE

4. For any rational numbers a and b, if their product is zero then either a equals zero or b equals
zero. TRUE

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 Example 2
Write as mathematical sentences. Discuss how the word ”is” is used.

1. Ten is the square root of 100.

2. Ten is greater than 9.

3. Ten is an even number.

4. Ten is a multiple of 5.

Solution
√
1. 100 = 10

2. 10 > 9

3. 10 ∈ {2n, n ∈ N}

4. 10 ∈ {5n, n ∈ N}

If you notice, the word ”is” could mean equality, inequality, or membership in a set. In the first
example, ”is” is used for equality, in the second for inequality, and in the third, and fourth, it is used
to say that the number 10 belongs to the set of multiples of 2 and the set of multiples of 5.

Numbers can be cardinal, ordinal and nominal. Cardinal numbers are used for counting and answer
the question ”how many?” Ordinal numbers tell the position of a thing in terms of first, second, third,
etc. Nominal numbers are used only as a name, or to identify something (not as an actual value or
position). Examples of nominal numbers are:

1. The number at the back of Michael Jordan is ”23.”

2. The postal zip code of Lingayen is 2401.

3. The name of the shop is ”578.”

Moreover mathematical objects may be represented in many ways such as sets and functions.

2.3 Unary and Binary Operations

Not all operations in mathematics involve two operands or numbers such as in the expression 2 + 3 = 5.
The plus sign between 2 and 3 signifies the operation of addition. The plus symbol here involves a binary
operation. As you may guess, a unary operation accepts only one value or operand.
The plus and minus signs may not mean addition or subtraction when they are attached before a single
number. Instead, they are read as positive and negative signs. When written this way they are called
unary operations. They accept only one value when they do arithmetic.
The positive sign is very much like the addition operation but has a different meaning when attached
to only one number. For example, consider this expression: +4 (read as ’positive four’). It does not really
mean ’add four’. The value of four represented by the number 4 is considered as a single operand by the
unary operator, ’+’, and that operation produces a value of positive four. Obviously, ’+4’ and ’4’ each
represent the same value. So, one can say that an ’invisible’ positive sign exists before any number.
The negative (or opposite) sign is a unary operator. Consider this expression: -4. Technically here,
the negative sign operator accepts a value of four as its operand and produces a value of negative four.
Obviously, ’-4’ and ’4’ represent different values. There are no invisible negative signs in math expressions.
In summary, unary operations involve only one value. There are many unary operations on the set of
real numbers. For example, negation is a unary operation. The others are the trigonometric functions,

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the single-variable function f (x), the factorial denoted n!, the transpose of a matrix AT , the square root
of 100 among others. Additional examples of unary operations are given below:
1. −5
2. sin x
3. cos 45◦
4. tan π3
On the other hand, when ”+” and ”−” can act on two operands, then it is called a binary operation.
Among the binary operators, the ’+’ and ”−” require more attention than all other binary operations. To
understand this better, recall the concept of ’double negative’ you learned in high school. The double
negative is taught to be equivalent to the statement ’two negatives make a positive.’ Consider this
expression: 3 − (−2). In this expression, two operations are present using the symbol ’−’. However, the
two ’−’ should not be interpreted to represent two identical operations. The first symbol (left most), is the
binary subtraction operation. The other (right before the integer 2) is the unary negative sign operator.
So what to you do to this expression? The negative sign operator has precedence over the subtraction
operator, so it accepts operands first. In the number line you go three units to the right of zero to locate
3. To subtract two from three means you go two units to the left of three but to subtract a negative two
means you count the opposite of negative two from three which is counting two units to the right of three.
The result of this is five, represented by the number line 5 units from zero.

−3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

We write: 5 = 3 − (−2). This expression also equals: 5 + 3 = 2. Since both expressions are equal to
five, then the right-hand sides must equal together. Hence,
3 + 2 = 3 − (−2).
Binary operations take two values, and include the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplica-
tion, division, and exponentiation. There are many binary operations on real numbers. An operation is
binary if it takes two real numbers as arguments to produce another real number. If we let multiplication,
denoted by the symbol ×, be a binary operation, then 4 × 6 yields the real number 24 on 4 × 6 = 24.
Additional examples are given below:
1. Addition (e.g., 4 + 5 = 9)
2. Subtraction (e.g., 10 − 8 = 2)
The properties of two binary operations, addition and multiplication, over the set of real numbers are
as follows:
1. Closure of Binary Operations
The product and the sum of any two real numbers is also a real number. In symbols, we write
∀x, y, ∈ R, x + y ∈ R and x · y ∈ R

2. Commutativity of Binary Operations

Addition and multiplication of any two real numbers is commutative as seen in the mathematical
symbols these are written in:

∀x, y ∈ R, x + y = y + x (addition)
∀x, y ∈ R, x · y = y · x (multiplication)
For example:

1 + 2 = 2 + 1 (addition)
2·3=3·2 (multiplication)

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3. Associativity of Binary Operations
Given any three real numbers you may take any two and perform addition or multiplication as the
case may be and you will end with the same answer. For addition in symbols we write,

∀x, y, z ∈ R, (x + y) + z = x + (y + z).

As an example, consider (1 + 2) + 3 = 1 + (2 + 3).

On the other hand, for multiplication we write,

∀x, y, z ∈ R, (x · y) · z = x · (y · z).

This is illustrated by the example (2 · 3) · 4 = 2 · (3 · 4) in which both sides of the equation are equal
to 24.

4. Distributivity of Binary Operations

Distributivity applies when multiplication is performed on a group of two numbers added or sub-
tracted together. Given three real numbers x, y, and z, this property is stated in symbolic notation
as,
∀x, y, z ∈ R, z(x ± y) = zx ± zy.

The term z is distributed over the sum (x + y). Note, however, that addition is not distributive over
multiplication.

5. Identity Elements of Binary Operations

An element of the set of real numbers is an identity element for addition if,

∀x ∈ R, x + e = e + x = x.

This means that the identity is the number that you add to any real number and the result will be
the same real number. The only number that satisfies this property is the number zero for addition.
This is evident in the example below,

5 + 0 = 0 + 5 = 5.

Therefore, the identity element e in the above definition is zero or e = 0.

What then is the identity element under multiplication? Obviously, the identity for multiplication is
1 since x · 1 = 1 · x = x for any real number x. For example, 4 · 1 = 4 and 1 · 4 = 4.

6. Inverses of Binary Operations

Now what do you add to any real number x to get the identity element e = 0 as a result? The answer
is the negative of that number, −x. In symbol, we state it as,

∀x ∈ R, x + (−x) = −x + x = 0.

Meanwhile, for multiplication we have the familiar,

1 1
x·( )=( )·x=1
x x

in which case the inverse of x under multiplication is x1 , x 6= 0.

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2.4 Some Fundamentals of Logic
Why do most people argue over some issue and never get to the bottom of it? Sometimes people in dispute
say that ”they do not see eye to eye.” This expression means that the people involved in an argument never
get to agree on the issues at hand. In many cases, the disagreement lies on not being able to present sound
arguments based on facts, or the failure to convince the contending party using logical arguments. To
avoid such a scenario in mathematics and to uphold certainty in the validity of mathematical statements,
mathematics employs the powerful language of logic in asserting truths of statements. The use of logic
illustrates the importance of precision and conciseness in communicating mathematics.

2.4.1 Propositions
Many times, propositions are made in people’s statements. A proposition is statement which is either true
(T) or false (F). The senior citizens may claim that the best movie they ever saw is Sound of Music, a
movie that was produced in 1965. This statement is a proposition that is either T or F and cannot be
both.
Example 1
Each of the following statements is a proposition. Some are true and some are false. Can you tell
which are true, and which are false? If it is false, state why.

1. 9 is a prime number.

2. 5 + 3 = 8

3. x2 + y 2 ≥ 0

4. 10 < −3

Solution
1. False. Prime numbers have no other factors than 1 and itself. 9 can be expressed as 3 · 3.

2. True.

3. True.

4. False. A negative number is always less than a positive number.

2.4.2 The Truth Table

A truth table is a table that show the truth value of a compound statement for all possible truth values of
its simple statements.

2.4.3 Negation
A statement is negation of another if the word is not introduced in the negative statement. Let P be a
proposition. The negation of P is ”not P ” or ¬P .
The following is its truth table:

P ¬P
T F
F T

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 Example 2
What is the negation of the following statements?
√
1. P : 2 is a rational number.

2. R : 6 is an odd number.

Solution
√ √
1. 2 is a not rational number or 2 is irrational. In symbols, ¬P .

2. 6 is not an odd number or 6 is an even number. In symbols, ¬R.

2.4.4 Logical Connectives

Let P and Q be propositions. A logical connective is the mathematical equivalent of a conjunction in
English. The most common conjunctions in mathematics are ”and” and ”or”, which are denoted by ∧ and
∨, respectively.
If two statements are joined like P and Q, denoted by P ∧ Q, then P ∧ Q is a statement that is true if
and only if both P and Q are true. Another logical connective is the word ”or.” The statement P ∨ Q is
true if and only if P is true or Q is true, which is taken to include the case when they are both true.
The following is the truth table.

P Q P ∧Q P ∨Q
T T T T
T F F T
F T F T
F F F F

2.4.5 Implications
Suppose P and Q are propositions. The proposition P ⇒ Q (read as ”if P , then Q”) is called an implication.
P is called the premise and Q is called the conclusion. In ordinary language statements like ”If it rains,
then I bring my umbrella” is an implication. ”If it rains” is P or the premise while ”I bring my umbrella”
is Q or the conclusion.
Other ways of reading P ⇒ Q are:

P implies Q
Q if P
Q is implied by P
Q only if P

P Q P ⇒Q
T T T
T F F
F T T
F F T

A more complicated form of implication is the double implication or the biconditional denoted by
the symbol ⇔. The statement P ⇔ Q is true if and only if both P and Q are either both true or both
false. The sentence P ⇔ Q is equivalent to the statement

P ⇔ Q ≡ (P ⇒ Q) ∧ (Q ⇒ P ).

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 Try to construct the truth table for the logical operator ⇔ and check that indeed it is equivalent to
(P ⇔ Q) ∧ (Q ⇔ P ). A biconditional is often stated as,

P if and only if Q

or
P is necessary and sufficient for Q.

Example 3
Write the following in symbolic form using P, Q, and R for statements and the symbols ¬, ∧, ∨, ⇒, ⇔
where

P : Pres. Duterte is a good president.

Q: Government officials are corrupt.
R: People are happy.

1. If Pres. Duterte is a good president, then government officials are not corrupt.

2. If government officials are not corrupt, then the people are happy.

3. If Pres. Duterte is a good president and people are happy, then government officials are not
corrupt.

4. Pres. Duterte is not a good president if and only if government officials are corrupt and the
people are not happy.

Solution
1. P ⇒ ¬Q

2. ¬Q ⇒ R

3. P ∧ R ⇒ ¬Q

4. ¬P ⇔ (Q ∧ ¬R)

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2.4.6 Converse, Inverse, Contrapositive
Suppose P and Q are propositions. Given the implication P ⇒ Q. Its converse is Q ⇒ P , its inverse is
¬P ⇒ ¬Q, and its contrapositive is ¬Q ⇒ ¬P . That is,
Given: If P then Q.
Inverse: If not P then not Q.
Converse: If Q then P .
Contrapositive: If not Q then not P .
Referring to the truth table of the implication statement P ⇒ Q given before, we create the truth table
for the inverse, converse, and contrapositive statements.

Implication Inverse Converse Contrapositive

P Q P ⇒Q ¬P ⇒ ¬Q Q⇒P ¬Q ⇒ ¬P
T T T T T T
T F F T T F
F T T F F T
F F T T T T

Example 4
Give the converse, inverse, and contrapositive of the following implications:

1. If this movie is interesting, then I am watching it.

2. If p is a prime number, then it is odd.

Solution
1. Inverse: If this movie is not interesting, then I am not watching it.
Converse: If I am watching this movie, then it is interesting.
Contrapositive: If I am not watching this movie, then it is not interesting.

2. Inverse: If p is not a prime number, then it is not odd.

Converse: If p is and odd number, then it is prime.
Contrapositive: If p is not odd, then it is not a prime number.

Example 5
Identify three simple propositions in the statement below and label them P, Q, and R. Then express
symbolically the statement using the logical operators ∧, ∨, ⇒, ⇔ or ¬.

Statement: A function f has an inverse if and only if f is one-to-one and onto.

Solution
Let P : A function f has an inverse.
Q f is one-to-one.
R: f is onto.
Then using the mathematical symbols, the statement is equivalent to P ⇔ (Q ∧ R). The statement
can also be written as [P ⇒ (Q ∧ R)] ∧ [(Q ∧ R) ⇒ P ].

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2.4.7 Quantifiers
Quantifiers are used to describe the variable(s) in a statement.
Types:

1. The universal quantifier is usually written in the English language as ”for all” or ”for every.” It
is denoted by the symbol ∀.

2. The existential quantifier is expressed in words as ”there exists” or ”for some.” This quantifier is
denoted by ∃.

2.4.8 Compound Quantifiers

When one quantity is involved in a statement, it is common to encounter more than one quantifier for that
statement. Special care must be taken in the order in which these quantifiers appear. Order does not matter
if the same quantifier is used. For example, the statement ∀x, ∀y, P (x, y) is the same as ∀y, ∀x, P (x, y).
Similarly, the quantified sentence ∃x, ∃y, P (x, y) is equivalent to ∃y, ∃x, P (x, y). For mixed quantifiers,
order is definitely important. The statement ∀x, ∃y, P (x, y) is never always equivalent to the sentence
∃y, ∀x, P (x, y).
Example 6
Write as an English sentence and determine if it is true or false.

1. ∀x ∈ R, ∃y ∈ R|x + y = 10

2. ∀x ∈ Z+ , ∃y ∈ R|y 2 = x

Solution
1. For every real number x, there exists a real number y such that the sum of x and y is equal to
10. TRUE

2. For every positive integer x, there exists a real number y such that the square of y is equal to
x. TRUE

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EXERCISE SET 2
Provide neat and complete answers on a long bond paper or yellow pad. Use the same format given
in previous exercises.

1. Translate each of the following sentences using mathematical symbols.

(a) 5 is an integer.
(b) Y is a multiple of 10.
(c) The values of y range from −4 to 5.
(d) The square of a number is positive.
(e) 7 is an odd number.

2. Give the inverse for addition of 5, −10, and 43 .

3. Give the inverse for multiplication of 7, −8, and 32 .

4. Write the statement in if-then form.

(a) The product of two even integers is an even integer.

(b) Every integer that is not odd is divisible by 2.
(c) The square of a number is nonnegative.

5. Label the simple propositions with the capital letters P, Q, or R, then express each compound
sentence using the logical symbols discussed (∧, ∨, ⇒, ⇔, ¬).

(a) If x is an odd number, then x + 1 is even.

(b) m ≤ n
(c) Triangle ABC is equilateral if and only if a = b = c.
(d) If a = b and b = c, then a = c.

6. Write the following in symbolic form using P, Q, and R for statements and the symbols
¬, ∧, ∨, ⇒, ⇔ where

P : The sun is shining.

Q: It is raining.
R: The ground is wet.

(a) If it is raining, then the sun is not shining.

(b) It is raining and the ground is wet.
(c) The ground is wet if and only if it is raining and the sun is shining.
(d) The sun is shining or it is raining.
(e) The ground is not wet.
(f) The ground is not wet if and only if the sun is shining.

7. Give the converse, inverse, and contrapositive of the following implications.

(a) If x is the height of a box then it is a positive number.

(b) If i is a complex number then it is not a real number.

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