MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

CHAPTER 2: MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this chapter, the students must be able to:
1. Discuss the language, symbols, and conventions used in mathematics
2. Explain the nature of mathematics as a language
3. Evaluate mathematical expressions correctly
4. Recognize that mathematics is a valuable language.

MATHEMATICS

EXPRESSION (name given to SENTENCE (must state a complete

mathematical object of interest) thought)

NUMBER SET FUNCTION MATRIX ORDERED TRUE FALSE ST/SF

0,1,2,3 (Set of
real
numbers)
F(x)
[ 13 45] PAIR
(X, Y)
1 + 1=2 1 +1 =11 X=1

(- to +)

2.1: THE LANGUAGE OF MATHEMATICS

Characteristics of Mathematical Language
The mathematical language is precise, meaning it can make fine distinctions or definitions among a set
mathematical symbol. It is concise because a mathematician can express otherwise long expositions or
sentences briefly using the language of mathematics. Mathematical languages are powerful. That is, one can
express complex thoughts with relative ease. For example, consider the sentence, “The sum of any two real
numbers is also a real number.” In mathematical notions, this declarative sentence can be written as
SYMBOL MEANING SYMBOL
∑ The sum of ⇔ If and only if
∃ There exist R Set of real numbers
∀ For every (for every) N Set of natural numbers
∈ Element of (or member of) Z Set of integers
∉ Not an element of (or not an element of) Q Set of rational numbers
⊆ Subset of ∞ infinity
⟹ If … then
∀ a , b ∈ R , a+ b ∈ R
2.2: EXPRESSION VS. SENTENCES
A sentence must contain a complete thought. In English, an ordinary sentence must contain a subject and
predicate. The subject contains a noun or a whole clause. For example, “Manila” is a proper noun, but it is not a
complete sentence because it does not state a complete thought. An expression is a name given to a
mathematical object of interest. “1 + 1” is a mathematical expression but not a sentence. Below are examples of
mathematical expressions:
a) An ordered triple (a, b, c)
b) A matrix [ ]
1 4
3 5
c) A function f(x)
d) The set of odd numbers (1,3,5,7)
TRUTH OF SENTENCES -Mathematical sentences may be true or false, but not both.
Example A: Write the English sentences of the following expressions and say whether they were true or false.
1. ∀ x ∈ R , x 2 ≥ 0
2. ∀ x , y ∈ R , ¿
3. ∃ m, n ∈ Z , m−n ≤ m+n
Example B: Write as mathematical sentences. Discuss how the word “is” is used.
1. Ten is the square root of 100
2. Ten is an even number
3. Ten is a multiple of 5
If you notice that the word “is” could mean equality, inequality, or membership in a set.
Numbers can be cardinal, ordinal, and nominal. CARDINAL NUMBERS are used for counting and
answering the question, “How many?” ORDINAL NUMBERS tell the position of a thing in terms of first,
second, third, etc.; NOMINAL NUMBERS are used only as a name or to identify something (not as an actual
value or position). Examples of nominal numbers are:
a) The number at the back of Michael Jordan is “23”
b) The postal code of Bayombong is “3700”
c) The name of the shop is “360° ”
Moreover, mathematical objects may be represented in many ways such as sets and functions.
2.3: UNARY AND BINARY OPERATIONS
SET- a well-defined collection of distinct objects.
- All the “Things” that have common property
- Things that are grouped together with a certain property in common.
SYMBOL MEANING SYMBOL MEANING
UPPERCASE Designates set name ⊄ Not a subset of
lowercase Designates set elements ⊃ Superset of
⊆ Subset of | or : Such that (if condition
is true)
⊂ Is a proper subset of || Cardinality of a set
 NOTATION-list of each element separated by a comma, and then put some braces around the whole thing.

{ 3, 6, 9, 12 . . .}
NUMERICAL SET EXAMPLES
a) Set of EVEN NUMBERS { 2, 4, 6, ...}
b) Set of ODD NUMBERS { 3, 5, 7, 9…}
c) Set of PRIME NUMBERS { 2, 3, 5, 7, 11 …}
d) POSITIVE MULTIPLES OF 3 THAT ARE LESS THAN 10 {3, 6, 9}
UNIVERSAL SET- it’s a set that contains everything. Everything that is relevant to our question.

EQUALITY
-Two sets are equal if they have precisely the same members or elements
Example: are A and B equal where:
SET A is the set of numbers whose members are the first four positive whole numbers
SET B ={ 4, 2 ,1, 3}
SUBSETS
- When we define a set, we can form a subset if we take pieces of that set.
Example: UNIVERSAL SET {M, A, T, H, E, M, A, T, I, C, S}
Subset: Consonant letter { A, E, I}
A is a subset of B if and only if every element of A is in B
OPERAND
- The operand is the object being worked on by an operation. Operations can be mathematical ones
such as multiplication or addition, or they can be more sophisticated functions.
- In all computer languages, expressions consist of two components: Operands and operators.
Operands are the objects that are manipulated, and the operators are the symbols that represent
specific actions. For example, in the expression 5 + X, X and 5 are the operands and + is the
operators. All expressions have at least one operand.
TYPES OF OPERATORS
UNARY- means operation is performed on one operand.
BINARY- means operation is performed on two operands.
UNARY SET OPERATIONS
-In mathematics, a unary operation is an operation with only one operand. It accepts only one value or
operand. The plus and minus sign may not mean addition or subtraction when they are attached before a single
number. Instead, they are read as positive and negative.
- Unary operations involve only one value. There are many unary operations involve only one value.
For example:
a) -5
b) sin x
c) cos 45
π
d) tan
3
BINARY OPERATIONS
-When + and – can act on two operands, it is called a binary operation. Among the binary operators, the +
and -require more attention than other binary operations. To understand this better, recall the concept of double
negative wherein double negative makes positive. Example 3-(-2). In this expression, two operations are present
using the symbol -. However, two – should not be interpreted to represent two identical operations.
-Binary operations take two values: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and exponentiation.
There are many binary operations on real numbers. An operation is binary if it takes two real number as
arguments to produce another real number.
THE PROPERTIES OF TWO BINARY OPERATIONS, ADDITION AND MULTIPLICATION, OVER
THE SET OF REAL NUMBERS, ARE AS FOLLOWS:
i. CLOSURE OF BINARY OPERATION
The product and sum of any two real numbers is also real.
ii. COMMUTATIVITY OF BINARY OPERATIONS
The addition and multiplication of any two real numbers is commutative.
A+ B= B + A
C x D= D x C
iii.ASSOCIATIVITY OF BINARY OPERATIONS
Given three real numbers, you may take any two and perform addition or multiplication, as the case may be,
and you will end with the same answer.
x + ( y +z) =(x + y ) + z
a (b . c) = (a . b) c
iv.DISTRIBUTIVITY OF BINARY OPERATIONS
Distributivity applies when multiplication is performed on a group of two numbers added or subtracted
together.
z ( x + y)= zx +zy
e (f -g)= ef-eg
v. IDENTITY ELEMENTS OF BINARY OPERATIONS
An element of the set of real numbers is an identity element for addition if e + x= x. This means that identity
is the number that you add to any real number and the result will be the same real number. The only number
that satisfies this property is the number 0 for addition and 1 for multiplication
4 + 0=4
10 x 1=10
vi.INVERSES OF BINARY OPERATIONS
Now what do you add to any real number x to get the identity element e=0 as a result? Of course, the
negative of that number.
-x + x=0
FUNDAMENTALS OF LOGIC
Propositions
Propositions are made in people’s statements. A proposition is a statement which is either true (T) or false
(F). for example, the GenZ may claim that the best movie series is Harry Potter. This preposition may be either
true or false and cannot be both.
Example:
Each of the following statements is a preposition. Some are true and some are false. Can you tell which are true
and which are false? If false, state why.
a) 9 is a prime number
b) 5 +13=18
c) x2 + y2 ≥ 0
d) 10 ¿−3
THE TRUTH TABLE
A truth table is a table that shows the truth value of a compound statement for all possible truth values of
its simple statements.
NEGATION
A statement is a negation of another if the word is not introduced in the negative statement. Let P be a
proposition. The negation of P is “not P” or -P
The following is its truth table:
P -P
T F
F T

Example: what is the negation of the following statements?

a) P: √ 2is a rational number
b) R: 6 is an odd number
LOGICAL CONNECTIVES
Let P and Q be prepositions. A logical connective is the mathematical equivalent of a conjunction in
English. The most common conjunctions in mathematics are “and” and “or”, which are denoted by ^ and V,
respectively.
If two statements are joined like P and Q, denoted by P ^ Q is a statement that is true and if and only if both
P and Q are true. Another logical connective is the word “or”. The statement P V Q is true if and only if P is
true or Q is true, which is taken to include the case when they are both true.
P Q P^Q PVQ
F F F F
F T F T
T F F T
 T T T T

IMPLICATIONS
Suppose P and Q are propositions. The proposition P ⟹Q (read as if P, then Q) is called an implication. P
is called the premise and Q is called the conclusion. In ordinary language statements like “if it rains, then I’ll
bring my umbrella” is an implication. “If it rains” is the P or the premise, and “then I’ll bring my umbrella” is
the conclusion.
Other ways of reading P⟹Q are:
P implies Q
Q if P
Q is implied by P
Q only if P
P Q P⟹Q
F F T
F T T
T F F
T T T
A more complicated form of implication is the bi complication or the biconditional denoted by the
symbol ⇔. The statement P ⇔ Q is true if and only if both P and Q are either both true or both false. The
sentence P ⇔ Q is equivalent to the statement.
P ⇔ Q = (P⟹Q) ^ (P⟹Q)
Construct the truth table for the logical operator ⇔ and check that indeed it is equivalent to (P⟹Q) ^ (P
⟹Q). A biconditional is often stated as: P if and only if Q or P is necessary and sufficient for Q.
Example: Write the following in symbolic form using P, Q, and R for statements and the symbols -, ^, v,
⟹ , ⇔ where;
P: Former President Duterte was a good president.
Q: Government is corrupt
R: People are happy
a) If Former President is a good president, then the government is not corrupt.
b) If the government officials are not corrupt, then the people are happy.
c) If the Former President is a good president and people are happy, then the government officials are not
corrupt.
d) Former President is not a good president if and only if the government officials are corrupt and the
people are not happy.
CONVERSE, INVERSE, CONTRAPOSITIVE
Supposed P and Q are proposition. Given the implication P⟹Q. Its converse is Q⟹P, its inverse is -P⟹-Q,
and its contrapositive is -Q⟹-P.
That is:
Given: if P then Q
Inverse: If not P then not Q
Converse: If Q then P
Contrapositive: If not Q then not P
Example: give the Inverse, converse, and contrapositive of the following implications
a) If this movie is interesting, then I am watching
b) If p is a prime number, then it’s odd.
c) It is raining, then the ground is wet.
d) If x is the height of a box then it is a positive number.
e) If x is less than zero, then it is negative