Mathematics in the Modern World

Module 1- Mathematics as a Language

Learning Objectives: After completing this module, the learner will be able to:
 Discuss the definition and characteristics of mathematical language;
 Translate statements to Mathematical Expression to symbols and perform
the indicated operations; and
 Express appreciation for mathematics as a human endeavour.

Introduction
This segment will teach students to understand the usage of the language of mathematics
such as: mathematical symbols, mathematical expressions, sets, and functions. It will help
the students to know how to express words to symbols and vice versa. It introduces how
mathematics language can be characterized and the conventions in the mathematical
language. It covers the language of relations and functions that will enable the learners to
understand how it is very important in everyday real life activities.
Thousand years ago, mathematicians like Galileo had developed spoken and written
natural languages that are highly effective for expressing mathematical language. However,
due to the difficulty in understanding the language there is a need to study its
characteristics and conventions. According to Galileo Galilei,” Mathematics is the language
in which God has written the Universe.”

Learning Activities:
Reading: Definitions and concepts on mathematical language and symbols. Mathematical
conventions and their meanings.
Exercise: Translations of English words to Mathematical expressions and vice versa.

Mathematical Language
What is mathematical language? The mathematical language is the system used to
communicate mathematical ideas. This language consists of some natural language using
technical terms (mathematical terms) and grammatical conventions that are not common to
mathematical discourse, supplemented by notation for mathematical formulas.
The characteristics of mathematical language are being precise, concise, and powerful.
When it is precise it simply means that the language must be exact and able to make very
fine distinction. Concise language means it is able to say things briefly. Lastly, powerful
language means that the ideas expressed will able to say complex thoughts with ease. An
expression (Mathematical Expression) is a finite combination of symbols that are well-
defined according to rules that depend on the context. The symbols can designate
numbers, variables, operations, functions, brackets, punctuations, and groupings to help
determine order of operations.

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 Mathematics in the Modern World

On the other hand, a sentence or mathematical sentence makes a statement about two
expressions, either using numbers, variables, or a combination of both. A mathematical
sentence can also use symbols or words like equals (=), greater than (>), or less than (<).A
mathematical sentence is a correct arrangement of mathematical symbols that states a
complete thought and can be determined whether it is true, false, sometimes true or
sometimes false.
Mathematical languages have conventions and it helps individuals distinguish between
different types of mathematical expressions. A mathematical conventions is a fact, name,
notation, or usage which is generally agreed upon by mathematicians. For example, one
evaluates multiplication before addition following the principle of PEMDAS (Parenthesis,
Exponent, Multiplication, Division, Addition and Subtraction).
Mathematical Symbols and Language
Mathematics involves words and symbols like the number digits, operation symbols, set
operation symbols, and set notations.
The symbols used in Mathematics
1. The ten digits symbol : 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
2. The symbols in arithmetic operations:
addition or plus (+)
minus or subtraction (-)
multiplication , x , and ( )
division / and ÷
3. Special symbols : Word Symbol Mathematical Expressions

√ (the square root) the square root of 4 is 2 √4 = 2

= (equal) x is equal to 10 x = 10
< (less than) 10 is less than 15 10 < 15
> (greater than) 15 is greater than 10 15 > 10
≤ (equal or less ) a is equal or less than 8 a ≤ 8
≥ (equal or greater ) b is equal or greater than 5 b ≥ 5
π ( pie) the area of a circle is πr2 A= πr2
∑ (summation) the summation of all natural numbers ∑N

Translation of word expressions to mathematical symbols:

Three is added to five is 8.-------------------------- 3 + 5 = 8 ( Note: “is” means equal )
Five less four is one.---------------------------------- 5–4=1
Forty is subtracted from ninety is fifty.----------- 90 – 40 = 50
The product of 3 and 5 added to six is 21.------ (3 x 5 ) + 6 = 21 (Note: parenthesis is used to
indicate the precedence of operation
Eighty divided by 4 is 20.--------------------------- 80/4=20 or 80 = 20 or 80÷4 = 20
4
4. The symbols for sets operations:
a. intersection ∩
b. union and universal U
c. belongs to or an element of Є
d. proper subset
e. subset

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 Mathematics in the Modern World

For example:
A ∩ B, this means set A intersection set B
A U B , means set A union set B
4 Є E , means 4 is an element of the set of Even numbers

5. Set notations:

Set A, B, X, Y, N, Q, R, C, O, E, Z

Where: N = Natural numbers, Q = Rational Numbers, R =Real Numbers,

E = Even Numbers, O = Odd Numbers, Z = integers,
Z+ = Positive Integers, Z- = Negative Integers,
C = Counting Numbers

For example: The symbols for sets .

N = [1,2,3,4,5 ] the set of natural numbers less than 6.

Z = [ -4,-3,-2,-1,0,1,2,3,4 ] the set of integers greater than -5 but less than 5.
E = [ 2,4,6,8 ] the set of even numbers less than 9.
R = [2, 3/2, √5 , 1 ½ , -4] the set of real numbers
6. Variables. These are symbols used to represent quantities that vary or take
different values.
Examples:
1. If a man walks a distance of 5 kilometers in 60 minutes, what is his speed?
Solution: if d represents distance, t represents time, and s for speed.
Then, the statement can be stated this way, “If a man walks at a d
(kilometres) in t (seconds), what is his s (km/s)?
2. Juan is twice the age of Maria.
Solution: In this statement, we can let x – be the unknown which is the
age of Maria. We state this as “Juan’s age is 2x. In here, the variable x
represent the age of Maria.

Other Symbols:

Symbol Meaning
+ plus, add, more, increase, positive,
- minus, subtract, deduct, less, decrease, negative
x or multiply
/ or ÷ divide
= equals
≈ approximately equal to
≠ not equal to
˂ less than, lesser than
˃ more than, greater than
≤ less than or equal to
≥ more than or equal to
√ square root
3
√ cube root
∑ summation
% percent
! factorial

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( ) parenthesis (grouping symbol, can be used as multiplication)
[ ] brackets (grouping symbol, can be used as multiplication)
{ } braces (grouping symbol, can be used as multiplication)
π pi

Translation of Mathematical sentence to English sentence and vice versa :

Illustrative Example:
1. 7-3 ˂ 30-20 means, The difference of 7 and 3 is less than the difference of 30 and 20.
2. 3√8 = 2 means, The cube root of 8 is equal to 2.
3. 100/5 ˃ 10+5 means, The quotient of 100 divided 5 is greater than the sum of 10 and 5.
4. ¼ a ≠ 2b means, One-fourth of a is not equal to twice of b.

Illustrative Example: Note. You can use any variable/s in denoting the word“number”

1. The sum of a number and 10 n + 10 or x + 10 or a + 10

2. The product of two numbers is equal to 5 xy = 5 or ab = 5 or mn = 5
3. The square of x is not equal to 1 x2 ≠ 1
4. The length of a rectangle is equal to twice its width L = 2W

YOU CAN GOOGLE FOR MORE EXAMPLES.

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