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U2 L1 The Language Symbols and Conventions

This document covers the language, symbols, and conventions of mathematics, emphasizing its precision, conciseness, and power. It distinguishes between mathematical expressions and sentences, explaining their characteristics and truth values, while also outlining common mathematical notations and conventions. Additionally, it includes exercises for identifying and translating mathematical phrases.

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1 views3 pages

U2 L1 The Language Symbols and Conventions

This document covers the language, symbols, and conventions of mathematics, emphasizing its precision, conciseness, and power. It distinguishes between mathematical expressions and sentences, explaining their characteristics and truth values, while also outlining common mathematical notations and conventions. Additionally, it includes exercises for identifying and translating mathematical phrases.

Uploaded by

alexambaco
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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UNIT 2.

MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS


Lesson 1. Language, Symbols and Conventions of Mathematics (Pedrajas, Abegail & Escordial, Cristyflor)
Learning Outcomes:
 Discuss the language, symbols and conventions of Mathematics
 Discuss the characteristics of mathematical language
 Compare and contrast expressions and sentences
 Identify the truth value of mathematical sentences
 Translate English phrases/sentences to mathematical expressions/sentences
 Acknowledge that mathematics is a useful language

The language of mathematics makes it easy to express the kinds of thoughts that mathematicians like to express.
It is:
 precise (able to make very fine distinctions),
 concise (able to say things briefly), and
 powerful (able to express complex thoughts with relative ease)

Let’s recall what we have learned in our English class. In English, nouns are used to name people, places, things,
events.
Example 1: Abby, CPSU, book, Christmas
Sentences are used to state complete thoughts. A typical English sentence has at least one noun, and at least one
verb.
Example 2: Abby loves mathematics.
noun verb noun

An expression is the mathematical analogue of an English noun; it is a correct arrangement of mathematical


symbols used to represent a mathematical object of interest. An expression does NOT state a complete thought;
in particular, it does not make sense to ask if an expression is true or false. Expressions include numbers, sets,
functions, matrices, ordered pairs, groups and vectors.
Example 3: 10, 5 + 5, x , x + 2

A mathematical sentence is the analogue of an English sentence; it is a correct arrangement of mathematical


symbols that states a complete thought. It makes sense to ask about the TRUTH of a sentence: Is it true? Is it
false? Is it sometimes true/sometimes false?
Example 4: 2 + 3 = 5
expression verb expression
Is this true or false or sometimes true/sometimes false? ____________
Solution: This sentence is true since 2 + 3 is (always) equal to 5.

Example 5: 2 + 3 > 6
expression verb expression
Is this true or false or sometimes true/sometimes false? ____________
Solution: This sentence is false since 2 + 3 is will never be greater than 6.

Example 6: x + 3= 5
expression verb expression
Is this true or false or sometimes true/sometimes false? ____________
Solution: This sentence is sometimes true/sometimes false. The sentence will be true if x = 2. The sentence will
be false for other values of x.

Conventions in the Mathematical Language


A mathematical convention is a fact, name, notations, or usage which is generally agreed upon by
mathematician. For example, one evaluates multiplication before addition following the principle of PEMDAS
(Parenthesis, Exponent, Multiplication, Division, Addition and Subtraction). Mathematicians abide by
conventions to be able to understand what they write without constantly having to redefine basic terms. Almost
all mathematical names and symbols are conventional (Sirug, 2018).

In mathematics, we use symbols instead of words. We are familiar with the ten digits: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8, and 9 and the different operations.
The table below presents some of the keywords related to an operation.
Operation Symbol Key Words
Addition + sum, plus, add, total of, increased by, more than, combined, altogether, additional,
together, both, added to
Subtraction - less (than), minus, decreased by, difference, reduce, lost, left, remainder, dropped,
diminished, subtract from
Multiplication x or ∙ multiplied, times, per, as much, twice, by, product, doubled, tripled
Division ÷ divided by, quotient, out of, ratio, per, part

Mathematical expressions containing a symbolic verb, like = (equal), < (less than), > (greater than), etc.
are treated as complete sentences.

Mathematical notations include letters from various alphabets, as well as special mathematical symbols.
Letters often have specific, fixed meanings in particular areas of mathematics.

Mathematical notations/symbols Conventions


Start of the alphabet (a, b, c, …) to denote constants or fixed values
end of the alphabet (…, x, y, z) to denote variables
Greek letter 𝜋 (pi) to represent unending 3.14159
α (‘alpha’), β (‘beta’), and θ (‘theta’) to represent angles
Σ or ‘sigma’ to represent the addition of several numbers
subscripts (e.g. 𝑥𝑛) to distinguish different instances of a variable
superscripts (e.g. 𝑥𝑛) to indicate raising to a power

Let’s identify whether the following is an English noun, a mathematical expression, an English sentence, or a
mathematical sentence. In each sentence (English or mathematical), identify the verb.
1. CPSU 6. Apples
2. college 7. 5 – 3x = 11
3. 5 + 3 = 8 8. Tricia went to the market.
4. The sun is shining. 9. x + y = 0
5. 2x = 10 10. afternoon

Let’s classify each entry as a mathematical expression, or a mathematical sentence. If it is a sentence, determine
whether is true, false, or sometimes true/sometimes false.
1. 190 – 21
2. 1+2=3
3. ½
4. x − 26
5. 20 − 5 = 20
6. 11 + 12 + x = 50

Let’s translate each of the following phrases into mathematical phrases. Use as few variables as possible.

1. The product of two numbers


2. The sum of a number and 5
3. One-half times the sum of two numbers
4. Five less than a number
5. Three times a square of a number.

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