Mathematical Language and

Symbols
Mathematical Language
What is a Language?
• A systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or
conventional symbols
• A system of words used in a particular discipline
• A system of abstract codes which represent antecedent events and
concepts
• The code we all use to express ourselves and communicate to others
• A set (finite or infinite) of sentences, each finite in length and
constructed out of a finite set of elements
Language in Terms of Components
• A vocabulary of symbols or words
• A grammar consisting of rules of how these symbols may be used
• A 'syntax' or propositional structure, which places the symbols in
linear structures.
• A 'Discourse' or 'narrative,' consisting of strings of syntactic
propositions
• A community of people who use and understand the same symbols
• A range of meanings that can be communicated with symbols
Language of Mathematics
• Mathematics mostly uses symbols instead of words

a) Numbers: 0,1,2, ...
b) Operations: + - x /
c) Variables: x, y, z, ...
d) Special Symbols: π = < ≤, ...
Mathematical Symbols
Symbol
Symbol What
What it
it is
is How
How itit is
is read
read How
How itit is
is used
used Sample
Sample
Sum of a few
Addition sign ... plus ... 3+5=8
Addition sign ... plus ... Sumvalues
of a few 3+5=8
Subtraction Sign ... minus ... Difference
values of 3 - 5 = -2
two values,
Multiplication ... times ... Product of two 3 x 5 = 15
sign Sign ... minus ...
Subtraction Difference
values of 3 - 5 = -2
Division sign ... divided by ... two values,
Division 3 ÷ 4 = 0.75

Multiplication ... times ... Product of two 3 x 5 = 15

sign values

Division sign ... divided by ... Division 3 ÷ 4 = 0.75

Mathematical Symbols
Symbol
Symbol What
What it
it is
is How
How it
it is
is read
read How
How it it is
is used
used Sample
Sample
Indicates two
Equal sign ... equals ... Indicates
values aretwo
the -(-5) = 5
Equal sign ... equals ... values
same are the -(-5) = 5
...quantity... same
Denotes a quantity, list,
(x + y) + z
...list... (a1, a2, a3, a4)
Parentheses ...set...quantity...
set of coordinates, or an
of coordinates... Denotes (x + y)
(x,y,z)+ z
open interval list,
a quantity,
...open...list...
interval… set of coordinates, or an (a1, a(3,5)
2, a3, a4)
Parentheses ...set of coordinates... (x,y,z)
Square root The square
...open interval…
root Algebraic
open interval
(3,5)
symbol of ... expressions
Continuation ... and so on up Extension of
Square
signroot The square
to ... root Algebraic
sequence S = {1, 2, 3, ...}
symbol of ... expressions

Continuation ... and so on up Extension of

sign to ... sequence S = {1, 2, 3, ...}
Mathematical Symbols
Symbol
Symbol What
What it
it is
is How
How it it is
is read
read How
How it it is
is used
used Sample
Sample
lemniscate ... infinity Infinite
summations
Infinite
lemniscate ... infinity Product of all positive
summations
Exclamation ... factorial integers up to a 5! = 120
certain value
Product of all positive
Exclamation ... ... factorial
to the power
Carat of ...
integers up to a
exponent
certain value
25!^ =5 120
= 32
absolute value The absolute Distance of
... to theofpower | -3 | = 3
sign
Carat value ... value from
exponent 2 ^ 5 = 32
of ...

absolute value The absolute Distance of

sign value of ... value from | -3 | = 3
Mathematical Symbols
Symbol
Symbol What
What it
it is
is How
How it
it is
is read
read How
How it it is
is used
used Sample
Sample
The summation Sum of many or
summation sign of ... infinitely many
Sum values
of many or
summation sign The summation
of ... infinitelyofmany
Product three
The product values
up to
Product sign
of ... infinitely many
values
Product of three
Product sign The product up to
of ... infinitely many
values
The English Language and Mathematics
• Nouns - A word (other than a pronoun) used to identify any of a class
of people, places, or things (common noun), or to name a particular
one of these (proper noun).
• Verbs - A word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence
• Pronoun - A word that can function by itself as a noun phrase and that
refers either to the participants in the discourse (e.g., I, you ) or to
someone or something mentioned elsewhere in the discourse
(e.g., she, it, this ).
The English Language and Mathematics
• Nouns - Numbers, or expressions with numbers

• Verbs - The equal sign or an inequality

• Pronoun - Variables
The English Language and Mathematics
• 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

Ruzcko loves mathematics.

Here, ‘Carol’ and ‘mathematics’ are nouns; ‘loves’ is a verb.

The English Language and Mathematics
• The mathematical analogue of a ‘noun’ will be called an expression.
Thus, an expression is a name given to a mathematical object of
interest. Whereas in English we need to talk about people, places, and
things, we’ll see that mathematics has much different ‘objects of
interest’. The mathematical analogue of a ‘sentence’ will also be
called a sentence. A mathematical sentence, just as an English
sentence, must state a complete thought.
Expressions vs Sentences

  Noun/Expression Sentence

Math is fun
English Math, Ruzcko, APC Ruzcko teaches math

Mathematics 1, 2+3, (20/5), x 2+3 = 5

x=1
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