BULACAN STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

MMW 101
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Module 5
The Language of Mathematics
“Achieving Universal Understanding and
Peace Through the Language of
Mathematics”
 The Language of Mathematics

Objectives of the Module

At the end of the module, you should be able to:
1. Describe the language of mathematics
2. List the symbols used in mathematics
3. Translate English expressions/sentences to mathematical
expressions/sentences
4. Use the mathematical language properly in writing mathematical ideas.

Before moving on with the module, you have to know that mathematics language
is
1. Precise – It can make a very fine distinction or definitions among a
set of mathematical symbols.
2. Concise – It can express otherwise long expositions or sentences
briefly.
3. Powerful - It can express complex thoughts with relative ease.

The language of mathematics was designed so that we can write about things
(like numbers, sets, …) and what we do with those things (add, subtract, multiply,
divide, …).

1. Mathematical Symbols and Conventions in the Language

Symbols

Mathematics uses symbols instead of words.

There are ten digits. 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
There are symbols for operations. +, −,×,/, …
Symbols that "stand-in" for values x, y, …
Relation/special symbols 𝜋, =, <, ≤, …
Grouping symbols ( ), [ ], 𝑎𝑛𝑑 { }
Other symbols Σ the sum of
∃ there exists
∀ for every (for any)
∞ infinity

Note: You may come across some other symbols as you travel through the
learning roadmap of this unit.

LETTER CONVENTIONS
Examples What they usually mean
Start of the alphabet a, b, c, … Constants (with 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)

Note: These are not rules, but they are often used that way.

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UPPERCASE vs. lower case
It is also common to use
• Lowercase for variables (like x or y) or counting values (like m or n) and
• UPPERCASE for sets (like X or Y) and special constants.
2. The English Language and the Language of Mathematics
Do you know that there is an intimate connection between the English language
and the language of Mathematics? The reason: the left brain hemisphere that is
responsible for controlling language also coordinates logical or analytical thinking.
Now let's see how the language of mathematics and the English language are
similar. The table that follows shows how.

English Language Language of Examples

Mathematics
Nouns (objects, fixed things Numbers 1
15, , 42
2
Connectives/associations Operational symbols/ +, −,∗ ,÷, 2(𝑥 2 − 6𝑦)
grouping symbols
Verbs (to show comparison) Relation symbols =, <, >
Pronouns Variables (letters 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧
representing quantities)
Adjectives Subscripts 𝑥𝑛

2.1 Translating English Expressions to Mathematical Expressions

Knowing how to translate English expressions to mathematical symbols is

essential in problem-solving. The first step in any problem-solving situation in
mathematics is always to read and understand the problem. Translating the words
into mathematical symbols is next.
The following information may help you.

A. The symbol of operations and relations with their corresponding meanings

Symbol Meanings
plus, sum, total, increased by, more, more than, add, added
+ to, added by, added with, in addition to, combined with, put
together, augmented
minus, less, less than, difference, decreased by, diminished
- by, subtracted from, subtracted by, exceeds by, lowered by,
reduced by, loss, fewer, exceeds
· (raised dot) or times, the product of, multiplied by, multiplied to, multiplied
any grouping symbol with, twice, doubled, thrice, tripled, squared, cubed
÷ ratio, quotient, divided by, half of, average, per, over, all
over
= equals, is equal to, is the same as, is similar to, results in,
produces, represents, is equivalent to, is, are, was, were,
will be,

Note: The operation between letters or between a number and a letter is understood
to be multiplication.
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 Let us continue our translation. If the English expression becomes complicated,
we are going to use a diagram.
For the sake of uniformity, let x be the 1st unknown number,
y be the 2nd unknown number, and
z be the 3rd unknown number.
English Expression Mathematical Expression
the sum of a number and seventeen 𝒙 + 𝟏𝟕
a certain number added to seven
the difference of a number and ten 𝒚 − 𝟏𝟎
ten less than a number 𝒚 − 𝟏𝟎
ten subtracted from a number 𝒚 − 𝟏𝟎
a number less than 10 𝟏𝟎 − 𝒚
seven less than the product of a number and six 𝟔𝒙 − 𝟕

the product of a number and nine 𝟗𝒛

twice a number 𝟐𝒙
cube of a number 𝒚𝟑
the product of a number and four increased by 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟗
nine
the product of four and a number less five times a 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟓𝒚
second number
the product of four and a number less than five 𝟓𝒚 − 𝟒𝒙
times a second number
The ratio of a number and nine 𝒙
𝒙÷𝟗 ;
𝟗
𝒙
The quotient of a number and eight 𝒙÷𝟖 ;
𝟖
The ratio of 3, and eight decreased by a number
𝟑
The quotient of half a number and eleven 𝟖−𝒙
𝟏 𝒚
𝟏 𝒚
𝟐 𝟐
𝒚 ÷ 𝟏𝟏 or or
𝟐 𝟏𝟏 𝟏𝟏
The average of three numbers
𝒙+𝒚+𝒛
𝟑
The sum of a number and its reciprocal is 1. 𝟏
𝒙+ =𝟏
𝒙
Thrice the difference of a number and four equals
twenty-four. 𝟑(𝒚 − 𝟒) = 𝟐𝟒

The sum of two numbers all over a third number is 𝒙+𝒚

= 𝟏𝟎
the same as ten. 𝒛

four more than twice a number divided by thrice of 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟒

the same number 𝟑𝒙
the sum of the squares of two numbers 𝒙 + 𝒚𝟐
𝟐

the cube of the sum of two numbers (𝒙 + 𝒚)𝟑

the cube of a number increased by the square of 𝒙 𝟑 + 𝒚𝟐
another number
the quotient of the cube of a number and six, more 𝒙𝟑
than three +𝟑
𝟔
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B. Other Useful Translations

1. For representing this statement, "The sum of two numbers is 12."

One unknown Two unknowns

x = the first number x = first number
12 - x = the second number y = second number

2. For consecutive integers

Integers Odd/even Integers

x = first integer x = first integer
x+1 = second integer x+2 = second integer
x+2 = third integer x+4 = third integer
and so forth and so forth

3. The following phrases simply mean the subtraction of the past number of
years from the present age:
years ago, years back, was at that time, and during or in the last ___
years

Example: Carlo's age ten years ago x – 10

The following phrases mean the addition of the future number of years to
the present age:

years from now, years hence, years after or in __ more years

Example: Bernard's age 3 years from now x+3

4. Representing two-digit and three-digit numbers

Let h = first digit or hundreds digit,

t = second digit or tens digit, and
u = third digit or unit digit.

For a 2-digit number For a 3-digit number

t +u = sum of the digits h+ t + u = sum of the digits
10t + u = the number 100h + 10t + u = the number
10u + t = the number in 100u + 10t + h = the number in
reverse reverse

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3. Expression vs. Sentence in the Language of Mathematics

Is there really a mathematical sentence? Let's find out!

A mathematical expression is A mathematical sentence is
• The mathematical analog of a • Mathematical analog of an English
noun sentence
• With a correct arrangement • With a correct arrangement of
of mathematical symbols but mathematical symbols that express a
does not express a complete complete thought
thought • Makes sense to ask if the sentence
is TRUE or FALSE
Examples:
18 52 (10 − 7) + 11 Examples:
3𝑥 2 3
-22 (6𝑥 − 𝑧) 6 + 3 = √81 TRUE
𝑦
20 ÷ 5 > 4 FALSE
The number 7 is a prime number. TRUE