1.2. Mathematical Language and Symbols

MATHEMATICAL
LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS

What is Mathematical Language?
It is the system used to communicate
mathematical ideas.
It consists of some natural language using

technical terms (mathematical terms) and
grammatical conventions, supplemented by a
highly specialized symbolic notation for
mathematical formulas.
The IMPORTANCE OF MATHEMATICS
LANGUAGE
1. According to Schiro (1997) one very important
element in a student’s mathematical success is his
being able to communicate effectively in
mathematics.
2. Students is given opportunities to correctly read,

write, speak about and understand the math
language in the classroom
3. Discover the purpose for communicating

mathematically with numerals or symbols.
Characteristics of MATH
LANGUAGE
Precise – well defined and clearly stated, lacks ambiguity

unlike ordinary language
Concise – briefly stated
Powerful – complex ideas are well expressed
Nontemporal – No tenses (present, past or future)
The Language and Grammar of Mathematics____https://www.dpmms.cam.ac.uk/~wtg10/grammar.pdf

Mathematical Expression
An expression (or mathematical expression) is a finite

combination of symbols that is well-defined
according to rules that depend on the context.
It is a correct arrangement of mathematical symbols

to represent the object of interest, does not contain a
complete thought, and cannot be determined if it is
true or false.
Mathematical Sentence
Sentence (or mathematical sentence) – a statement about
two expressions, either using numbers, variables, or a
combination of both.
Uses symbols or words like equals, greater than, or less

than.
It is a correct arrangement of mathematical symbols that

states a complete thought and can be determined whether
it’s true, false, sometimes true/sometimes false.
Expressions & Sentences
English Mathematics
Name given to Noun ( person, Expression
an object of place, things) 3, 2+x, 6y
interest Alma,
Batangas, box
A complete Sentence Sentence
thought Martha likes a+b=c
Paris 3+5=8
Five and three

are prime
numbers.
Conventions in the Mathematical Language
Mathematical Convention is a fact, name, notation, or

usage which is generally agreed upon by mathematicians.
PEMDAS (Parenthesis, Exponent, Multiplication, Division,

Addition and Subtraction.)
All mathematical names and symbols are conventional.

Symbols can designate numbers,
variables, operations, functions,
brackets, punctuations, and groupings
to help determine order of operations,
and other aspects of mathematical
syntax.
Formulas are written predominantly left to right, even
when the writing system of the substrate language is right-
to-left.
Latin alphabet is commonly used for simple variables and
parameters.
Mathematical expressions
= (equal) < (less-than) > (greater-than)
+ (addition) – (subtraction)  (multiplication)
 (division)  (element)  (for all)
 (there exists)  (infinity) → (implies)
 (if and only if)  (approximately) (therefore)
Other symbols
THE LANGUAGE OF SETS
Language of Sets
Set theory is the branch of mathematics that

studies sets.
George Cantor (1845-1918) is
a German Mathematician
He is considered as the
founder of set theory as a
mathematical discipline.
Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

Sets and Elements
A set is a well-defined collection of objects.

The objects are called the elements or
members of the set.
 element of a set
 not an element of a set.

Some Examples of Sets
A = {xx is a positive integer less than 10}
B = {xx is a real number and x2 – 1 = 0}
C = {xxis a letter in the word dirt}
D = {xx is an integer, 1  x  8}
E = {xx is a set of vowel letters}
Set E equals the set of all x such that x is a set of vowel

letters” or E = {a, e, i, o, u}

Indicate whether the ff. defined a Set
a. The list of course offerings of Centro Escolar University.

Answer: Set
b. The elected district councilors of Manila City.

Answer: Set
c. The collection of intelligent monkeys in Manila Zoo.

Answer: Not a set

List the Elements of the Sets
a. A = {xx is a letter in the word mathematics.}

Answer: A = {m, a, t, h, e, i, c, s.}
b. B = {xx is a positive integer, 3  x  8.}

Answer: B = {3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}
c. C = {xx = 2n + 3, n is a positive integer.}

Answer: C = {5, 7, 9, 11, 13, …}

Methods of Writing Sets
Roster Method. The elements of the set are enumerated and

separated by a comma it is also called tabulation method.
Rule Method. A descriptive phrase is used to describe the

elements or members of the set it is also called set builder
notation, symbol it is written as {x P(x)}.
Example:
E = {a, e, i, o, u} Roster method
E = {xx is a collection of vowel letters} Rule method

Write the ff. Sets in Roster Form
a. A= {xx is the letter of the word discrete}
Answer: A = {d, i, s, c, r, e, t}
b. B = {x3  x  8, x  Z}
Answer: B = {4, 5, 6, 7}
c. C = {xx is the set of zodiac signs}

Answer: C = {Aries, Cancer, Capricorn, Sagittarius, Libra,
Leo, …}

Write the ff. Sets using Rule Method
a. D = {Narra, Mohagany, Molave, …}
Answer: D = {xx is the set of non-bearing trees.}
b. E = {DOJ, DOH, DOST, DSWD, DENR, CHED, DepEd,…}

Answer: E = {xx is the set of government agencies.}
c. F = {Botany, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, …}

Answer: F = {xx is the set of science subjects.}

Some Terms on Sets
Finite Set
Finite set is a set whose elements are limited or countable, and

the last element can be identified.
Example:
a. A = {xx is a positive integer less than 10}
b. C = {d, i, r, t}
c. E = {a, e, i, o, u}

Infinite Set
Infinite set is a set whose elements are unlimited or

uncountable, and the last element cannot be specified.
Example:
a. F = {…, –2, –1, 0, 1, 2,…}
b. G = {xx is a set of whole numbers}
c. H = {xx is a set of molecules on earth}

Unit Set
A unit set is a set with only one element it is also called
singleton.
Example:
a. I = {xx is a whole number greater than 1 but less than 3}
b. J = {w}
c. K = {rat}

Empty Set
An empty set is a unique set with no elements (or null set), it is

denoted by the symbol  or { }.
Example:
a. L = {xx is an integer less than 2 but greater than 1}
b. M = {xx is a number of panda bear in Manila Zoo}
c. N = {xx is the set of positive integers less than zero}

Cardinality
The cardinal number of a set is the number of elements or

members in the set, the cardinality of set A is denoted by n(A)
Example: Determine its cardinality of the ff. sets Answer

a. E = {a, e, i, o, u}, n(E) = 5
b. A = {xx is a positive integer less than 10} n(A) = 9
c. C = {d, i, r, t} A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9} n(C) = 4
Theorem 1.1: Uniqueness of the Empty Set: There is only one set
with no elements.

Universal Set
Universal set is the all sets under investigation in any

application of set theory are assumed to be contained in some
large fixed set, denoted by the symbol U.
Example:
a. U = {xx is a positive integer, x2 = 4}
b. U = {1, 2, 3,…,100}
c. U = {xx is an animal in Manila Zoo}

Kinds of Sets
Subset
If A and B are sets, A is called subset of B, if and only if, every

element of A is also an element of B.
Symbolically: A ⊂ B  x, x  A → x  B.
Example: Suppose
A = {c, d, e}
B = {a, b, c, d, e}
U = {a, b, c, d, e, f, g}
Then A ⊂ B, since all elements of A is in B.

Equal Sets
Given set A and B, A equals B, written, if and only if, every

element of A is in B and every element of B is in A.
Symbolically: A = B  A  B  B  A.
Example:
Suppose A = {a, b, c, d, e},
B = {a, b, d, e, c}
U = {a, b, c, d, e, f, g}
Then then A  B and B  A, thus A = B.

Power Set
Given a set S from universe U, the power set of S denoted by

(S), is the collection (or sets) of all subsets of S.
Example: Determine the power set of (a) A = {e, f},

(b) = B = {1, 2, 3}.
(a) A = {e, f} (A) = {{e}, {f}, {e, f}, }
(b) B = {1, 2, 3} (B) = {{1}, {2}, {3}, {1, 2}, {1, 3}, {2, 3},
{1, 2, 3}, }.

Theorem
Theorem 1.2: A Set with No Elements is a Subset of Every Set: If

 is a set with no elements and A is any set, then
  A.
Theorem 1.3: For all sets A and B, if A  B then (A)  (B).
Theorem 1.4: Power Sets: For all integers n, if a set S has n

elements then (S) has 2n elements.

Venn Diagram
Venn Diagram is a pictorial presentation of relation and operations
on set.
Also known set diagrams, it show all hypothetically possible logical
relations between finite collections of sets.
Constructed with a collection of simple closed

curves drawn in the plane or normally
comprise of overlapping circles.
The interior of the circle symbolically
represents the elements (or members) of the
set, while the exterior represents elements
which are not members of the set.
Introduced by John Venn in his paper "On the Diagrammatic and

Mechanical Representation of Propositions and Reasoning’s"
Operations on Sets
✓ Union
✓ Intersection
✓ Complement
✓ Difference
✓ Symmetric Difference
✓ Disjoint Sets
✓ Ordered Pairs

Union
The union of A and B, denoted AB, is the set of all elements x

in U such that x is in A or x is in B.
Symbolically: AB = {xx  A  x  B}.

Intersection
The intersection of A and B, denoted AB, is the set of all

elements x in U such that x is in A and x is in B.
Symbolically: AB = {xx  A  x  B}.

Complement
The complement of A (or absolute complement of A), denoted

A’, is the set of all elements x in U such that x is not in A.
Symbolically: A’ = {x  U  x  A}.

Difference
The difference of A and B (or relative complement of B with

respect to A), denoted A  B, is the set of all elements x in U
such that x is in A and x is not in B.
Symbolically: A - B = {xx  A  x  B} = AB’.

Symmetric Difference
If set 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.
Symbolically: A  B = {xx  (AB)  x(AB)}

= (AB)(AB)’ or (AB)  (AB).

Example
Suppose
A = {a, b, c} B = {c, d, e} U = {a, b, c, d, e, f, g}
Find the following

a. AB
b. AB
c. A’
d. A - B
e. A  B

Solution
a. AB = {a, b, c, d, e}
b. AB = {c}
c. A’ = {d, e, f, g}
d. A - B = {a, b}
e. A  B = {a, b, d, e}

Disjoint Sets
Two set are called disjoint (or non-intersecting) if and only if,
they have no elements in common.
Symbolically: A and B are disjoint  AB = .

Ordered Pairs
In the ordered pair (a, b), a is called the first component and b is
called the second component. In general, (a, b)  (b, a).
Example: Determine whether each statement is true or false.
a. (2, 5) = (9 – 7, 2 + 3) Since 2 = 9 – 7 and 2 + 3 = 5, the ordered pair

is equal. True
b. {2, 5}  {5, 2} Since these are sets and not ordered pairs,
the order in which the elements are listed is
not important. False
c. (2, 5)  (5, 2) These ordered pairs are not equal since they
do not satisfy the requirements for equality
of ordered pairs. True
Cartesian Product
The Cartesian product of sets A and B, written AxB, is

AxB = {(a, b)  a  A and b  B}
Example: Let A = {2, 3, 5} and B = {7, 8}. Find each set.
a. AxB = {(2, 7), (2, 8), (3, 7), (3, 8), (5, 7), (5, 8)}
b. BxA = {(7, 2), (7, 3), (7, 5), (8, 2), (8, 3), (8, 5)}
c. AxA = {(2, 2), (2, 3), (2, 5), (3, 2), (3, 3), (3, 5), (5, 2), (5, 3),
(5, 5)}

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1.2. Mathematical Language and Symbols

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MATHEMATICAL

LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS

It consists of some natural language using

2. Students is given opportunities to correctly read,

3. Discover the purpose for communicating

Precise – well defined and clearly stated, lacks ambiguity

Concise – briefly stated

Powerful – complex ideas are well expressed

Nontemporal – No tenses (present, past or future)

The Language and Grammar of Mathematics____https://www.dpmms.cam.ac.uk/~wtg10/grammar.pdf

An expression (or mathematical expression) is a finite

It is a correct arrangement of mathematical symbols

Uses symbols or words like equals, greater than, or less

It is a correct arrangement of mathematical symbols that

Five and three

Mathematical Convention is a fact, name, notation, or

PEMDAS (Parenthesis, Exponent, Multiplication, Division,

All mathematical names and symbols are conventional.

Set theory is the branch of mathematics that

Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

A set is a well-defined collection of objects.

 not an element of a set.

Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

A = {xx is a positive integer less than 10}

B = {xx is a real number and x2 – 1 = 0}

C = {xxis a letter in the word dirt}

E = {xx is a set of vowel letters}

Set E equals the set of all x such that x is a set of vowel

Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

a. The list of course offerings of Centro Escolar University.

b. The elected district councilors of Manila City.

c. The collection of intelligent monkeys in Manila Zoo.

Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

a. A = {xx is a letter in the word mathematics.}

b. B = {xx is a positive integer, 3  x  8.}

c. C = {xx = 2n + 3, n is a positive integer.}

Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

Roster Method. The elements of the set are enumerated and

Rule Method. A descriptive phrase is used to describe the

E = {xx is a collection of vowel letters} Rule method

Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

c. C = {xx is the set of zodiac signs}

Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

b. E = {DOJ, DOH, DOST, DSWD, DENR, CHED, DepEd,…}

c. F = {Botany, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, …}

Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

Finite set is a set whose elements are limited or countable, and

a. A = {xx is a positive integer less than 10}

Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

Infinite set is a set whose elements are unlimited or

b. G = {xx is a set of whole numbers}

c. H = {xx is a set of molecules on earth}

Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

a. I = {xx is a whole number greater than 1 but less than 3}

Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

An empty set is a unique set with no elements (or null set), it is

a. L = {xx is an integer less than 2 but greater than 1}

b. M = {xx is a number of panda bear in Manila Zoo}

c. N = {xx is the set of positive integers less than zero}

Copyright 2018: Mathematics in the Modern World by Winston S. Sirug, Ph.D.

The cardinal number of a set is the number of elements or

Example: Determine its cardinality of the ff. sets Answer

b. A = {xx is a positive integer less than 10} n(A) = 9