Mathematical Language and Symbols
(Part 1)
Mathematics in the Modern World
Mathematics Area
De La Salle Lipa
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Contents
1 Characteristics of Mathematical Language
2 Expressions vs. Sentences
Mathematical Expressions and Sentences
Ideas Regarding Sentences
Synonyms: Different Names for the Same Object
Vocabulary and Grammar of the Language of
Mathematics
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Characteristics of Mathematical Language
Next:
1 Characteristics of Mathematical Language
2 Expressions vs. Sentences
Mathematical Expressions and Sentences
Ideas Regarding Sentences
Synonyms: Different Names for the Same Object
Vocabulary and Grammar of the Language of
Mathematics
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Characteristics of Mathematical Language
Characteristics of Mathematical Language
Mathematical language is precise. Mathematics is
able to make very fine distinctions or definitions among
a set of mathematical symbols.
Mathematical language is concise. Mathematicians
can express otherwise long expositions or sentences
briefly using the language of mathematics.
Mathematical language is powerful. One can
express complex thoughts with relative ease.
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Expressions vs. Sentences
Next:
1 Characteristics of Mathematical Language
2 Expressions vs. Sentences
Mathematical Expressions and Sentences
Ideas Regarding Sentences
Synonyms: Different Names for the Same Object
Vocabulary and Grammar of the Language of
Mathematics
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Expressions vs. Sentences Mathematical Expressions and Sentences
Every language has its vocabulary (the words), and its
rules for combining these words into complete thoughts
(the sentence).
In English, nouns are used to name things we want to
talk about (like people, place, 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.
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Expressions vs. Sentences Mathematical Expressions and Sentences
The mathematical analogue of a ‘noun’ will be called a
mathematical expression. Thus, mathematical
expression is a name given to a mathematical object of
interest. The mathematical analogue of a ‘sentence’
will be called a mathematical sentence. A
mathematical sentence, just as an English sentence,
must state a complete thought.
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Expressions vs. Sentences Mathematical Expressions and Sentences
Definition
A mathematical expression is the name given to a
mathematical object of interest, which may be a quantity,
number, and combinations of these using different
operations.
Example:
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Expressions vs. Sentences Mathematical Expressions and Sentences
Definition
A mathematical sentence expresses a complete
mathematical thought about the relation of a mathematical
object to another mathematical object.
Examples
1 3x + 4 = y
2 x + 2x = 3x
3 x−1=0
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Expressions vs. Sentences Ideas Regarding Sentences
Some ideas regarding sentences are explored.
1Sentence have verbs
Just as English sentences have verbs, so do
mathematical sentences. In the mathematical sentence
‘3 + 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.
2 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.
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Expressions vs. Sentences Synonyms: Different Names for the Same Object
Numbers have lots of different names. This idea is
extremely important in mathematics. English has the same
concepts: synonyms are words that have the same (or nearly
the same) meaning. However, this ‘same object, different
name’ idea plays a much more fundamental role in
mathematics than in English.
For example, the expressions
5, 2 + 3, 10 ÷ 2, (6 − 2) + 1, 1+1+1+1+1
all look different, but are all just different names for the
same number.
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Expressions vs. Sentences Synonyms: Different Names for the Same Object
Practice Exercise
If possible, classify the entries in the list below as:
an English noun, or a mathematical expression
an English sentence, or a mathematical sentence
Try to fill in the blanks. In each sentence (English or
mathematical), encircle the verb.
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
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Expressions vs. Sentences Synonyms: Different Names for the Same Object
Practice Exercise
If possible, classify the entries in the list below as:
an English noun, or a mathematical expression
an English sentence, or a mathematical sentence
Try to fill in the blanks. In each sentence (English or
mathematical), encircle the verb.
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
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Expressions vs. Sentences Synonyms: Different Names for the Same Object
Practice Exercise (Solutions:)
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Expressions vs. Sentences Synonyms: Different Names for the Same Object
Practice Exercise (Solutions:)
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Expressions vs. Sentences Synonyms: Different Names for the Same Object
Practice Exercise (Solutions:)
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Expressions vs. Sentences Synonyms: Different Names for the Same Object
Practice Exercise (Solutions:)
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Expressions vs. Sentences Vocabulary and Grammar of the Language of Mathematics
We can easily write about things, sets, functions, and
some others using the language of mathematics.
The following summarizes the commonly used
vocabulary and grammatical rules in mathematics.
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Expressions vs. Sentences Vocabulary and Grammar of the Language of Mathematics
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