MATHEMATICAL NOTATIONS, SYMBOLS, OPERATIONS AND VARIABLES
The combination of variables, operations, notations and symbols form a mathematical expressions or a
sentence.
The success of solving mathematical problem correctly lies on how you will translate Mathematical
sentences/phrases into math symbols.
Appropriate use of variables, symbols, operations and notations in translating mathematical statement/
phrase will give correct equation and representation to solve a given mathematical problem.
Here are examples of Translating Mathematical Phrases/Statement to Mathematical symbols:
Sentence or Phrase Mathematical Statement or Expression
1. Twice a number 2𝑥
(Let the number be 𝑥)
2. The sum of three consecutive numbers 𝑛 + (𝑛 + 1) + (𝑛 + 2)
(Let 𝑛 be the first number)
3. The sum of the square of two numbers 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2
(Let 𝑥 and 𝑦 be the two numbers)
4. There are twice as many apples as there 2𝐺 = 𝐴
are guavas (𝐴 is for apple, 𝐺 is for guava)
5. The area of a rectangle whose length is 7 𝐴 = 𝐿 × 𝑊, 𝐿 = 𝑊 + 7
more than the width. (𝐴 is the area, 𝐿 is the length, 𝑊 is the width)
1
6. One third of the sum of my age and my brother’s 3
× (𝐸 + 10)
age who is 10 (𝐸 is my age)
IF YOU FIND THE ABOVE ITEMS HARD, THIS IS THE HARDER PART…
7. All natural numbers are real numbers ∀ 𝑁𝜖𝑅
8. There exist two distinct integers, m and n such
that sum is zero. ∃ {𝑚, 𝑛} ∈ 𝑍| 𝑚 + 𝑛 = 0
9. All real number greater than
zero , the square root of its square is equal ∀ 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅| 𝑥 > 0, √𝑥 2 = 𝑥
to itself
10. For all real number , there exist number 1
as the identity element for multiplication . ∀ 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅, ∃ 𝑥 × 1 = 𝑥, 𝑥 = 𝑥
11. For any non- zero real number when raise to
zero is equal to 1 . ∀ 𝑛 ∈ 𝑅, 𝑛 ≠ 0; 𝑛0 = 1
Prepared by: Prof. EMEE I. TOMENIO