Mathematical Language and Symbols: Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Discussion
Exercise
Mathematical Language and

Symbols
Libeeth B. Guevarra
Department of Mathematics and Natural
Sciences
June 21, 2019
Mathematical Language and Symbols 1

Discussion
Exercise
What is a language?
a systematic means of communicating by
the use of sounds or conventional symbols
a system of words used in a particular
discipline

Discussion
Exercise
Components of a language:
A vocabulary of symbols or words
A grammar consisting of rules of how these
symbols may be used
A ’syntax’ or propositional structure, which
places the symbols in linear structures.
A community of people who use and
understand these symbols
A range of meanings that can be
communicated with these symbols

Discussion
Exercise
The vocabulary of mathematics
Mathematical notation has assimilated symbols.

(α, Φ, π, , σ, Σ, ℵ, C, R, Q, Q0 , Z, ∀, ∃, ∼, ', ≡
, ∨, ∧, →, ↔, ∪, ∩)
Mathematics has its own brand of technical

terminology.
(factor, exponent, polynomial, group, ring, field,
nets, weavings )

Discussion
Exercise
Mathematical statements have their own

moderately complex taxonomy.
(axioms, conjectures, theorems, lemmas,
corollaries)

Discussion
Exercise
The grammar of mathematics
The mathematical notation used for formulas

has its own grammar, not dependent on a
specific natural language, but shared
internationally by mathematicians regardless of
their mother tongues.
dy
(sin x+acos 2x ≥ 0, f (x), )
dx

Discussion
Exercise
The language community of

mathematics
Mathematics is used by mathematicians.
It is also used by students of mathematics.

Discussion
Exercise
The meanings of mathematics
Used to communicate information about a

wide range of different subjects.
Describes abstract structures.

Discussion
Exercise
The general rules of mathematics as a

language:
PRECISE - able to make very fine
distinctions (definitions)
CONCISE - able to say things briefly
(symbols)
POWERFUL - able to express complex
thoughts with relative ease.

Discussion
Exercise
Logic Statement
A statement is a declarative sentence that

expresses thought and can either be true or
false, but not both true and false. It is also called
a proposition.

Discussion
Exercise
Example
1
Engr. Bernard Nicolas Villamor is the
president of CIT University.

Discussion
Exercise
Example
1
2
Sit down.

Discussion
Exercise
Example
1
2
Sit down.
3
What are you thinking?

Discussion
Exercise
Example
1
2
Sit down.
3
4
There will be an increase in your allowance.

Discussion
Exercise
Example
1
2
Sit down.
3
4
5
5x ≤ 14

Discussion
Exercise
Example
1
2
Sit down.
3
4
5
5x ≤ 14
6
3x + 5y

Discussion
Exercise
Simple statement bears a single idea.
Compound Statement bears two or more ideas

together.
Connectives: not ∼, and ∧, or ∨, if . . . then →,

and if and only if ↔.

Discussion
Exercise
Example
p: Ibarra is an Engineer.
q: Ibarra is a teacher.
r: Ibarra is not a singer.
s: Ibarra plays guitar
Write the following compound statements in symbols.
1 Ibarra is a singer.

Discussion
Exercise
Example
2 Ibarra is an Engineer or he is a teacher.

Discussion
Exercise
Example
3 Ibarra is an Engineer and he is not a singer.

Discussion
Exercise
Example
4 If Ibarra is a singer then he plays guitar.

Discussion
Exercise
Example
4 If Ibarra is a singer then he plays guitar.
5 Ibarra plays guitar if and only if he is a singer.
Discussion
Exercise
Example
Given the following simple statements.
a: Today is Sunday.
b: I will attend a holy mass.
c: I will go to work.
d: Tomorrow is Monday.
Write the following symbolic statement in words.
1
b∨c
2
a∧b
3
a→d
4
∼c↔b
Discussion
Exercise
Truth Table and Truth Value
A Truth Table is a table showing the truth value

of a statement.
The truth value of a simple statement is either

true or false, while the truth value of a
compound statement depend on the truth value
of each simple statement and the connectives.

Discussion
Exercise
Negation
Negation is a statement expressing the idea

that something is not true. This is represented
by the symbol ∼.
Truth Table for ∼ p

p ∼p
T F
F T

Discussion
Exercise
Example
Negate each statement.
1
p: The optical disk drive is included in the
price of the computer.
2
q: The blue whale is the largest living
creature.

Discussion
Exercise
Conjunction
A conjunction expresses the idea of and.
The symbol ∧ to represent conjunction
p ∧ q is true if both p and q are true.
Truth Table for p ∧ q

p q p∧q
T T T
T F F
F T F
F F F

Discussion
Exercise
Example
Consider the following statements:
p: The tenant pays utilities.
q: A 5,000php deposit is required.
1
Write the statement ∼ p∧ ∼ q in English.
2
Express the statement ”It is not true that:
the tenant pays utilities and a 5,000php
deposit is required” symbolically.
3
Construct the truth table for q ∧ (p∧ ∼ q)

Discussion
Exercise

Discussion
Exercise
p q
T T
T F
F T
F F

Discussion
Exercise
p q ∼q
T T F
T F T
F T F
F F T

Discussion
Exercise
p q ∼ q p∧ ∼ q
T T F F
T F T T
F T F F
F F T F

Discussion
Exercise
p q ∼ q p∧ ∼ q q ∧ (p∧ ∼ q)
T T F F F
T F T T F
F T F F F
F F T F F

Discussion
Exercise
Disjunction
A disjunction conveys the notion of or. We use
the symbol ∨ to represent disjunction. p ∨ q is
true if p is true or q is true.
Truth Table for p ∨ q

p q p∨q
T T T
T F T
F T T
F F F

Discussion
Exercise
Example
Consider the following statements:
p: Urban sprawl will increase.
q: Commuting will be more difficult.
1
Write the statement ∼ (p ∨ q) in English.
2
Express the statement symbolically: ”Urban
sprawl will not increase or commuting will
be more difficult.”
3
Construct the truth table (∼ p ∨ q) ∨ p.

Discussion
Exercise
Construct the truth table for (∼ p ∨ q) ∨ p

Discussion
Exercise
p q
T T
T F
F T
F F

Discussion
Exercise
p q ∼p
T T F
T F F
F T T
F F T

Discussion
Exercise
p q ∼p ∼p∨q
T T F T
T F F F
F T T T
F F T T

Discussion
Exercise
p q ∼ p ∼ p ∨ q (∼ p ∨ q) ∨ p
T T F T T
T F F F T
F T T T T
F F T T T

Discussion
Exercise
Tautology, Contradiction and

Contingency
A tautology is a compound statement that is always true.
(x − 2)2 = x 2 − 4x + 4
A contradiction is a compound statement that is always

false.
sin2x − 3 = 0
A contingency is a statement that is neither a tautology
nor a contradiction.
x − 5 = 11

Discussion
Exercise
Example
1
Show that (∼ p ∨ q) ∨ p is a tautology.
2
Show that q ∧ (p∧ ∼ q) is a contradiction.

Discussion
Exercise
Conditional: p → q
A conditional expresses the notion of if . . .
then. p statement is the antecedent or
hypothesis and q is the consequent or
conclusion.
Miss Rich, the owner of a small factory, has a rush order

that must be filled by next Monday and she approaches
you with this generous offer:
If you work for me on Saturday, then i’ll give you a

7,000php bonus.
Examine the cases to determine exactly when Miss Rich

is telling the truth and when she is not.
Discussion
Exercise
If you work for me on Saturday,

then i’ll give you a 7,000php bonus.
You come to work and you receive the

bonus.
You come to work and you don’t receive the
bonus.
You don’t come to work, but Miss Rich gives
you the bonus anyway.
You don’t come to work and you don’t
receive the bonus.
Discussion
Exercise
Truth Table for Conditional p → q

p q p→q
T T T
T F F
F T T
F F T

Discussion
Exercise
Example
Construct a truth table for p ∧ (p → q).

Discussion
Exercise
Example
Construct a truth table for p ∧ (p → q).
Truth Table for Conditional p → q

p q p→q p ∧ (p → q)
T T T T
T F F F
F T T F
F F T F

Discussion
Exercise
Equivalent Statements: A ⇔ B or
A≡B
Two compound statements A and B are

equivalent if they both have the same truth
value for all possible truth values of their simple
statements.

Discussion
Exercise
Example
Show that the statements, p → q and ∼ p ∨ q
are equivalent.
Example
1
If you study hard, then you pass all courses.
2
If a number is divisible by 9, then it is also
divisible by 3.

Discussion
Exercise
Biconditional: p ↔ q
Biconditional statement: p ↔ q is p if and only if

q. p ↔ q ≡ (p → q) ∧ (q → p)
Truth Table for Biconditional p ↔ q

p q p↔q
T T T
T F F
F T F
F F T

Discussion
Exercise
Let’s try this: Given the simple statements:

a: The number ends with 7.
b: The number ends with 0.
c: The number is divisible by 10.
d: The number is prime
Write the following compound statements in
symbolic form:
1
A number ends with 7 or 0.
2
A number ends with 7 and the number is
prime.
3
If a number ends with 0, then it is not prime.
4
A number is divisible by 10 if and only if it
ends with 0.
Discussion
Exercise
Write the following symbolic statements in

words.
1
a∨d
2
c → (d ∧ a)
Determine whether the statement is true or false
1
−5 > −5
2
8 − 3 = 11 or 5 is an odd number
3
1 = 0 and 15 is divisible by 3
4
If a square has 4 equal sides, then a
rectangle has one diagonal.
5
If a rectangle has one diagonal, then a
square has 4 equal sides.
Discussion
Exercise
Construct the truth table of the following:

1
p∨ ∼ p
2
q ∨ (r ∧ ∼ q)
3
[∼ (p → q)] ↔ (p∧ ∼ q)

Mathematical Language and Symbols: Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

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Discussion

Mathematical Language and

June 21, 2019

Mathematical Language and Symbols 1

Mathematical Language and Symbols 2

Mathematical Language and Symbols 3

The vocabulary of mathematics

Mathematical notation has assimilated symbols.

Mathematics has its own brand of technical

Mathematical Language and Symbols 4

Mathematical statements have their own

Mathematical Language and Symbols 5

The grammar of mathematics

The mathematical notation used for formulas

Mathematical Language and Symbols 6

The language community of

Mathematics is used by mathematicians.

It is also used by students of mathematics.

Mathematical Language and Symbols 7

The meanings of mathematics

Used to communicate information about a

Mathematical Language and Symbols 8

The general rules of mathematics as a

Mathematical Language and Symbols 9

A statement is a declarative sentence that

Mathematical Language and Symbols 10

Mathematical Language and Symbols 11

Mathematical Language and Symbols 12

Mathematical Language and Symbols 13

Mathematical Language and Symbols 14

Mathematical Language and Symbols 15

Mathematical Language and Symbols 16

Simple statement bears a single idea.

Compound Statement bears two or more ideas

Connectives: not ∼, and ∧, or ∨, if . . . then →,

Mathematical Language and Symbols 17

Mathematical Language and Symbols 18

Mathematical Language and Symbols 19

Mathematical Language and Symbols 20

Mathematical Language and Symbols 21

Truth Table and Truth Value

A Truth Table is a table showing the truth value

The truth value of a simple statement is either

Mathematical Language and Symbols 24

Negation is a statement expressing the idea

Truth Table for ∼ p

Mathematical Language and Symbols 25

Mathematical Language and Symbols 26

Truth Table for p ∧ q

Mathematical Language and Symbols 27

Mathematical Language and Symbols 28

Construct the truth table for q ∧ (p∧ ∼ q)

Mathematical Language and Symbols 29

Construct the truth table for q ∧ (p∧ ∼ q)

Mathematical Language and Symbols 30

Construct the truth table for q ∧ (p∧ ∼ q)

Mathematical Language and Symbols 31

Construct the truth table for q ∧ (p∧ ∼ q)

Mathematical Language and Symbols 32

Construct the truth table for q ∧ (p∧ ∼ q)

Mathematical Language and Symbols 33

Truth Table for p ∨ q

Mathematical Language and Symbols 34