8 Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region XI
Division of Davao del Sur
MALINAO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL OF ARTS AND TRADE

Guided Learning Activity Sheet

Mathematics 8
Quarter 3 – Week 1
MATHEMATICAL SYSTEM
 What I Need to Do
A typical mathematics system has the following four parts, the undefined terms,
defined terms, axioms and/or postulate, and theorems. Undefined and defined terms are
all about vocabulary, and axioms and/or postulate and theorems are all about principles.

This module will help you understand more on previously learned topics in
geometry specifically on mathematical system. It introduces terms that we’ll be used in
order to help us solve problems and prove scenarios. Axiom and theorem are being
described through illustrative example to widen one’s perspective.

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. Describe a mathematical system.

Gearing Up
In modern mathematics, we accept certain undefined terms. The choice of the
undefined terms is completely arbitrary and generally to facilitate the development of
structure, e.g. point, plane, number, variable, line etc. then, we defined the other terms of
the mathematical system in terms of undefined terms, e.g. angle, line segment, circle,
ray etc.

Term Figure Description Notation

A point suggests an exact location in space.
Point  A It has no dimension. point A
We use a capital letter to name a point.

A line is a set of points arranged in a row.

 R It is extended endlessly in both directions.
Line  V It is a one-dimensional figure. ´
line m or RV
Two points determine a line. That is, two
distinct points are contained by exactly one
m line.
We use a lower case letter or any two points
on the line to name the line.
A plane is a set of points in an endless flat
surface.
The following determine a plane:
(a) three non-collinear points;
P
Plane (b)two intersecting lines; plane PQR or
(c) two parallel lines; or PQR
(d) a line and a point not on the line. We use
Q a lower case letter or three points on the
plane to name the plane.

Activity 1. List down 3 objects that could represent each of the following terms
below that are found in your home.

a. a point. b. a line.
 c. a plane

An angle is a union of two non-collinear rays with common endpoint. The two non-
collinear rays are the sides of the angle while the common endpoint is the vertex.

Activity 2. Direction: Name at least 2 examples of each of the following terms below
from figure 2.

figure 2

Illustrative example from fig. 1: 1. Angle: ______ _______

 Angle: LRQS 2. Line segment: _______ _______

Line segment: QR 3. Ray: ______ _______

Ray: ⃗
QS
Early Greeks considered postulates as general truths common to all studies and
axioms as the truths relating to the special study at hand.

A statement that we arrive at by successive application of rule of implication to

the axiom and statements previously arrived is called theorems.

“0 is a natural number”, is an example of axiom.

Axiom is a concept in logic, a statement which is accepted without question and which
does not require proof.

There are reasons why it has no proof for example:

1. The statement might be obvious. This means most people think it is clearly true.
2. The statement is based on physical laws and can easily be observed.
3. The statement is a proposition.

Principle of Contradiction is an example of an obvious axiom. It says that a statement

and its opposite cannot both be true at the same time and place. Thus, you can have a
contradictory statement.

Example of a contradictory statement: “banal na aso”

“the cleanest mess”

“the sweetest salt”

Activity 3: Write at least 5 contradictory statements.

What is a Theorem?

A theorem is a statement that can be demonstrated to be true by accepted

mathematical operations and arguments. In general, a theorem is an embodiment of
some general principle that makes it part of a larger theory.

Example:

Formula:

a² + b² = c²

a = side of right triangle

b = side of right triangle

c = hypotenuse
 This theorem states that the area of the triangle whose side is the hypotenuse is
equal to the sum of the areas of the squares on the other two sides.

It is a fundamental relation in Euclidean geometry among the three sides of a

right triangle.

Activity 4: Cite the difference between an axiom/postulate and a theorem.

Getting Better

Activity 5: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. A point has no dimension.

a. False b. true c. maybe d. cannot be determined

2. Which of the following represents a plane?

a. Pencil b. blackboard c. dot d. ball pen

3. What is the formula of a Pythagorean Theorem?

a. a² + b² = c² b. a² - b² = c² c. a² • b² = c² d. a + b = c²

4. It is a subset of a line that has two endpoints.

a. Skew lines b. Parallel lines c. ray d. line segment

5. The following represents a point EXCEPT.

a. Tip of a needle c. electric wire

b. A dot d. grain of sugar

6. A statement that can be demonstrated to be true by accepted mathematical

operations and arguments.

a. Axiom b. Theorem c. postulate d. principle

7. Line segment and ray are some of the examples of _______.

a. Defined terms c. theorem

b. Undefined terms d. postulate

8. Which of the following represents a surface of a table and a wall?

a. Plane b. Point c. line d. ray

9. “A gentle torturer” is a specific example of?

 a. Theorem c. Principle of Contradiction
b. Postulate d. Axiom

10. It is a one-dimensional figure which extends endlessly in both directions.

a. Ray b. Line segment c. angle d. line

Gaining Mastery

Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. “The cleanest mess” is an specific example of?

a. Theorem c. Principle of Contradiction

b. Postulate d. Axiom

2. What is the formula of a Pythagorean Theorem?

a. a + b = c² b. a² • b² = c² c. a² - b² = c² d. a² + b² = c²

3. It is a one-dimensional figure.

a. line b. angle c. line segment d. ray

4. A point suggests an exact location in space.

a. cannot be determined b. a & b c. true d. false

5. A statement that can be demonstrated to be true by accepted mathematical

operations and arguments.

a. Axiom b. Theorem c. postulate d. principle

6. Which of the following represents a plane?

a. wire b. wall c. ball pen d. dot

7. A blackboard and floor represents what?

a. Plane b. Point c. ray d. line

8. It is a subset of a line that has two endpoints.

a. Skew lines b. Parallel lines c. ray d. line

segment

9. The following represents a point EXCEPT.

 a. tip of a pen b. a dot c. electric wire d. edge of a
table

10. Line segment and ray are some of the examples of what?

a. undefined terms c. postulate

b. defined terms d. theorem

What I Need to Remember

We can use our logic and reasoning skills to develop the mathematical system of
geometry. Begin with undefined terms, which we first describe. The, we used these
undefined terms to formally define terms. Our defined terms are used to write statements
that we do not prove, but instead agree and accept them to be true. These statements
are called postulates or axioms. Our mathematical system grows by using terms,
postulates, and axioms to prove theorems.