Chapter II.

Mathematical Language and Symbols

Topics:

 Characteristics of Mathematical Language

 English, Noun and Sentence
 Noun versus Sentence
 Writing Expression and Equation

Objectives
1. Discuss the language, symbols, and conventions of mathematics
2. Explain the nature of mathematics as a language
3. Perform operation on mathematical expressions correctly
4. Acknowledge that mathematics is a useful language

Introduction:
According to Jamison (2000), “Once students understand HOW things are
said, they can better understand WHAT is being said, and only then do they have
a chance to know WHY it is said.”
Language is a “systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or
conventional symbols” (Chen 2010, p. 353). It is the code human’s use as a form
of expressing themselves and communicating with others. It may also be defined
as a system of words used in particular discipline.
Mathematics is the only language that is understood by any notation.
“Nothing” can be translated in different words but it is also translated into
mathematical symbols as “0” that can be recognize by everybody.
Mathematics is a universal language, the only one shared by all human
beings regardless of culture, religion, or gender.

IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE
To understand the expressed ideas
To communicate ideas to others

Comparison between the English language and Mathematical language

English Mathematics
Symbols English alphabet English alphabet, Numerals,
and punctuations Greek letters, grouping
symbols, special symbols
Name Noun Expression
Complete thought Sentence Sentence
Action Verbs Operation and other actions
What’s in a sentence Verbs Equality, inequality,
membership in a set
Attribute of a Sentence Fact or fiction True or false

CHARACTERISTICS OF MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE

The language of mathematics makes it easy to express the kinds of
thoughts that mathematicians like to express. It is:
1. Precise – make an exact and accurate expression (definitions)
2. Concise – able to say things briefly
Brevity means shortness or conciseness of expression.
3. Powerful – express complex thoughts with a comparative event.

VOCABULARY versus SENTENCE

Every language has its vocabulary (the words), and its rule for
combining these words into complete thoughts (sentence).
Mathematics is no exception.

English: NOUN versus SENTENCE

Noun – In English, nouns are used to name things we want to talk

about ( like people, places, and things).
Sentence – used to state complete thoughts. An English sentence has
at least one noun, and at least one verb.
Examples:
Cynric loves mathematics
Cynric and mathematics are nouns, love is a verb

Noun Sentence
Hurley 1. Hurley is the name of his brother
Manila 2. The capital of Philippines is Manila
Mango 3. The national fruit of the Philippines is mango.

Mathematics: EXPRESSION versus SENTENCE

The mathematical analogue of a “noun” will be called expression.
Thus, an expression is a name given to a mathematical object of
interest.
The mathematical analogue of “sentence” will also be called sentence.
A mathematical sentence, just an English sentence, must state a
complete thought.
 Note that sentences state a complete thought but nouns and
expressions do not.

English Example/s Mathematics Example/s

Name given to an NOUN Maria, Malaysia, EXPRESSION 5, 2 + 3, ½
object of interest (person, book
place, thing)

A complete thought SENTENCE The capital of SENTENCE

Idaho is Boise.
I found the
owner of the
dog.

Ideas regarding sentences: sentences have verbs

Just as English sentences have verbs, so do mathematical sentences.
In the mathematical sentence “3 + 4 = 7”, the verb is “=”. Of you read
the sentence as “three plus four is equal to seven”, then it’s easy to
“hear” the verb.
The equal sign “=” is one of the most popular mathematical verbs.
Truth of Sentences
Sentences can be true of false.
The notion truth (the property of being true or false) is of fundamental
importance in mathematical language.
Mathematical sentence may either be TRUE, FALSE, SOMETIMES
TRUE/ SOMETIMES FALSE.

WRITING EXPRESSION AND EQUATION

Numbers and/ or variables that are connected by operation/s is called
expression.
An equation usually has words like “equals”, “is equal to” or is.

Mathematical Operations Symbols and their Word Expressions

Operation Symbol of Operation Word Expression
 Add
 Added to
 Plus
Addition  The sum of
 More than
 The total of
  Increased by
 Going up by
 Bigger by
 Subtract
 Subtract from
 Less
 Minus
Subtraction  Less than
 Decreased by
 Diminished by
 Take away
 Reduced by
 The difference between
 Multiply
 Times
Multiplication  The product of
 Multiply by
 Times as much as
 Divide
 Divided by
 The quotient of
Division  The ratio of
 Equal amounts of
 Per
 Equals
 Is equal to
Equation  Is exactly as
 Equivalent to
 As similar to
Example
Ten and a number is fourteen

Translate a mathematical phrase

Step 1 : Identify the variable/s and/ or  Constant – Ten and

constant/s a number is fourteen
 Variable – Ten and
number is fourteen
Step 2 : Determine the connectors  Connectors – Ten
 and a number is
fourteen
Step 3 : Perform the translation of the phrase
into symbols

Examples:
Basic Mathematical English Translation
Statements/Algebraic
Statement
 Three plus four equals seven
 Three plus four is equal to seven
 Three increased by four is seven
 Three augmented by four is equal to
seven
Common error
 Three plus four is equals to seven
 The sum of three and four equal to seven
 Ten minus two is eight
 Ten less two is eight
 Two less than ten is equal to eight
 The difference of ten and two is eight
Common error
 Ten less than two is eight (connotes
different meaning)
 The difference of two and ten is eight
(connotes different meaning)
 Seven times two is fourteen
 The product of seven and two is fourteen
 Twice the number seven is fourteen
Common error
 Double the seven is fourteen (grammar)
 Twice the product of two and seven is
fourteen (redundant)
 Six divided by two is three
 The quotient of six and two is three
 The ration of six and two is three
Common error
 The quotient of two and six is three
(different meaning)
 The ratio of two and six is to three (
different meaning)
 The sum of six and two all over four is two
 The ratio of six plus two and four is equal
to two
 Two is the quotient when the sum of six
and two is divided by four
Common error
 Six plus two divided by four is two
 Twice the difference of twelve and four is
sixteen
 The product of two and twelve less two is
sixteen
Common error
 Double the difference of twelve and
four is sixteen (different meaning)
 Twelve minus four times two is sixteen
(different meaning)
 Twice a number is equal to fourteen
 Two times a number is fourteen
 Thrice the difference of twice a number
and one is four
 Three, multiplied to the difference of twice
a number less one is four
 The ratio of twice the sum of a number
and one, and three is equal to five
 Six more than a number is forty
=40  Product of five and a number is forty
 The sum of a number and ten
 A man’s age ten years ago
 Worksheet No. 2
Sentences versus Expressions
Direction: Classify the entries in the list below as:
 English Noun or Mathematical Expression
 English sentences or a mathematical sentences
 In each sentence (English or mathematical) circle the verb.
No. Statement Answer
a. Puppy
b. The word puppy begins with the
letter “P”.
c. 2+5
d. 2+5=7
e. n – 14
f. The product of 4 and 5
g. The product of 4 and 5 is 20
h. 10 less than 17 is 7
i. 17 less 10
j. Cebu
k. Maria
l. Twice 6
m. a number divided by 2
n.
o.

Worksheet No. 3
Truth of Sentences

Direction: Classify the entries in the list below as:

 English Noun or Mathematical Expression
 English sentences or a mathematical sentences
 True or False
 Other possibilities other than true and false
No. Statement Answer
p. The word “rat” begins with the letter
“c”
q.
r.
s.
t. The bird is white
 u.
v.
w.
x.
y. The sentence is true
z.
aa.

Worksheet No. 4
Sentences versus Expression and Truth of Sentences

Direction: Classify the entries in the list below as:

 English Noun or Mathematical Expression
 English sentences or a mathematical sentences
 In each sentence (English or mathematical) circle the verb.
 Always true
 Always false
 Sometimes true / Sometimes false
No. Statement Answer
bb. Marianne
cc. Cynric likes History
dd. The name “Maria” begins with the
letter “C”
ee.
ff.
gg.
hh.
ii.
jj.
kk.
ll.
mm.
nn.
oo.
pp.
qq.
 Worksheet 5
VARIABLES AND VERBAL EXPRESSIONS
WRITE EACH AS AN ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSION.

Verbal Expression Answer

1. Two squared
2. The product of 4 and 5
3. 20 decreased by 17
4. Twice 6
5. Seven squared
6. A number minus 14
7. x more than 6
8. 14 decreased by 13
9. 6 times the difference of x and 9 is 54
10. One half the difference of y and 4
11. 6 less than the product of 3 and a number x
12. Marias’s age 20 years ago
13. One half the sum of y and 12 is 7

WRITE EACH AS VERBAL EXPRESSION.

Algebraic Expression Answer

14.

15.
16.
17.
18.
19.

20.

21.
22.
23.
24.

25.
 26.

EVALUATE EACH EXPRESSION.

Expression Answer
5 squared 25 (example)
27. The product of 8 and 10
28. 20 decreased by 17
29. The quotient of 96 and 8
30. Twice 6
31. 10 less than 17
32. 9 times 5
33. 10 increased by 8
34. 7 squared
35. The product of 4 and 5