Module 2

Mathematical Language and Symbols

EDELYN M. TARRIELA, MAT
Instructor

Gmail account:
edelynmtarriela0708@gmail.com
Fb account: Edelyn Tarriela

Module Duration:
September 12-17, 2022

GED003
Mathematics in the Modern World
 MODULE 2 OUTLINE
Mathematical Language and Symbols

MODULE DURATION
I. September 12-17, 2022 Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning
II. For asynchronous learning inquiries, you may reach me through messenger group/personal message every
Friday 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module you are expected to:

I. determine the four basic concepts of mathematics as a language;

II. discuss the language, symbols and conventions of mathematics by means of sets, set notations, set operations, and
functions;
III. perform the mathematical expressions on sets and Venn diagrams correctly; and
IV. acknowledge that mathematics is a useful language.

INPUT INFORMATION
Mathematics in the Modern World
MODULE 2

MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE
The mathematical language is the system used to communicate mathematical ideas. This language consists of some natural
language using technical terms (mathematical terms) and grammatical conventions that are uncommon to mathematical discourse,
supplemented by a highly specialized symbolic notation for mathematical formulas. The mathematical notation used for formulas has
its own grammar and shared by mathematicians anywhere in the globe.

CHARACTERISTICS OF MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE

The characteristics of mathematical language is being precise, concise and powerful.
1. Precision in mathematics is like a culture of being correct all the time. Definition and limits should be distinction. Mathematical
ideas is being developed informally and being done more formally, with necessary and sufficient conditions stated up front and
restricting the discussion to a particular class of objects.

Source: https://twitter.com/thebigword/status/309054750266126337
 2. Mathematical language must be concise or shows simplicity. Being concise is a strong part of the culture in mathematical
language. The mathematician desires the simplest possible single exposition at the price of additional terminology and
machinery to allow all the various particularities to be subsumed into the exposition at the highest possible level.
3. Mathematical language must also be powerful. It is a way of expressing complex thoughts with relative ease. The
abstraction in mathematics is the desire to unify diverse instances under a single conceptual framework and allows easier
penetration of the subject and the development of more powerful methods.

EXPRESSION VERSUS SENTENCES

An expression (or mathematical expression) is a finite combination of symbols that is well-defined according to rules that
depend on the context. The symbols can designate numbers, variables, operations, functions, brackets, punctuations and groupings to
help determine order of operations and other aspects of mathematical syntax.

An expression is a correct arrangement of mathematical symbols used to represent the object of interest, it does not contain
a complete thought, and it cannot be determine if it is true or false. Some of types of expressions are numbers, sets and functions.

A sentence (or mathematical sentence) makes a statement about two expressions, either using numbers, variables or a
combination of both. A mathematical sentence can also use symbols or words like equals, greater than, or less than.

A mathematical sentence is a correct arrangement of mathematical symbols that states a complete thought and can be
determined whether it is true, false, and sometimes true/sometimes false.

CONVENTIONS IN THE MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE

Mathematical languages have conventions and it helps individuals distinguish between different types of mathematical
expressions.

Mathematical conventions is a fact, name, notation, or usage which is generally agreed upon by mathematicians.
Mathematicians abide by conventions to be able to understand what they write without constantly having to redefine basic terms.

1. Mathematics has its own brand of technical terms. – a word in general usage has a different and specific meaning within
mathematics.
Ex. Group, ring, field, term, factor, etc.
2. Mathematical statements also have its own taxonomy.
Ex. Axiom, conjecture, theorems, lemma and corollaries.
3. Mathematics also have Mathematical jargon- mathematical phrases used with specific meanings.
Ex. “If and only if”, “necessary and sufficient” and “without loss of generality.”
4. The vocabulary of mathematics also has visual elements.
Ex. Used informally in blackboards and formally in books and researches which serve to display schematic information so
easily.
5. The mathematical notation has its own grammar and does not dependent on a specific natural language.
Ex. Latin alphabet used for simple variables and parameters.

6. Mathematical expressions containing a symbolic verb are generally treated as clauses in sentences or as a complete
sentences and are punctuated as such by mathematicians.
Ex. Equal ( = ) , Less than ( < ) , Greater than ( > ) , Addition (+), Subtraction (-) , Multiplication (x), infinity ( ∞ ), for all ( ∀ ) ,
there exists ( ∃ ), element (∈) , implies ( → ),if and only if ( ↔ ). Therefore ( ∴ ), etc.
FOUR BASIC CONCEPTS IN MATHEMATICS
Language serves as a tool for teaching mathematical concepts. It can show how to make syntax and structure of mathematical
language clear and explicit to understand the fundamental concepts.
Language serves as a major pedagogical tool to understand how, what, and why things are said.

I. LANGUAGE OF SETS
Set Theory is the branch of mathematics that studies sets or the mathematical science of the infinite.
• The study of sets has become a fundamental theory in 1870.
• Introduced by Georg Cantor (German Mathematician.)
SET
– is a collection of a well-defined objects
– usually denoted by capital letters of the alphabet and its members are enclosed with brackets.

Elements – the members or objects of the set and is denoted by ∈.

Source: https://www.chegg.com/homework-help/questions-and-answers/venn-diagram-illustrating-three-sets-b-c-universal-set-s-pairs-sets-disjoint--b-c-b-c-j-c--
q23841829

TWO WAYS OF REPRESENTING A SET

A. Roster Method (Tabulation Method) – when the elements of the set are enumerated and separated by a comma.
ex. Set D, E and F
Example:
a) Write the following in Roster Method.
1. 𝑨 = {𝑥/𝑥 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 10. }
Answer: 𝐴 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}

2. 𝑩 = {𝑥/𝑥 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑡ℎ 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟. }

Answer: 𝐵 = {January, February, …, December}

3. 𝑪 = {𝑥/𝑥 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟, 1 < 𝑥 < 8. }

Answer: 𝐶 = {2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}

B. Rule Method (Set builder notation) – used to described the elements or members of the set.
ex. Set A, B and C
Example:
b) Write the following in Rule Method.
1. 𝑫 = {𝑎, 𝑒, 𝑖, 𝑜, 𝑢}
Answer: 𝐷 = {𝑥/𝑥 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑣𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑙}

2. 𝑬 = {4 , 6 , 8 , 10, 12, 14 , 18, 20}

Answer: 𝐸 = {𝑥/𝑥 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑛 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 21}

3. 𝑭 = {12}
Answer: 𝐹 = {𝑥/𝑥 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑎 𝑑𝑜𝑧𝑒𝑛}
CARDINAL NUMBER
– the number of members of the set. The cardinality of Set A is denoted by n(A).

Example:
𝐴 = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9} n(A) = 9
𝐵 = {𝑥/𝑥 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑡ℎ 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟. } n(A) = 12
𝐶 = {𝑥/𝑥 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟, 1 < 𝑥 < 8. } n(A) = 6
𝐷 = {𝑎, 𝑒, 𝑖, 𝑜, 𝑢} n(A) = 5
𝐸 = {4 , 6 , 8 , 10, 12, 14 , 18, 20} n(A) = 8
𝐹 = {12} n(A) = 1

TYPES OF SET
1. Finite Set – is a set whose elements are limited or countable and the last element can be identified.
2. Infinite Set – is set whose elements are unlimited or uncountable and the last element cannot be specified.
3. Unit Set – is a set with only one element, it is also called singleton.
4. Empty Set – a unique set with no elements and also called as the Null Set. It is denoted by {∅} 𝑜𝑟 { }.
5. Universal Set – the totality of the set, all sets under investigation in any application of set theory are assumed to be contained
in some large fixed set and is denoted by U
Given:
𝐴 = {𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, }
𝐵 = {𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑, 𝑒}
𝐶 = {𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑒, 𝑑}
𝐷 = {𝑓, 𝑔, ℎ, 𝑖}
𝐸 = {1, 2, 3, 4}
𝐹 = {4, 5}
𝑼 = {𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑, 𝑒, 𝑓, 𝑔, ℎ, 𝑖, 𝑗, 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5}

6. Subset – If A and B are sets, A is called a subset of B, written𝐴 ⊆ 𝐵, if and only if, every element of A is also an element of
B. A is a proper subset of B, written 𝐴 ⊂ 𝐵, if and only if, every element of A is in B but there at least one element of B that is
not in A.
7. Equal Set – two sets are equal if and only if, every element of A is in B and every element of B is in A.
8. Equivalent Set - two sets are equivalent if they have the same number of elements and is denoted by (∼).
9. Disjoint Set – if the two sets have no elements in common. Also called as non-intersecting set.

OPERATIONS ON SETS

1. UNION OF SETS – The union of A and B, denoted by 𝐴 ∪ 𝐵, is the set of all elements in x in U such that x is in A or x is in B.
𝐴 = {𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, }
𝐵 = {𝑐, 𝑑, 𝑒}
𝐶 = {𝑓, 𝑔}
𝐷 = {𝑓, 𝑔, ℎ, 𝑖}

a. 𝐴 ∪ 𝐵 = {𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑, 𝑒}
b. 𝐶 ∪ 𝐷 = {𝑓, 𝑔, ℎ, 𝑖}
c. 𝐵 ∪ 𝐶 = {𝑐, 𝑑, 𝑒, 𝑓, 𝑔}

*Note: Same element is written once in the final set.

 2. INTERSECTION OF SETS– The intersection of A and B, denoted by 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵, is the set of all elements in x in U such that x is in A
and x is in B.

𝐴 = {𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, }
𝐵 = {𝑐, 𝑑, 𝑒}
𝐶 = {𝑓, 𝑔}
𝐷 = {𝑓, 𝑔, ℎ, 𝑖}

a. 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 = {𝑐}
b. 𝐶 ∩ 𝐷 = {𝑓, 𝑔}
c. 𝐵 ∩ 𝐶 = { }

3. COMPLEMENT OF SET –The complement of A (or absolute complement of A), denoted by A’, is the set of all elements x in U
such that x is not in A

𝐴 = {𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, }
𝐵 = {𝑐, 𝑑, 𝑒}
𝑈 = {𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑, 𝑒, 𝑓, 𝑔, ℎ}

a. 𝐴′ = {𝑑, 𝑒, 𝑓, 𝑔, ℎ, }
b. 𝐵′ = {𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑓, 𝑔, ℎ, }
c. (𝐴 ∩ 𝐵)′ = {𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑑, 𝑒, 𝑓, 𝑔, ℎ}
d. (𝐴′ ∩ 𝐵′ ) = {𝑓, 𝑔, ℎ, }

4. DIFFERENCE OF SET –The difference of A and B (or relative complement of B with respect to A), denoted by 𝐴 ∼ 𝐵, is the set
of all elements x in U such that x is in A and x is not in B.

𝐴 = {𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, }
𝐵 = {𝑐, 𝑑, 𝑒}
𝐶 = {𝑓, 𝑔}
𝐷 = {𝑓, 𝑔, ℎ, 𝑖}

a. 𝐴 − 𝐵 = {𝑎, 𝑏}
b. 𝐶 − 𝐷 = { }
c. 𝐵 − 𝐶 = {𝑐, 𝑑, 𝑒}

5. 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. 𝐴 𝑥 𝐵 = { (2,7), (2,8), (3,7), (3,8), (5,7), (5,8)}

b. 𝐵 𝑥 𝐴 = { (7,2), (7,3), (7,5), (8,2), (8,3), (8,5)}
c. 𝐴 𝑥 𝐴 = { (2,2), (2,3), (2,5), (3,2), (3,3), (3,5), (5,2), (5,3), (5,5)}
VENN DIAGRAM
This is a Venn diagram where the box represents the universal set and the shaded inside of the
U A circle represents a subset A of the universal set. This is an abstract way to represent sets because
here we don’t know what the elements are in particular.

Sometimes we will use the Venn diagram for a particular set whose elements we know and list
them in the set.

On your left is the U = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} and A = {2, 4}.

DISJOINT SETS

U
This Venn illustrates 2 disjoint sets A and B
*(with no elements in common)

A B

COMMPLEMENT OF A SET

U
A ' is the shaded part in the diagram.
A' (A’ is read as “A prime” or “complement of A”)

Example:

1. With the concepts learned on Venn diagram, find A' from the diagram given above.
Answer: A’ = {1, 3, 5}

2. With English sentence description:

If U = all BSPsych students, and A = BSPsych students who are scholars, find A'.
Answer: A’= BSPsych students who are not scholars
INTERSECTION OF SETS
A ꓵ B is the shaded part below; assume the sets are A and B:

UNION OF SET
A ꓴ B is the shaded part below; assume the sets are A and B:

DIFFERENCE OF SET
A B is the shaded part below
 Practice: On the Venn Diagram shade the region corresponding to:

a. (A ꓵ C’) ꓴ B’
b. (A ꓴ B’) ꓴ C
c. (A ꓴ B’) ꓵ C
d. (A ꓴ B’) ꓵ (C ꓴ B)

*Note: One Venn diagram per item number.

II. LANGUAGE OF RELATIONS

– A relation is a set of ordered pairs

– If x and y are elements of these sets and if a relation exists between x and y, then we say that x corresponds to y or that y
depends on x and is represented as the ordered pair of (x, y).
– A relation from set A to set B is defined to be any subset of AxB.
– If R is a relation from A to B and (a, b) ∈R, then we say that “a is related to b” and it is denoted as a R b.

Let A = {a, b, c, d} be the set of car brands, and B = {s, t, u, v} be the set of countries of the car manufacturer. Then A B gives
all possible pairings of the elements of A and B, let the relation R from A to B be given by

R = {(a, s), (a, t), (a, u), (a, v), (b, s), (b, t), (b, u), (b, v), (c, s), (c, t), (c, u), (b, v), (d, s), (d, t), (d, u), (d, v)}.
Let R be a relation from set A to the set B.
– domain of R is the set domR
dom R = {a A (a, b) R for some b B}.
– image(or range) of R
im R = {b B (a, b) R for some a A}.

Example: A = {4, 7},

Then A A = {(4, 4), (4, 7), (7, 4),(7, 7)}.
Let on A be the description of x y x + y is even.
Then (4, 4) , and (7, 7) .

III. LANGUAGE OF FUNCTION

Function - is a special kind of relation helps visualize relationships in terms of graphs and make it easier to interpret different
behavior of variables.

A function is a relation in which, for each value of the first component of the ordered pairs, there is exactly one value of the
second component.

The set X is called the domain of the function.

For each element of x in X, the corresponding element y in Y is called the value of the function at x, or the image of x.
 Range– set of all images of the elements of the domain is called the range of the function. A function can map from one set
to another.

Example:
Determine whether each of the following relations is a function.
A = {(1, 3), (2, 4), (3, 5), (4, 6)} function
B = {(–2, 7), (–1, 3), (0, 1), (1, 5), (2, 5)} function
C = {(3, 0), (3, 2), (7, 4), (9, 1)} not function

*(function if the 1st element in each ordered pair in the set is not repeated)

IV. LANGUAGE OF BINARY OPERATIONS

– Algebraic structures focuses on investigating sets associated by single operations that satisfy certain reasonable axioms.
– An operation on a set generalized structures as the integers together with the single operation of addition, or invertible 2 2
matrices together with the single operation of matrix multiplication.
– The algebraic structures known as group.

Let G be a set. A binary operation on G is a function that assigns each ordered pair of element of G.
Symbolically, a b = G, for all a, b, c G.

A group is a set of elements, with one operation, that satisfies the following properties:
(i) the set is closed with respect to the operation,
(ii) the operation satisfies the associative property,
(iii) there is an identity element, and
(iv) each element has an inverse.

A group is an ordered pair (G, ) where G is a set and is a binary operation on G satisfying the four properties:
a. Closure property. If any two elements are combined using the operation, the result must be an element of the set. a b =
c G, for all a, b, c G.
b. Associative property. (a b) c = a (b c), for all a, b, c G.
c. Identity property. There exists an element e in G, such that for all a G, a e = e a.
d. Inverse property. For each a G there is an element a–1 of G, such that a a–1 = a–1 a = e.

The set of group G contain all the elements including the binary operation result and satisfying all the four properties closure,
associative, identity e, and inverse a–1.

Words of wisdom: “You cannot give what you do not have.”

See you in the next module…

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

I. Deep reading, understanding, and exploring of Module 2 content.

II. Clarifications/enrichment of inexplicit concepts from the module during synchronous meeting. For non-online capable students,
clarifications may be done through text or messenger.
III. Asynchronous learning activities:
A. On a Venn Diagram shade the region corresponding to:
1) A ꓴ B’ 2) A’ ꓴ B’ 3) A’ ꓴ B 4) A’ ꓵ B’ 5) A’ ꓵ B

ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION

I. Asynchronous Learning-activities will be answered by the students and to be submitted on September 17, 2021 at 5:00 pm
II. Quiz 2 will be answered through Google forms for online-capable and through text or messenger to non-online

Deadline: (To be posted in the Google classroom for online capable and through text or messenger to non-online)

Good Luck!

ASSIGNMENT

1. What is a number pattern?

2. Name different number patterns used in problem solving.
3. Give Polya’s Four-Step method in problem solving.

LEARNING RESOURCES

o https://www.mathsisfun.com/mathematics-language.html
o https://www.docsity.com/en/mathematical-languages-and-symbols/4315119/
o https://www.onlinemathlearning.com/describing-sets.html
o https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9781483231235500069
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5ulafA3oe8
o https://www.math.tamu.edu/~Janice.Epstein/141/review/Chap6Review.pdf
o https://www.purplemath.com/modules/setnotn.htm
o https://www.google.com/search?q=venn+diagram&oq=venn&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j69i57j0l4j69i60l2.2662j0j7&sourceid=chro
me&ie=UTF-8
o https://www.mathsisfun.com/sets/venn-diagrams.html
Additional Information:
Operations on Sets

Operation Notation Meaning

Intersection A∩B all elements which are in both A and B

Union A∪B all elements which are in either A or B (or both)

Difference A−B all elements which are in A but not in B

Complement ˉA (or AC ) all elements which are not in A

What are the 4 operations of sets?

➢ Union, intersection, difference, and complement are the various operations on sets.
➢ A universal set is a set of all elements of all other related sets whose elements are non-repetitive.
➢ The complement of a universal set is a empty set U′=ϕ . ...
➢ Cardinality defines the total number of elements in a set.
How do you use Venn diagram to show set operation?
➢ Sets are represented in a Venn diagram by circles drawn inside a rectangle representing the universal set.
➢ The region outside the circle represents the complement of the set.
➢ The overlapping region of two circles represents the intersection of the two sets.
➢ Two circles together represent the union of the two sets.

The drawing is an example of a Venn diagram that shows the relationship among three overlapping sets A, B, and C.
The intersection relation is defined as the equivalent of the logic.
An element is a member of the intersection of two sets if and only if that element is a member of both sets.

Venn Diagram Symbols Explained

∪: Union of two sets. A complete Venn diagram represents the union of two sets.
∩: Intersection of two sets. The intersection shows what items are shared between categories.
A: Complement of a set. The complement is whatever is not represented in a set.