Scribd
Upload
19 views

Module 2 (Math)

The document discusses the mathematical language and symbols. It defines language and the components of language. It then explains that mathematics qualifies as a language. It describes characteristics of mathematical language such as being precise, concise and powerful. It also discusses conventions, vocabulary, expressions and sentences in the mathematical language.

Uploaded by

Aesha Caimoso Cadion
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
19 views

Module 2 (Math)

The document discusses the mathematical language and symbols. It defines language and the components of language. It then explains that mathematics qualifies as a language. It describes characteristics of mathematical language such as being precise, concise and powerful. It also discusses conventions, vocabulary, expressions and sentences in the mathematical language.

Uploaded by

Aesha Caimoso Cadion
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Module 2.

Mathematical Language and Symbols

Language is …
• a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
• the code humans use as a form of expressing themselves and communicating with others
• a system of words used in a particular discipline

Components of Language
• A vocabulary of symbols or words
• A grammar consisting of rules on the use of these symbols
• A community of people who use and understand these symbols
• A range of meanings that can be communicated with these symbols
Since all of the aforementioned components are found in mathematics, thus it also qualifies as a
language.

Mathematical Language
• 1. Mathematics is a language in itself. Hence, it is useful in communicating important ideas.
✓ Read and write mathematics texts
• 2. Mathematics as a language is clear and objective.
✓ Used to communicate ideas with precision
• 3. Language conventions are necessary in mathematics for it to be understood by all.
✓ Universal language

Characteristics of Mathematical Language Math language is powerful!


• No past, present, or future tense in math ➢Express complex thoughts
with relative ease
• Devoid of emotional content
• Precise, Concise, Powerful
Notions in the Mathematical
Math language is precise! Language
➢Absence of ambiguity • Synonyms
➢Able to make very fine distinctions • The importance of truth
Math language is concise! • Conventions and syntax
➢Able to say things briefly • Definitions and undefined

Conventions in the Mathematical Language


•Like other languages, mathematics has nouns, pronouns, verbs and sentences.
• It has its own vocabulary, grammar, syntax, synonyms, negations, sentence structure, paragraph
structure, conventions and abbreviations.
• It is designed in such a way that one can write about numbers, sets, functions, etc.
• Nouns could be constants, such as numbers or expressions with numbers
• A verb could be the equal sign “ = “ or inequality symbols like: > or ≥.
• Pronouns could be variables like
• Sentences could be formed by putting together these parts:

Mathematics uses many of symbols.


• Ten digits (0, 1,2,3..9)
• Symbols for operations ( +, -, x , ÷)
• Symbols that represent values (x, y, z, etc.)
• Many special symbols ( = , <, >, ≥, π, etc.)

Vocabulary vs. Sentences


Every language has its vocabulary (the words) and its rules for combining these words
into complete thoughts (the sentences).
Mathematics is no exception.(FOR MORE INFO READ THE PPT)
• As a first step in studying the mathematical language, we will make a very broad classification
between the‘nouns’ of mathematics (used to name mathematical objects of interest) and the
‘sentences’ of mathematics (which state complete mathematical thoughts).

MATHEMATICS: expressions vs. sentences (Read the PPT)


• An expression is the mathematical analogue of an English ‘noun’, thus it is a name given to a
mathematical object of interest. It is a correct arrangement of mathematical symbols used to represent
a mathematical object of interest.
• A mathematical sentence is the analogue of an English sentence; it is a correct arrangement of
mathematical symbols that states a complete thought.

expression
• An expression does not state a complete thought; it does not make sense to ask if an expression is
true orfalse.
• The most common expression types are numbers, sets, and functions.
• Numbers have lots of different names
• This simple idea—that numbers have lots of different names—is extremely important in mathematics!

sentence
• Sentences have verbs.
In the mathematical sentence 3+4 = 7 and 3+4 = 8 , the verb is ‘=’.
• A sentence can be (always) true, (always) false, or sometimes true/sometimes
false

Variables
• A variable is sometimes thought of as a mathematical “John Doe” because you can use it as a
placeholder when you want to talk about something but either
(1) you imagine that it has one or more values but you don’t know what they are, or
(2) you want whatever you say about it to be equally true for all elements in a given set

You might also like