Mathematical

Language and Symbol:

An Introduction
 Speaking Mathematically
The aim of this chapter is to introduce you to a mathematical way of
thinking that can serve you in a wide variety of situations. Often when you
start work on a mathematical problem, you may have only a vague sense
of how to proceed. You may begin by looking at examples, drawing
pictures, playing around with notation, rereading the problem to focus on
more of its details, and so forth. The closer you get to a solution, however
the more your thinking has to crystalize. And the more you need to
understand, the more you need language that expresses mathematical
ideas clearly, precisely, and unambiguously.
This chapter will introduce you to some of the special language that is a
foundation for much mathematical thought, the language of variables, sets,
relations and functions.
What is language?

Why is it important?
•Les susurrus del
viento llevan
secretos no
contados.
 Characteristics of Mathematics
Language
• Precise - able • Concise - able • Powerful - able
to make very to say things to express
fine distinctions. briefly complex
thoughts with
• Example: A • Example: The relative ease.
triangle has square root of
three sides. eight-one → 81 • Example:
(Always true) Weather
forecasts are
probability
models.
Language
•A system of communication
consisting of sounds, words,
and grammar, or the system
of communication used by
people in a particular
country or type of work.
The Language of Mathematics
“Mathematics is the language in which God
has written the universe.” - Galileo Galilei

How can we consider mathematics as

a language from the point of view of a
linguist?
Importance of Language
•Language was invented to
communicate ideas to
others
English nouns vs Mathematical nouns

•In English, a noun is a word that

names something. An English
noun is usually a person, place,
or thing; for example, Julia,
Idaho, and rat.
•The mathematical analogue of a
noun is called an expression.
Mathematical Expressions
•A name given to some
mathematical object of
interest.
 Example
� + � = � , read as “Five added to three is
equal to eight.
Conventions regarding the naming of
mathematical “nouns”
•In mathematics, ‘an object of interest’
is often a number, a set, or a function.
•Real numbers are usually named with
lowercase letters �, �, �, �, ��� � .
•Sets are usually named with capital
letters �, �, ��� � .
Sentences
•A declarative English sentence begins
with a capital letter, ends with a period,
and expresses a complete thought.
Example: Andrei is a good singer.
•A mathematical sentence must also
express a complete thought.
Sentences vs Expressions
• Classify the entries as an English noun,
mathematical expression, or a sentence. In
any sentence, circle the verb.
1.Cat
2.X
3.The word ‘cat’ begins with letter ‘k’.
4. 1 + 2 = 4
2
5. � + �
6. 2� − 1 = 0
7.The cat is black.
8. −3� < 2
9. � + � + �
10.1 + 2
Truth of Sentences
•Sentences can be true or
false.
•The notion of “truth” (i.e.,
the property of being true or
false)
Sentences vs Expressions
• Which are true? False? Are there possibilities
other than true and false?
1.The word ‘cat’ begins with letter ‘k’.
2. 1 + 2 = 4
3. 2� − 1 = 0
4.The cat is black.
2 2 2
5. � + � = � + 2�� + �
6. −3� < 2
Exercise
•Write a few English
sentences that discuss the
difference between
mathematical expressions
and sentences.
Exercise 2

What value will make the

equation true?
1.2� − 1 = 0
2.−3� < 2
2 2 2
3. � + � = � + �
• Alphabets and symbols are used in
mathematics to interpret concepts. Such as
an equation that contains the components
of a complete sentence, including a noun
and a verb.
Examples:
5+3=8
sin z + α cos 2z ≥ 0
y = ax2 + b + c
Z = (1, 3, 5, 7)
Parts of Speech vs Mathematical Expression
Parts of Speech Mathematical Expression

Nouns 1, 20^3,7 ()

Verbs =, <, >, ≤, ≥

Pronouns X^3y^2

Adjective Subscript "m" in Y^m

Symbols commonly used in
Mathematics
1. The ten digits: 0, 1, 2, 3, … 9
2. Operations: + - × ÷
3. Sets : ∩, ∪, ⊂, ⊃
4. Variables: a, b, c, x and y
5. Special symbols: =, <, >, ≤, ≥, π
6. Logic symbols: ~, ∧, ∨, → , ↔
7. Set Notations: N, W, Z, Q, R, C
Some important Sets are the following
• N = {1, 2, 3, ...} set of natural number
• W = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,……………} set
of whole number
• Z = (..., -3, -2, -1, 0, 1 ...) set of integers
• Q – set of rational numbers
• Q' - set of irrational numbers
• R = Set of real numbers
• C = set of complex numbers
Vocabulary vs. Sentences

•Every language has its own

vocabulary (the words)
•Rules for combining these words
into complete thoughts (the
sentences)
Importance of Mathematical
Language
•Major contributor to overall
comprehension.
•Vital for the development of
Mathematics Proficiency.
•Enables both the teacher and the
students to communicate mathematical
knowledge with precision.
Comparison of Natural Language into
Mathematical Language
English Mathematics
Expressions
Name given to an object of Noun such as person, place and 2
interest things and pronouns 3-2
Example: 3x
a. Ernesto 3x+2
b. Batangas City Ax+by-c
c. Book
d. He
Sentence
It has a complete thought Group of words that express a 3+2=5
statement question or command A+b=c
Example: Ax+by+c=0
a,. Ernesto is a boy
b. He lives in Batangas City
c. Allan loves to read book
d. Run!
e. Do you love me?
Connectives
• Example
• 1+2=3
• If = is a verb, then what is +?
• It is called connective which is used to connect objects of a
given type to get a compound object of the same type.
• In English, this is the connector and.
• Example
• Cat is a noun
• Dog is a noun
• Cat and a dog are compound noun.
Conventions in Languages
• Languages have conventions, in English for
example, it is conventional to capitalize
names example: Israel, and Manila.
• This convention makes it easy for a reader
to distinguish between a common noun and
a proper noun.
• Mathematics also has its convention, which
help readers distinguish between different
types of mathematical expression.
 • Exercise: Classify the entries in the list below as: • an
English noun • a mathematical expression • a sentence
• Mathematical equation
1. Cat
2. X
3. The word ‘cat’ begins with the letter ‘k’.
4. 1 + 2 = 4
5. � + � 2
6. 2x − 1 = 0
7. −3t < 2
8. y + y + y
9. y + y + y = 3y
10.1 + √ 2
Algebra Review: Greek letters, the real numbers
Uppercase Lowercase Name of Greek
letter
Α � Alpha
Β � Beta
Γ � Gamma
Δ � Delta
Ε � Epsilon
Θ � Theta
Λ � Lambda
Algebra Review: Greek letters, the real numbers

Uppercase Lowercase Name of Greek

letter
Μ � Mu
Π � Pi
Ρ � Rho
Τ � Tau
Φ � phi
Ω � Omega
Group activity
Instructions: write the Greek letter asked by the teacher.
1.Alpha
2.Lambda
3.Omega
4.Mu
5.Pi
6.Beta
7.Epsilon
8.Alpha Phi Omega
9.Alpha Mu Omega
10.Delta
 The Real numbers ℝ
• The real numbers, denoted by the symbol ℝ, can most easily
be understood in terms of a number line:

ØEvery point on this line is uniquely identified with a real

number.
ØEvery real number is uniquely identified with a point on this
line.
§ It is very important to know that a particular real number may
have a lots of names:
2
4 2� −11.4
2, 3 , − 7, , 5 − 3, , ���
2 � −5.7
•All names for the unique number show
below:

•If the symbol − is being used to denote

the operation of subtraction. It is read
as minus:
•3 − 5 is read as ‘three minus five.’
•3 − −5 is read as ‘three minus
negative five.’
•If the symbol − is being used to
denote the operation of subtraction.
It is read as minus:
•3 − 5 is read as ‘three minus five.’
•3 − −5 is read as ‘three minus
negative five.’
•How would you read :
•−4 − −3 ?
• What is least positive number that can be represented
on your hand-held calculator? Call it L. What do you
�
get when you use your calculator to compute ?
2
• What is the greatest positive number that can be represented on
your hand-held calculator? Call it G. what happens when you
compute � + 1 − �?
 Inequality symbols
• When a number n lies to the left of a
number m, we write � < � and read as
� �� ���� �ℎ�� �.
• Similarly, when n lies to the right of m, we
write � > � and read as � �� ������� �ℎ�� �.
Directions: Read the following equations out
loud, and determine if they are TRUE or
FALSE.
a −� < �
� �
b �>�
c −� >− �
�
d −� >
�
��
e �<
�