Mathematical

Language and
Symbols
 What is Mathematical
Language and Symbols?

In mathematics, a symbolic language is a language

that uses characters or symbols to represent
concepts, such as mathematical operations,
expressions, and statements, and the entities or
operands on which the operations are performed.
Objectives:

a. discuss the language, symbols and convention

of mathematics;
b. explain the nature of mathematics as a
language;
c. perform operations on mathematical operations
correctly; and
d. acknowledge that mathematics is a useful
language.
 • What is a Mathematical • • Why Mathematical •
• Language? • • Language is important? •

• An extension of the natural • Mathematics has specific language that

language that is used in students must understand in order to make
meaning and develop their knowledge. Being
mathematics and in science for
able to interpret language in a range of
expressing results with mathematical contexts and for different
concision, precision and purposes is fundamental to mathematical
power. problem solving.
 Characteristics of Mathematical
Language

The language of mathematics makes it easy to express the kinds of thoughts

that mathematicians like to express. It is:
• precise (able to make very fine distinction).
• concise (able to say things briefly);
• powerful (able to express complex thoughts with
relative ease).

Every language has its vocabulary (the words), and its rules for combining these words into complete
thoughts (the sentences). Mathematics is no exception. As a first step in discussing 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
mathematicalthoughts).
 MATHEMATICS expressions
versus sentences

The mathematical analogue of a ‘noun’ will be called an

expression. Thus, an expression is a name given to a
mathematical object of interest. Where as in English we
need to talk about people, places, and things, we’ll see
that mathematics has much different ‘objects of
interest’. The mathematical analogue of a ‘sentence’
will also be called a sentence. A mathematical
sentence, just as an English sentence, must state a
complete thought.
name given to an object of
interest:
ENGLISH

NOUN (person, place,

thing)
Examples: Carol, Idaho,
| MATHEMATICS

EXPRESSION
Examples:
5, 2 + 3, ½
book

SENTENCE SENTENCE
a complete thought: Examples: The capital Examples:
of Idaho is Boise. 3+4=7
Expression in mathematics:
> An expression is the mathematical analogue of an English noun; it is a
correct arrangement of mathematical symbols used to represent a
mathematical object of interest. An expression does NOT state a
complete thought; in particular, it does not make sense to ask if an
expression is true or false.
> There are many types of expressions in mathematics, because there
are many types of mathematical objects to be discussed. Some types
of expressions are listed below.

• Numbered Ordered Pairs • Sets Matrices • Functions Vectors

Numbered Ordered Pairs:
• Refers to a pair of two numbers (or variables) written
inside brackets and are separated by a comma.

Sets Matrices:
• An arrangement of numbers or elements into
rows and columns.
Factors Vectors:
• A function that takes one or more variables and
returns a vector.
The most common problem type involving an expression is Simplify.

SIMPLIFY: (some expression)

• To simplify an expression means to get a different name for
the expression, thati in some way is simpler.

The notion of ‘simpler’, however, can have different meanings:

1. Fewer Symbols 3. Better Suited For Current Use

2. Better Operations 4. Preferred Style Format
Sentence in Mathematics:
> A mathematical sentence is the analogue of an English sentence;
it is a correcta arrangement of mathematical symbols that states a
complete thought. It makess sense to ask about the TRUTH of a
sentence.

> The sentence ‘ 1 + 2 = 3 ’ is read as ‘one plus two equals three’ or

‘one plus two is equal to three’. A complete thought is being stated,
which in this case is true. The sentence is ‘diagrammed’ below:
 What is the conventions in Why do we need to have conventions in
mathematical language? mathematical language?

• The language of mathematics makes it

• Mathematicians abide by
easy to express the kinds of thoughts that
conventions in order to allow other
mathematicians like to express. There are
mathematicians to understand what
three important characteristics of the
they write without constantly having
language of mathematics. These are
to redefine basic terms.
precision, conciseness, and powerful.
 Letter Conventions

Examples: What they usually mean:

Start of the alphabet: a, b, c, ... constants (fixed values)

From i to n:
i, j, k, l, m, n positive integers (for counting)

End of the alphabet: ... x, y, z

variables (unknowns)

• These are used to represent numbers. In algebra, our goal is to

find out what number can replace the variable to make the
equation true.
 • What is a Mathematical • • Why Mathematical Symbol •
• Symbol? • • is important? •

• Mathematical symbols used in maths help

• A character that is used to indicates a
us to work with mathematical concepts in a
mathematical relation or operation.
theoretical manner.
• Mathematical notation consists of using symbols • The mathematical signs and symbols
for representing operations, unspecified numbers, are considered as representative of the
relations and any other mathematical objects, and value. The basic symbols in maths are
assembling them into expressions and formulas.
used to express mathematical thoughts.
 Four fundamental symbols of operation:

Plus/Additional Sign Minus/Subtraction Sign

• the nation of positive • the nation of negative
• the operation of addition • the operation of subtraction

Division Sign Times/Multiplication Sign

• the addition sign that • the times sign that represents
represents division multiplication
The inequality symbols
The equal sign
Mathematical Symbols
 Vocabulary and grammar of
language of mathematics

• The mathematical notation used for formulas

has its own vocabulary and grammar, not
dependent on sspecific natural language but
shared internationally by mathematicians
regardless of their mother tongue.
Difficulties:

• The word ‘is’ could mean equality, inequality, or

member in a set.

• Different use of a number (cardinal, ordinal, nominal,

ratio).
• Mathematical objects may be represented in many
ways such as sets and functions.
• The words “and” and “or” mean differenly in
mathematics from its English use.
What is the difference between
mathematical language and symbols?

• Mathematical language being powerful is

its ability to express complex thoughts with
relative ease so that most people can
understand them while mathematical
symbols are used to refer to certain
quantities, concepts, and ideas, among
other things.
 The nature of mathematics

• Math is a universal language. Mathematics meets

this definition of a language. Linguists who don't
consider math a language cite its use as a written
rather than spoken form of communication.
• Mathematical language is a language of symbols,
concepts, definitions, and theorems. Mathematical
language needs to be learned and does not develop
naturally like a child's natural language.
 • Mathematics is the same all over the world, math can act as a
universal language. A phrase or formula has the same meaning,
regardless of another language that accompanies it. In this way,
math helps people learn and communicate, even if other
communication barriers exist.

• Teaching and learning the language of mathematics is vital for

the development of mathematical proficiency. It is unique among
languages in its ability to provide precise expression for every
thought or concept that can be formulated in its terms.
References:
https://www.slideshare.net/himanshukotnala99/
maths-in-daily-life-54382866
http://www.onemathematicalcat.org