VISBAL, CELINE E.

1. THE LANGUAGE OF MATHEMATICS

a hypothetical Imagine the following scenario: you’re in math class, and the
situation instructor passes a piece of paper to each student. It is announced
that the paper contains Study Strategies for Students of
Mathematics; you are to read it and make comments. Upon
glancing at the paper, however, you observe that it is written in a
foreign language that you do not understand!
the Is the instructor being fair? Of course not. Indeed, the instructor is
importance of probably trying to make a point. Although the ideas in the
language paragraph may be simple, there is no access to the ideas without a
knowledge of the language in which the ideas are expressed. This
situation has a very strong analogy in mathematics. People
frequently have trouble understanding mathematical ideas: not
necessarily because the ideas are difficult, but because they are
being presented in a foreign language—the language of
mathematics.
characteristic The language of mathematics makes it easy to express the kinds of
s of the thoughts that mathematicians like to express. It is:
language of
mathematics • precise (able to make very fine distinctions);
• concise (able to say things briefly);
• powerful (able to express complex thoughts with relative ease).
The language of mathematics can be learned, but requires the
efforts needed to learn any foreign language. In this book, while
you are learning algebra, you will also get extensive practice with
mathematical language ideas, to enhance your ability to correctly
read, write, speak, and understand mathematics. This first section
introduces many concepts that will be studied in more detail
throughout the course.
vocabulary Every language has its vocabulary (the words), and its rules for
versus combining these words into complete thoughts (the sentences).
sentences Mathematics is no exception. As a first step in discussing the
mathematical language, we will make a very broad classification
between the ‘nouns’ of mathematics (used to name mathematical
objects of interest) and the ‘sentences’ of mathematics (which
state complete mathematical thoughts).
Why bother making this The classification of mathematical ‘nouns’ versus ‘sentences’ does
classification? not typically appear in math books. However, there is tremendous
benefit to be derived from this classification of the basic building
blocks of mathematics. In the next few paragraphs, comparisons
between mathematics and English are explored. The diagram on
the opposite page summarizes the language ideas discussed in this
section. Come back to this diagram after you’ve finished reading
this section, and it will be much more meaningful to you.
ENGLISH:
nouns versus sentences In English, nouns are used to name things we want to talk about
(like people, places, and things); whereas sentences are used to
state complete thoughts. A typical English sentence has at least
one noun, and at least one verb. For example, consider the
sentence
Carol loves mathematics.
 Here, ‘Carol’ and ‘mathematics’ are nouns; ‘loves’ is a verb.
+
MATHEMATICS: The mathematical version of a ‘noun’ will be called an expression.
expressions Thus, an expression is a name given to a mathematical object of
versus interest. Whereas in English we need to talk about people, places,
sentences and things, we’ll see that mathematics has much different ‘objects
of interest’.
The mathematical version of a ‘sentence’ will also be called a
sentence. A mathematical sentence, just as an English sentence,
must state a complete thought. The table below summarizes the
analogy. (Don’t worry for the moment about the truth of sentences;
this will be addressed later.)

ENGLISH MATHEMATICS

name given to an object of NOUN (person, place, thing) EXPRESSION

interest: Examples: Carol, Massachusetts,
book Examples: 5, 2 + 3,

a complete thought: SENTENCE

Examples: SENTENCE
The capital of Massachusetts is Examples:
Boston. 3+4=7
The capital of Massachusetts is 3+4=8
Pittsfield.

ideas regarding Let’s discuss the ideas presented in this table, beginning with
expressions: some ideas regarding expressions.

numbers Since people frequently need to work with numbers, these are
have lots the most common type of mathematical expression. And,
of numbers have lots of different names.
different
For example, the expressions
5 2 + 3 10 ÷ 2 (6 − 2) + 1 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 all look
names

different, but are all just different names for the same
number.

synonyms; This simple idea—that numbers have lots of different names—is

different extremely important in mathematics. English has the same
names for the concept: synonyms are words that have the same (or nearly the
same object same) meaning. However, this ‘same object, different name’ idea
plays a much more fundamental role in mathematics than in
English, as you will see throughout the book.

EXERCISES Solutions to all exercises are included at the end of each section.
1. The number ‘three’ has lots of different names. Give names
satisfying the following properties. There may be more than
one correct answer.
a) the ‘standard’ name

c) a name using a minus sign, −

b) a name using a plus sign, +

d) a name using a division sign, ÷

2. Repeat problem 1 with the following numbers: ‘two’, ‘six’,
‘zero’, and ‘one’.
ideas regarding Next, some ideas regarding sentences are explored. Just as English
sentences

sentences: have verbs, so do mathematical sentences. In the mathematical sentence ‘3 +

sentences have verbs 4 = 7’, the verb is ‘=’. If you read the sentence as ‘three plus four is
equal to seven’, then it’s easy to ‘hear’ the verb. Indeed, the equal sign ‘=’ is one of the
most popular mathematical verbs.

truth of sentences Sentences can be true or false. The notion of truth (i.e., the property of
being

true or false) is of fundamental importance in the mathematical language; this will become
apparent as you read the book.

√4

convention Languages have conventions. In English, for example, it is

s in conventional to capitalize proper names (like ‘Carol’ and
languages ‘Massachusetts’). This convention makes it easy for a reader to
distinguish between a common noun (like ‘carol’, a Christmas
song) and a proper noun (like ‘Carol’, a person). Mathematics also
has its conventions, which help readers distinguish between
different types of mathematical expressions. These conventions
will be studied throughout the book.
EXERCISES 3. Circle the verbs in the following sentences:
a) The capital of Massachusetts is Boston.
b) The capital of Massachusetts is Pittsfield.
c) 3+4=7
d) 3 + 4 = 8
4. TRUE or FALSE:
a) The capital of Massachusetts is Boston.
b) The capital of Massachusetts is Pittsfield.
c) 3+4=7
d) 3 + 4 = 8
5. List several English conventions that are being illustrated in
the sentence:
‘The capital of Massachusetts is Boston.’
more examples Here are more examples, to help explore the difference between
sentences and expressions:
EXAMPLE If possible, classify the entries in the list below as:
sentences • an English noun, or a mathematical expression
versus
• an English sentence, or a mathematical sentence
expressions
Try to fill in the blanks yourself before looking at the solutions. In
each sentence (English or mathematical), circle the verb.
(For the moment, don’t worry about the truth of sentences. This
issue is addressed in the next example.)
1. cat
2. 2
3. The word ‘cat’ begins with
the letter ‘k’.
4. 1+2=4
5. 5−3
6. 5−3=2
7. The cat is black.
8. x
9. x=1
10. x−1=0
11. t+3
12. t+3=3+t
13. This sentence is false.
14. x+0=x
15. 1·x=x
16. Hat sat bat.
1.8 + 1.2 copyright Dr. Carol JVF Burns

SOLUTIONS:

HOW TO READ SOLUTION

1. cat English noun

2. 2 mathematical expression

3. The word ‘cat’ English sentence

...... begins.....................................................
.......................... with

.............
....... ........................................

...........
............
.. the letter
‘k’.

‘one plus two equals

4. 1 + 2 ............... =...................................4 four’ or
.... mathematical sentence
................. ‘one plus two is equal to
four’
5. 5−3 ‘five minus three’ mathematical expression
Note that when you say
‘five minus three’, you
have not stated a complete
thought.

‘five minus three equals

two’ or
6. 5 2 mathematical sentence
‘five minus three is equal
to two’

7.The cat
.......................is............................................... black. English sentence

8. x ‘ex’ mathematical expression

The letter x (‘ex’) is
commonly used in
mathematics to represent
a number. Such use of
letters to represent
numbers is discussed in
the section Holding This,
Holding That.

9. ‘ex equals one’ or mathematical sentence

1
‘ex is equal to one’

‘ex minus one equals

zero’ or
10. 0 mathematical sentence
‘ex minus one is equal to
zero’

11. t+3 ‘tee plus three’ mathematical expression

SOLUTIONS CONTINUED:

HOW TO READ SOLUTION

12. ‘tee plus three equals three plus mathematical sentence

tee’ or
‘tee plus three is equal to three
plus tee’

13.This sentence
.......................is............................................... fals

e. English sentence
 ‘ex plus zero equals ex’ or mathematical sentence
14.
‘ex plus zero is equal to ex’

15. 1 ‘one times ex equals ex’ or mathematical sentence

‘one times ex is equal to ex’ The centered dot ‘·’ denotes
multiplication. Thus, ‘1·x’ is
read as ‘one times x’. You may
be used to using the symbol ×
for multiplication. In algebra,
however, the × can get
confused with the letter x.
(Doesn’t 1×x look confusing?)
Therefore, do NOT use the
symbol × for multiplication.

16. Hat sat bat. This is not an expression, and

not a sentence. Although it has
some of the syntax of an
English sentence (capital letter
at beginning, period at end, a
verb), the words have not been
used in a proper context to
express any meaning. It is
nonsensical. It is common for
beginning students of
mathematics to write
‘nonsensical’ things like this.

sentences Note that sentences state a complete thought, but nouns and

Now read aloud: ‘5 − 3 = 2’. This states a complete thought about

state a expressions do not. For example, read aloud: ‘2’. What about 2?
complete
thought; the number ‘2’.
expressions
don’t Next, the truth of sentences is explored:

1+2+3
EXAMPLE Consider the entries in the previous example that are sentences.
truth of sentences Which are true? False? Are there possibilities other than true and
false?
Solution:
3. The word ‘cat’ begins FALSE
with the letter ‘k’.
4. 1+2=4 FALSE

6. 5−3=2 TRUE
7. The cat is black. The truth of this sentence cannot be
determined out of context. If the cat
being referred to is indeed black, then
the sentence is true.
Otherwise, it is false.
9. x=1 The letter x represents a number. The
 truth of this sentence depends upon
the number that is chosen for x. If x is
replaced by ‘1’, then the sentence
becomes the true sentence ‘1 = 1’. If
x is replaced by ‘2’, then the sentence
becomes the false sentence ‘2 = 1’.
Thus, the sentence ‘x = 1’ is
SOMETIMES TRUE/SOMETIMES FALSE,
depending upon the number that is
chosen for x. In sentences such as
these, people are often interested in
finding the choice(s) that make the

x−1=0
sentence true.
10. SOMETIMES TRUE/SOMETIMES FALSE.
If x is ‘1’, then the sentence is true.
Otherwise, it is false.
12. t+3=3+t The letter t represents a number. This
sentence is TRUE, no matter what
number is chosen for t. Why? The
order that you list the numbers in an
addition problem does not affect the
result. In other words, commuting the
numbers in an addition problem does
not affect the result.
13. This sentence is IF this sentence is true, then it would
false. have to be false. IF this sentence is
false, then it would have to be true.
So, this sentence is not true, not false,
and not sometimes true/sometimes
false.
EXERCISES 6. If possible, classify the entries in the list below as:
• an English noun, or a mathematical expression
• an English sentence, or a mathematical sentence
In eachsentence(English or mathematical), circle the verb.
a) Carol
b) Carol loves mathematics.
c) The name ‘Carol’ begins with
the letter ‘C’.
d) 7
e) 3+4
f) 7=3+4
g) 3+4=7
h) 7=3+5
i) t
j) t=2
k) 0 = 2− t
l) t− 1
m) t − 1 = 1− t
n) t+ t+ t
o) t− 0 = t
p) 0=1

7. Consider the entries in exercise 6 thatsentences

are . Classify these sen-
tences as: (always) true; (always) false; sometimes true/sometimes false.

definitions in With several examples behind us, it is now time to make things
mathematic more precise.
s In order to communicate effectively, people must agree on the
meanings of certain words and phrases. When there is ambiguity,
confusion can result.
Consider the following conversation in a car at a noisy intersection:
Carol: “Turn left!”
Bob: “I didn’t hear you. Left?”
Carol: “Right!”
Question: Which way will Bob turn? It depends on how Bob
interprets the word ‘right’. If he interprets ‘right’ as the opposite of
‘left’, then he will turn right. If he interprets ‘right’ as ‘correct,’
then he will turn left.
Although there are certainly instances in mathematics where
context is used to determine correct meaning, there is much less
ambiguity allowed in mathematics than in English. The primary
way that ambiguity is avoided is by the use of definitions. By
defining words and phrases, it is assured that everyone agrees on
their meaning. Here are our first two definitions:
CAUTION: In most mathematics books, the word ‘expression’ is never defined,
typical use of the but is used as a convenient catch-all to talk about anything
word ‘expression’ in (including sentences) to which the author wants to draw attention.
math books In this book, however, expressions and sentences are totally
different entities. They don’t overlap. If something is an expression,
then it’s not a sentence. If something is a sentence, then it’s not an
expression. Be careful about this.
DEFINITION An expression is the mathematical analogue of an English noun; it
expression is a correct arrangement of mathematical symbols used to
represent a mathematical object of interest.
Be careful! Note that an expression does NOT state a complete thought. In
particular, it does not make sense to ask if an expression is true or
false.

+
Next, the definition of a ‘mathematical sentence’:

DEFINITION A mathematical sentence is the analogue of an English sentence; it

mathematical is a correct arrangement of mathematical symbols that states a
sentence complete thought.
Note that it makes sense to ask about the TRUTH of a sentence: Is
it true? Is it false? Is it sometimes true/sometimes false?
sentences have verbs The sentence ‘1 + 2 = 3’ is read as ‘one plus two equals three’ or
‘one plus two is equal to three’. A complete
thought is being stated, which in this
case is true. The sentence is
‘diagrammed’ below:
sentence

how to decide There are two primary ways to decide whether something is a
whether sentence, or not:
something is a • Read it aloud, and ask yourself the question: Does it state a
sentence complete thought? If the answer is ‘yes’, then it’s a sentence.
expression verb expression
z1+2
} | { z}|{
= z}|{
3
| {z }
Notice that expressions do not state a complete thought.
Consider, for example, the number ‘1 + 2’. Say it aloud: ‘one
plus two’. Have you stated a complete thought? NO! But, if you
say: ‘1 + 2 = 4’, then you have stated a complete (false)
thought.
• Alternately, you can ask yourself the question: Does it make sense to ask about the
TRUTH of this object? Consider again the number ‘1 + 2’. Is ‘1 + 2’ true? Is ‘1 + 2’ false?
These questions don’t make sense, because it doesn’t make sense to ask about the truth
of an expression!
EXERCISES 8. Go to my homepage http://onemathematicalcat.org and
web practice navigate to my Algebra I course, which has about 170 sequenced
lessons. It can be used as a complete year-long high school course,
or one semester in college. You’re currently looking at the pdf
version—you’ll see that the HTML version has unlimited, randomly-
generated, online and offline practice in every section. It’s all
totally free. Enjoy!
END-OF-SECTION For problems 8–15: Classify each entry as a mathematical
EXERCISES expression (EXP), or a mathematical sentence (SEN).
Classify the truth value of each entry that is a sentence: (always)
true (T); (always) false (F); or sometimes true/sometimes false
(ST/SF). The first two are done for you.
(sample) 1 + 2 EXP
(sample) 1 + 2 = 3 SEN, T
8. 5

x−1
9.
10.
11. x−1=3
12. 1+2+x
13. x÷3
14. x÷3=2
15. 1+2+x=x+1+2
16. Use the English noun ‘Julia’ in three
sentences: one that is true, one thatis false,
and one whose truth cannot be determined
without additional information.
17. Use the mathematical expression ‘3’ in
three sentences: one that is true,one that is
false, and one whose truth cannot be
determined without additional information.
18. Use the mathematical expression ‘x’ in three
sentences: one that is always true, one that
is always false, and one whose truth cannot
be determined without additional
information.
SECTION SUMMARY
THE LANGUAGE OF MATHEMATICS

NEW IN THIS SECTION HOW TO READ MEANING

expression The mathematical analogue of an English

noun; a correct arrangement of
mathematical symbols used to represent a
mathematical object of interest. An
expression does NOT state a complete
thought; it does not make sense to ask if
an expression is true or false. Most
common expression types: numbers, sets,
functions.

sentence The mathematical analogue of an English

sentence; a correct arrangement of
mathematical symbols that states a
complete thought. It makes sense to ask if
a sentence is true, false, sometimes true/
sometimes false.
 x·y x times y a centered dot between numbers (or
letters representing numbers) denotes
multiplication
(−3)2
 SOLUTIONS TO EXERCISES:
THE LANGUAGE OF MATHEMATICS
1a. 3

1c. 4 − 1, 5 − 2, 3 − 0, etc.
1b. 1 + 2, 3 + 0, , etc.

1d. 6 ÷ 2, 9 ÷ 3, etc.
2. two: 2 = 1 + 1 = 3 − 1 = 6 ÷
3 etc. six: 6 = 4 + 2 = 9 − 3 =
12 ÷ 2 etc. zero: 0 = −1 + 1 = 2
− 2 = 0 ÷ 7 etc. one: 1 =
2 etc.
3a. The capital of Massachusetts . .
Boston.
3b. The capital of Massachusetts . .
Pittsfield.
3c. 3 + 4 ..................... =.................................................. 7

3d. 3 + 4 ..................... =.................................................. 8

4a. true
4b. false
4c. true
4d. false
5. Proper nouns are capitalized (Massachusetts, Boston). The first letter of a sentence is
capitalized; a declarative sentence ends with a period.
The solutions to 6 and 7 are combined:
6a. Carol; English noun

6b. Carol .....................................loves..................................................................................................................................... mathematics; English

sentence; sometimes true/sometimes false

6c. The name ‘Carol’ ...................begins..................................................................................................................... ..................................with the

letter ‘C’; English sentence; true

6d. 7; mathematical expression

6e. 3 + 4; ‘three plus four’; mathematical expression
6f. 7 .
3 + 4; ‘seven equals three plus four’; mathematical sentence; true
7; ‘three plus four equals seven’; mathematical sentence; true
6h. 7 3 + 5; ‘seven equals three plus five’; mathematical sentence; false
.

6i. t; ‘tee’; mathematical expression

2; ‘tee equals two’; mathematical sentence; sometimes true/sometimes false

true/sometimes false 6l. t − 1; ‘tee minus one’; mathematical expression

6k. 0 . ; ‘zero equals two minus tee’; mathematical sentence; sometimes

6m. ; ‘tee minus one equals one minus tee’; mathematical sentence; sometimes
true/sometimes false
6n. t + t + t; ‘tee plus tee plus tee’; mathematical expression
6o. ; ‘tee minus zero equals tee’; mathematical sentence; always true
6p. 0 .
1; ‘zero equals one’; mathematical sentence; false
7. (See solutions to problem 6.)

2(6 − 1)
8. EXP
9. EXP
10. EXP
11. SEN, ST/SF
12. EXP
13. EXP
14. SEN, ST/SF
15. SEN, T
16. TRUE: The name ‘Julia’ begins with the letter ‘J’.
FALSE: The name ‘Julia’ begins with the letter ‘G’.
ST/SF: Julia has red hair.
17. TRUE: 1 + 2 = 3 FALSE: 1 + 4 = 3 ST/SF: x =
3
18. TRUE: x = x FALSE: x = x + 1 ST/SF: x =
1