Section 1.

The Nature of Mathematics

II. MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND
SYMBOLS
Core Idea. Mathematics has its own symbols, syntax, and rules
Learning Objectives
 Discuss the language and symbols and conventions
of mathematics
 Explain the nature of mathematics as a language
 Perform operations on mathematical expression
correctly
 Acknowledge that mathematics is a useful language

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 The Mathematical Language
 As a pedagogical tool
How things are said
What is being said
Why it is said
 Syntactical and logical structure of
mathematics – definitions, theorems, proof
 Understand abstract mathematical concepts

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 Characteristics of the Mathematical
Language
 No past, present, or future tense in math
– “is”
 Devoid of emotional content
 Precise , Concise, Powerful

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 Math language is precise!
 absence of ambiguity
able to make very fine distinctions
English: The sun is very far from Earth.
Math: The sun is 93 million km from
Earth.

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 Math language is concise!
able to say things briefly
1. English: The sum of three and four is seven
Math: 3 + 4 = 7
2. (Correct) A rectangle is a quadrilateral all four
of whose angles are right angles.
(Poor) A rectangle is a parallelogram in which the
diagonals have the same length and all the angles
are right angles.
(Bad) A rectangle is a quadrilateral with right
angles

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 Math language is powerful!
 express complex thoughts with relative
ease
English:
If you are a diligent student, then you will pass in GE Math.
You are a diligent student.
Therefore, you will pass in GE Math 1.
Math: p q
p
Therefore, q.

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 Ideas About the Mathematical
Language
 Mathematics is a language in itself
 Read and write mathematics texts
 Mathematics as a language is clear and
objective
 Used to communicate ideas with precision
and conciseness
 Language conventions are necessary for it to
be understood by all
Universal language
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Notions in the Mathematical Language
 Synonyms
 The importance of truth
 Conventions and syntax
 Definitions and undefined terms
 Simplicity and elegance

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 Synonyms
English: happy – glad
Math: 5 = 6 – 1
10
5=
2
3
5=2 −3

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 The Importance of Truth
English
The word “cat” begins with the letter “k”
CPU is a Christian institution
Math:
t+7=7+t
m–5=5–m
x=1

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 Conventions and Syntax
Solve: (3x + 5) -2 = 4 Solve: (3x + 5) -2 = 4
= 3x + 5 – 2 = 4 3x + 5 – 2 = 4
= 3x + 3 = 4 3x + 3 = 4
= 3x = 1 3x = 1
1 1
=x= x=
3 3

WRONG CORRECT

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 Definitions and undefined terms
Examples
1. Definition of even number a: a = 2n, nεZ
2. Undefined terms: point, line

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 Simplicity and Elegance
Prove that the product of two even numbers is
even.
Solution:
Let a = 2n and b = 2m, where n,mεZ
ab = (2n)(2m)
ab = 4nm
ab = 2(2nm)
ab = 2k where 2nm = kεZ
Therefore, the product of two even numbers is
even.
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 Mathematical Expression
 Expression – mathematical analogue of an
English noun
 Correct arrangement of mathematical
symbols used to represent a mathematical
object of interest
Does not state a complete thought
Does not make sense to ask if an expression is
true or false
Example: The set of real numbers
xR
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 Mathematical Sentence
Analogue of an English language
Correct arrangement of mathematical symbols
that states a complete thought
Makes sense to ask about the TRUTH of
sentence
Can be determined as true, false, or
sometimes true, sometimes false
Example: x/xZ =1,2,3,…
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 English vs Mathematics
ENGLISH MATHEMATICS
Noun Expression
person – Perla number – 3
place – Iloilo set - 3
thing - cat function – f(x)
Sentence
The word cat begins with Sentence
the letter c - true 2+3=5 true
The word cat begins with letter
a - false 2 + 3 =7 false
The cat is black - sometimes x = 1 sometimes
true/sometimes false true/sometimes false

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 Comparison Between the English language and
Mathematical Language
English Mathematics
Symbols English alphabet English alphabet, Numerals,
and punctuations Greek letters, grouping
symbols, special symbols
Name Noun Expression
Complete Sentence Sentence
thought
Action Verbs Operations and other actions
(simplify, rationalize, etc)
What’s in a Verbs Equality, inequality,
sentence membership I a set, etc
Attribute of Fact or fiction True or false
a sentence
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 How to read mathematical expression or
sentences
1) 5 – 3 = 2
Five minus three equals two
2) (𝑥 + 3)2
The square of the sum of x and 3
3) f(x) = -3
The function of x equals negative three OR
f of x equals negative three
4) Domain: xεR
The domain is the set of all real numbers.
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 Exercise 1
 In each sentence, classify the entries as
an English noun or a mathematical
expression
an English sentence or a mathematical
sentence
 In each sentence (English or mathematical)
encircle the verb
 For those that are sentences, classify as always
true, always false, sometimes true/false

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1. Central Philippine University
2. CPU is a Christian institution.
3. The word Central begins with letter C.
4. x
5. y + 7
6. -1 < -2
7. 3 + 4 = 7
8. t = -5
9. 0 = 2 – t
10. This sentence is false.
11.t + t + t
12.t -1 = 1 - t

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 Reading and Interpreting Mathematical
Expression
1. f(x)
 f of x
 Finding the range of the function at a given value of x
2. 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 x
 Log of x to the base a
 The value in which a should be raised so the result is x
Ex. 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 100 = 2
3
3. 27
 Cube root of twenty seven
 Find the number whose cube is 27
Prepared by Jessica B. Canaman

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