ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus
MODULE
MODULE 2
MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
After going through this topic, you are expected to:
1. Discuss the language, symbols and conventions of mathematics
2. Explain the nature of mathematics as a language
3. Perform operations on mathematical expression correctly
4. Recognize that mathematics is a useful language
Suggested allotment time: 12 hours
Lesson 1 CHARACTERISTICS OF MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE
Language is important to understand and express one’s ideas, feelings or
opinion. Language was invented to communicate ideas to others (to transmit
information), to acquire knowledge or information and to construct social identity.
The language of Mathematics was designed so we can write about things
such as numbers, sets, functions, etc. and what we do with those things like perform
operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Components of the Language of Mathematics
1. Discreteness conveys that language consists of minimal units.
2. Grammar tells that language consists of rules and patterns to arrange units.
3. Productivity shows that language can create totally novel statements that could be
understood.
4. Displacement reveals that language can convey imaginary, distant, past, present,
and future statements
Course Code: Gen Ed 103
Descriptive Title: Mathematics in the Modern World Instructor : MA. THERESA P. DELA ROSA
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus
MODULE
Vocabulary of Mathematics
The language of mathematics has an abundant vocabulary of specialist and
technical terms and also uses symbols instead of words which are essential to the
power of modern mathematics.
Symbol Meaning Example
+ add 3+7 = 10
− subtract 5−2 = 3
× multiply 4×3 = 12
÷ divide 20÷5 = 4
/ divide 20/5 = 4
() grouping symbols 2(a−3)
[] grouping symbols 2[ a−3(b+c) ]
{} set symbols {1, 2, 3}
π pi A= πr2
∞ infinity ∞ is endless
= equals 1+1 = 2
approximately equal to π 3.14
π≠2
≠ not equal to
<≤ less than, less than or equal to 2<3
>≥ greater than, greater than or equal to 5>1
Course Code: Gen Ed 103
Descriptive Title: Mathematics in the Modern World Instructor : MA. THERESA P. DELA ROSA
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus
MODULE
square root ("radical") √4 = 2
° degrees 20°
therefore a=b b=a
Source: https://www.mathisfun.com/symbols.html
Characteristics of the mathematical language
1. Precise (able to make very fine distinctions or definitions)
Example: The use of mathematical symbol is only done based on its meaning and
purpose. Like + means add, means subtract, means multiply and means
divide.
2. Concise (able to say things briefly)
Example: The long English sentence can be shortened using mathematical symbols.
Eight plus two equals ten which means .
3. Powerful ( able to express complex thoughts with relative ease)
Example: The application of critical thinking and problem solving skill requires the
comprehension, analysis and reasoning to obtain the correct solution.
Course Code: Gen Ed 103
Descriptive Title: Mathematics in the Modern World Instructor : MA. THERESA P. DELA ROSA
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus
MODULE
Lesson 2 EXPRESSIONS VS. SENTENCES
Mathematics is a language. Complete sentences in mathematics are
called equations. They are called equations because of the equal sign. When
working with equations, operations are like verbs and numbers are adjectives that
describe the units, which are like nouns.
A mathematical sentence, also called mathematical statement, is a statement
that can be identified as true or false
In mathematics, incomplete sentences are called expressions. They are
just part of a number sentence since they do not have an equal sign. An expression
is just like a phrase.
Here are some examples of expressions and how they relate to phrase
EXPRESSION WORDS PHRASE
3+5 3 plus 5 The sum of three and
five
n-1 n minus 1 The difference of n
and one
Notice that the phrases do not form a complete sentence because the phrase
does not have a verb.
An equation is two expressions linked with an equal sign. When you read the
words the symbols represent in an equation, you have a complete sentence in
English.
Equation Sentence
3+5=8 The sum of three and five is equal
to eight
n -1 = 14 n minus one equals fourteen
Course Code: Gen Ed 103
Descriptive Title: Mathematics in the Modern World Instructor : MA. THERESA P. DELA ROSA
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus
MODULE
ENGLISH versus MATHEMATICS
Course Code: Gen Ed 103
Descriptive Title: Mathematics in the Modern World Instructor : MA. THERESA P. DELA ROSA
ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE
Santa Maria Campus
MODULE
ACTIVITY 2.2
Classify as an expression or a sentence/equation. If it is an equation, determine if
the statement is true, false, may be true or false. Justify your answer.
1. 2x + 3
2. 5 +2 = 3+4
3. 2 + 3 < 5
4. 2 + x = 7
5. 10 – 3 > 5
6.
7. [(2+7) – (8 + 6)] = 7
8. 3 + 6 = -15 +24
9. 2 + 5y
10.
Course Code: Gen Ed 103
Descriptive Title: Mathematics in the Modern World Instructor : MA. THERESA P. DELA ROSA
