Week

I. Nature of Mathematics:
This week, let - Mathematical Language and syntax and rules
us talk about - Characteristics of Mathematical Language
- Expressions vs Sentences
the following: - Concepts and Operations on Sets

Mr. Armando U. Miranda Jr., MATM 111 Instructor

 Mathematical Language and Symbols Syntax and
Rules
Language is a system of conventional spoken, manual (signed), or written
symbols by means of which human beings, as members of a social group and
participants in its culture, express themselves. Below are some of the symbols
which are commonly used in Mathematics:

The ten digits: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Operations: +, – , X, Variables: a, b , c, x, y
Set Notations: N, W, Z, Q,
Sets: , , ,
R
Special symbols: =, , <, >, , , , , ,

Symbols in Logic/Connectives: , , , ,
 Mathematical Language and Symbols
Syntax and Rules

Characteristics of Mathematical Language

 Expression Sentence
VS
It can be compared to an English noun. It’s arrangement It can be compared to an English sentence. It is a correct
of mathematical object on interest is correct. It does not arrangement of mathematical symbols that states a
make a complete thought. complete thought.
It cannot be determined as true or false. It can be true or always true, false or always false, or
sometimes true or sometimes false.
The most common expression types are numbers, sets, The most common mathematical sentences are equations
and functions. and inequalities where the verb is =, < or >
Examples: 100, A (name of set), 3(x + 12) Examples: 3 + 12 = 15 True
x = 12 Sometimes true/false
3 + 12 = 312 False
Let’s do the following:
Identify whether the given is an expression or a sentence. If it is a
sentence, determine whether it is true or false.
1.) 3x + 12y 2.) A hexagon is a six-sided polygon.
3.) (4)(5) = 9 4.) m + a – t m
Answers:
1.) It is an expression since it does not contain =, > or <.
2.) It is a sentence. The prefix “hexa” means six and “gon” means side.
Therefore, it is a true sentence.
3.) It is a sentence since it uses =. It is a false sentence since (4)(5) is 20 and not
9.
4.) It does not contain any mathematical verb (=, > or <). Therefore, it is an
expression.
 Concepts on Sets
Set – is a collection of common objects, numbers,
letters in the alphabet, people, and any other sets.
Examples: A = {1, 2, 3, 4} B = {1, 2, 3, 4, . . .}

Element – is a member of a set. It is denoted by .

Examples: 1 A 12 B

Subset – is a set in which all of its elements are found in another

set.
Example: A ⊆ B since all elements of A are found in B.
B ⊄ A since there are elements in B which are not
found in A.
Cardinality – refers to the number of elements in a set. It is denoted by
n( ) where the name of the set is written inside the parenthesis
symbol.
Example: n(A) = 4 or
n(B) = or
Concepts on Sets
Universal Set – a set that contains all elements found in the other given
set/s. It is denoted by U.
Example: C = {a, e, i, o, u} D = {j, k, l}
U = {a, e, i, j, k, l, o, u}
Empty Set – a set with no element. It is denoted by { }. This is also
known as null set, denoted by .
Note: An empty set is a subset of any set. Any set is subset of universal
set.
Equal Sets – are sets with exactly the same elements.
Example: E = {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}
F = {9, 7, 5, 3, 1}
Therefore, E = F.
Equivalent Sets – are sets with the same cardinality.
Example: G = {w, x, y, z}
H = {0, 10, 100, 1000}
Therefore, G H.
 Union of Sets
The UNION of two sets is a set containing all elements that are in both
sets. For example if A= and B=, then .
Note that every A B is equal to B A.

Exercises: Given that , , and , find Answers:

the ff: 1. J A =
1.) J A 2.) Y A 2. Y A =
 Intersection of Sets
The INTERSECTION of two given sets is the set that contains all the
elements that are common to both sets. For example if A= and B=, then .
Like union of sets, every AB is equal to BA.

Exercises: Given that , , and find the ff: 1. E F

2. DF

Answers:
1. EF = 2. DF =
 Complement of a
Set
The complement of a set (let’s say set A) is denoted by . It is the set of all elements
x in U such that x is not in A. Symbolically: For example if A=and U=then =.

Exercises: Given that , Answers:

, and find the ff: 1. = or C
1. 2. 2. = or B
 Difference of Sets
The difference of sets A and B (also know as relative complement of B with respect
to A), denoted by , is the set of all elements x in U such that x is in A and x is not in B.
Symbolically: For example, if A=and B=, and U=then .

Exercises: Given that , Answers:

, and find the ff: 1. =
1. 2. 2. =
 Symmetric
Difference
If A and B are two sets, their symmetric difference as the set consisting of all
elements that belong to A or to B, but not to both A and B, denoted by . Symbolically:
For example, if A=and B=, and U=then .

Exercises: Given that , Answer:

, and find
 Cartesian Product
The Cartesian product of sets A and B , written AxB, is AxB
= . For example, A=and B= To get AxB, pair each element of A
with each element of B. The results as ordered pairs, with each
element of A written first and the element of B written second
such as AxB = {(2, 7), (2, 8), (3, 7), (3, 8), (5, 7), (5, 8)}.

Exercises: Given that ,

and find .

Answer:
 End of
Discussion
Do you have any questions? If none, you
be ready to take your performance task for
this week.