CHAPTER II.

MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS

TOPICS:

 Characteristics of Mathematics 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 and mathematical expressions correctly ; and
4. Acknowledge that mathematics is a useful language.

INTRODUCTION

Language is a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional

symbols.It is the code of human’s use 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 “ Nothing can be translated in different words but it is also translated into
mathematical symbols as “0” that can be recognized by everybody.

Mathematics is a universal language , the only one shared by all human beings regardless of
culture, religion, or gender.

COMPARISON BEYWEEN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE

English Mathematics
Symbols English alphabet and English alphabet, numerals,
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
Attributed 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 expresions ( definitions)

2. Concise – able to say thing brieftly.
3. Powerful – express complex thoughts with a comparative event.

VOCABULARY versus SENTENCE

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

ENGLISH: Noun VERSUS Sentence

 Noun – Used to identify any of a class of people, places or things.

 Sentence – Used state complete thoughts . An English sentence has at least one noun,
and at least one verb.

Examples

1. Dong is the name of his brother.

2. The capital of the Philippines is Manila

X+4=5

X+y=7

Mathematics: Expression VERSUS Sentence

The mathematical analogue of a “ noun” will be called expression. Thus , an expression is a

name given to 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 Mathematics Example

Name given to an NOUN( person,Pla Freddie, Expression 5, 2 + 3, ¼
object of interest ce,thing) Singapore, Book
A complete Sentence The capital of Sentence 3+4=7
thought Isabela is Ilagan
City 7-5 =2

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 “=”
 The equal sign “=” is one of the most popular mathematical verbs.

Truth of Sentences

 Sentences can be true or false

 The notion truth ( the property of being true or false) is of fundamental importance in
mathematical language.
 Mathematical sentence may be either be true, false, sometimes true, sometime false.
 QUIZ No. 2
Name:_______________________________________ Course & Section:__________________

Direction: Classify the entries in the list below as:

 English noun or mathematical expression

 English sentence or a mathematical sentence
 In each sentence ( English or mathematical ) circle the verb
 Always true
 Always false
 Sometimes true/sometime false


Statement

1. Freddie English noun

2. Freddie loves mathematics English Sentence/ loves

3. The name “ Freddie” begins with English sentence/begins/always

letter “F”

4. 7 Mathematical expression

5. 5+3 Mathematical expression

6. 7=8+4 Mathematical sentence/equals/Always

false

7. 3+4=7 Mathematical sentence/equals/always true

8. 7=3+5 Mathematical sentence/equals/always false

9. T Mathematical expression

10 t=3 Mathematical sentence/equals/sometimes

true , sometimes false

11 0=2–t Mathematical sentence/equals/sometimes

true, sometimes false

12. t–1 Mathematical expression

13. t–1=1–t Mathematical sentence/equals/sometimes

true sometimes false

14. t+t+t Mathematical expression

15. t–0=t Mathematical sentence/equals/Always true

 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 Expression

Operation Symbol of Operation Word Expression

Addition +  Add
 Added to
 The sum of
 More than
 The total of
 Increased by
 Going up by
 Bigger by

Subtraction -  Subtract
 Subtract from
 Less
 Minus
 Less than
 Decreased by
 Diminished by
 Take away
 Reduced by
 The difference
between

Multiplication X or ( )  Multiply
 Times
 The product of
 Multiply by
 Times as much as

Division  Or /  Divide
 Divided by
 The quotient of
 The ratio of
 Per

Equation =  Equals
 Is equal to
 Is exactly as
 Equivalent to
  As similar to

Translate a mathematical phrase

Step 1. Identify the variable/s and / or constant/s

Step 2. Determine the connectors.
Step 3. Perform the translation of the phrase into symbols.

EXAMPLES

BASIC MATHEMATICAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION

STATEMENTS/ALGEBRAIC STATEMENT

3+4  Three plus four equals seven

 Three plus four is equal to seven
 Three increased by four is seven
 Three augmented by four is equal o
seven.

10 – 2 = 8  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

7 (2) = 14  Seven times two is fourteen

 The product of seven and two is
fourteen
 Twice the number seven is fourteen

6–2=3  Six divided by two is three

 The quotient of six and two is three
 The ratio of six and two is three

6+2 = 2  The sum of six and two all over is two

4  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

2 ( 12-4) = 16  Twice the difference of twelve and

four is sixteen
 The product of two and twelve less
two is sixteen
2x = 14  Twice a number is equal to fourteen
 Two times a number is fourteen

3(2x-1) = 4  Thrice the difference of twice a

number and one is four
 Three, multiplied to the difference of
twice a number less one is four


2 ( x+1) = 5  The ratio of twice the sum of a number

3 and one , and three is equal to five

6 + a = 40  Six more than a number is forty

5b  Product of five and a number

 Assessment task 1

Name:_________________________________ Course:______________

Write each as an algebraic Expression

Verbal Expression Answer

1. The difference of ten and five

2. The quotient of fourteen and seven

3. U decreased by seven

4. Half of 14

5. X increased by six

6. The product of x and seven

7. The sum of q and eight

8. 6 squared

9. Twice c

10 The difference of 7 and b

 Assessment Task 2
Name:_____________________________

Direction: Classify the entries below as :

 English Noun or Mathematical Expression

 English Sentence or a mathematical sentence

In each sentence ( English or mathematical ) circle the verb.

Statement Answer

1. Cat

2. 2

3. The word “ cat” begins with the letter

“C”

4. 1 + 2 =4

5. 5-3

6. 5-3=2

7. The Cat is White

8. X

9. X=1

10 x-1 =0
 11 a+3

12. X+4=4+3

13. The sentence is false

14. X+0=x

15. 1 .x =x

Assessment Task 3
Truth of Sentences

Name:_________________________________

Direction: Classify the entries below as :

 True or false
 Other possibilities other than true or false ( Sometimes true, sometimes false,
incomplete though)

Statement Answer

1. The word “ cat” begins with the letter

“C”

2. 1 + 2 =4

3. 5-3

4. 5-3=2

5. The Cat is White

6. X=1

7. x-1 =0

8. a+3

9. X+4=4+3

10. The sentence is false

11. X+0=x
 12. 1 .x =x

Assessment Task 4
Write each as verbal expression

Verbal Expression Answer

1. X
2

2. a+b

3. 17 – 7

4. 3x

5. C2

6. 40
5

7. X+7

8. N – 14

9. a.8

10 a( b + c)

Assessment Task 6 `
Evaluate each expression

Expression Answer

1. The product of eight and 10

2. 20 decreased by 17

3. The quotient of 96 and 8

4. Twice 6

5. 10 less than 17

6. 9 times 5

7. 10 increased by 8
8. 7 squared

9. The product of 5 and 6

10 Twice 4