Mathematical Language and Symbols: Math in The Modern World

Mathematical Language
and Symbols
MATH IN THE MODERN WORLD
❝If you talk to a man in a language he
understands, that goes to his head.
If you talk to him in his own language, that goes

to his heart.❞
Nelson Mandela
https://voxy.com/blog/2011/04/inspirational-quotes-for-language-learners/
To understand
the expressed
Importance of
the Language of
ideas
Mathematics
To communicate
ideas to others
Precise - able to make very fine
distinctions
Characteristics
of language of Concise- able to say things briefly
mathematics
Powerful- able to express complex
thoughts with relative ease
Comparison between the
English language and Mathematical language
English Mathematics
symbols English alphabet and English alphabet, numerals, Greek
punctuations letters, grouping symbols, special
symbols
Name Noun Expressions
Complete thought Sentence Sentence
Action Verbs Operations, and other actions
(e.g. simplify, rationalize)
What’s in a Verbs Equality, inequality, membership in a

sentence set
Attribute of a Fact or fiction True or false
sentence
1. Give the verb in the following sentences:
a. The capital of Cavite is Imus. Answer: is
b. ½ = 0.5 Answer: =
c. 3 + 5 = 7 Answer: =
(Note: + is a connective)
Examples : 2. Determine whether each example is true or false.
a. The capital of Cavite is Imus. Answer: false
b. ½ = 0.5 Answer: true
c. 3 + 5 = 7 Answer: false
True or False?
1. The word “cat” begins with the letter “k”. False
2. 1 + 2 = 4 False
3. The cat is black. Cannot be determined out of
context
4. x = 1 Sometimes true/sometimes false
5. t + 3 = 3 + t True
English/Math expressions/sentences
ENGLISH MATHEMATICS
Name given to an NOUN (person, EXPRESSION
object of interest place, thing) Example:
Example: 28, a+b , 1/3
Fatima, Cavite,
book
a complete thought SENTENCE SENTENCE
Example: Example:
DLSU-D is a x+y=z
prime university.
– a mathematical analogue of an English noun
Examples of expressions or mathematical
Expression in objects
mathematics numbers ordered pairs
sets matrices
functions vectors
Exercises :
Determine 1. cat
whether the 2. 2
following is an 3. The word “cat” begins with the letter “k”.
English noun or 4. 1 + 2 = 4
mathematical 5. – 3
expression, 6. x
English 7. x = 6
sentence or 8. x + x = 0
mathematical
sentence :
The most common type of
problem involving an
expression is to “SIMPLIFY”.
SIMPLIFY
Simplify means to get a
different name for the
expression that in some way
is simple.
fewer symbols
SIMPLER
fewer operations
means
better suited for current use
preferred style/format
Example: fewer symbols
10 – 2 + 4 and 12 are both names of the same

number but 12 uses fewer symbols
Example: fewer operations
10+10+10+10 and 4x10 are names of the same

number but 4X10 uses fewer operations. There are
three additions in 10+10+10+10 while only one
multiplication in 4x10.
Example: better suited for current use
(1 yard) / (3 feet) is another name for the number

1 for converting feet to yard
Example: preferred style or format
The number 5/10 and ½ they are both the same

number but ½ is preferred because it is in simplest
form or reduced form.

- have different names; the names we use depends on what

we are doing with the expression
example : for the number 1
EXPRESSION if we have to divide a candy bar between 2
S children
if we have to measure 1 cup of flour but
only have one-third cup measure
analogue of an English sentence
Mathematical a correct arrangement of

Sentence mathematical symbols that states a
complete thought
contains a verb
Translate into mathematical sentence
(use the variables x and y if applicable) :
1. The sum of a number and 10. Answer: x+10
The grammar of 2. Six more than a number Answer: x+6

mathematics
3. The product of two numbers Answer: xy
4. One half times the sum of two numbers. Answer: ½(x+y)
5. Five less than a number. Answer: x-5

Some difficulties in math language
1. The word “is” could mean equality, inequality or

membership in a set.
2. Different uses of a number; to express quantity (cardinal),
to indicate the order (ordinal), and as a label (nominal)
3. Mathematical objects may be represented in many ways,
such as sets and functions
4. The words "and' & "or" means different from its English use
Numbers (4 operations
and properties)
Objects that we
use in Variables
mathematics
Operations (unary &

binary)
Sets (relationships, operations,
properties)
Relations (Equivalence relations)

FOUR BASIC
CONCEPTS:
Functions ( Injective, Surjective ,
Bijective)
Binary Operations
References
http://www.onemathematicalcat.org/pdf_files/LANG1.pdf
https://voxy.com/blog/2011/04/inspirational-quotes-for-language-learners/

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Mathematical Language

If you talk to him in his own language, that goes

What’s in a Verbs Equality, inequality, membership in a

10 – 2 + 4 and 12 are both names of the same

10+10+10+10 and 4x10 are names of the same

(1 yard) / (3 feet) is another name for the number

The number 5/10 and ½ they are both the same

- have different names; the names we use depends on what

Mathematical a correct arrangement of

(use the variables x and y if applicable) :

1. The sum of a number and 10. Answer: x+10

The grammar of 2. Six more than a number Answer: x+6

5. Five less than a number. Answer: x-5

1. The word “is” could mean equality, inequality or

Operations (unary &

Relations (Equivalence relations)

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