MATH 101 – MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

No of Units: 3 units

Course Description: This course deals with the nature of mathematics, appreciation of its practical,
intellectual, and aesthetic dimensions, and application of mathematical tools in daily life.

WEEK 2-3: Mathematical Language and Symbols

Discuss the language and symbols of mathematics.

▪ Learning and understanding math language.

▪ Be familiar with the symbols used in math.
▪ Translating phrases and statements into Math expressions and sentences.
▪ Assessing the truth value of the mathematical sentences

Topics for Week 2-3:

1. Mathematical Language
2. The Language of Algebra
▪ Math anxiety
▪ Variables
▪ Word phrases
▪ Algebraic expressions
▪ Evaluating Algebraic expressions

Topic 1. Mathematical Language

Mathematics is written in a symbolic language that is designed to express mathematical

thoughts. English language is a source of knowledge, but it is not designed for doing

mathematics. This article describes how mathematical thoughts, methods, and facts are expressed in

symbolism. That is, it emphasizes how to read and write mathematics.

What is a Language?
Here are some definitions of Language
A systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols.
A system of words used in a particular discipline.
A set (finite or infinite) of sentences, each finite in length and constructed out of a finite set of
elements.

These definitions describe language in terms of the following components:

• 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 Discourse or narrative’ consisting of strings of syntactic propositions.
• A community of people who use and understand these symbols.
MATH 101 – MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD | Instructor: Engr. Natalie Mae L. Basa 1
 • A range of meaning that can be communicated with these symbols.

Each of these components is also found in the language of mathematics.

Mathematics in the English-speaking world is communicated using two languages:

1. Mathematical English

Mathematical English is a part of the English language used for making formal

mathematical statements, specifically to communicate definitions, theorems, proofs and

examples. Many ordinary English words are used in Mathematical English with different

meanings. In some ways, Mathematical English is a foreign language. Other languages also

have special mathematical forms.

2. Symbolic Language

The symbolic language of mathematics is a special-purpose language. It has its own

symbols and rules of grammar that are quite different from those of English. We can

usually read expressions in the symbolic language in any Mathematical article written in any

language. Both the languages, Mathematical English and the Symbolic language are used in

mathematics writing and mathematical lectures.

The Vocabulary of Mathematics:

The symbolic language consists of symbolic expressions written in the way

mathematicians traditionally write them. A symbol is a typographical character such as x,∪, ∞.

It also includes symbols that are specific to mathematics, such as β, 𝜃, 𝜌. An expression that

stands for something. A symbolic expression consists of symbols arranged according to

specific rules. Every symbolic expression is one of two types: symbolic assertion and symbolic

term.

1. Symbolic Assertions

- A symbolic assertion is a complete statement that stands alone as a sentence.

Examples:

a) 𝜋 > 0 Is a symbolic assertion.

MATH 101 – MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD | Instructor: Engr. Natalie Mae L. Basa 2
 b) 𝑥 > 0 Is true for 𝑥 = 5 and many other numbers and false for 𝑥 = −0.001 and many other

numbers.

c) The symbolic assertion 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 1 = 0 is true for the number𝑥 = 2 , but not for any other

number.

d) 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 = (𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑥 + 𝑦) is a symbolic assertion with two variables.

2. Symbolic Statements

- A symbolic statement is a symbolic assertion without variables. It is either true or false.

Examples:

a) 𝜋 > 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 42 = 16 are true symbolic statements.

b) 𝜋 < 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2 + 3 = 7 are false symbolic statements. Even though false, they are still

regarded as symbolic statements.

3. Symbolic Terms

- A symbolic term is a symbolic expression that refers to some mathematical object.

Examples:

a) The expression 52 is a symbolic term. It is another name for the number 25.

b) 𝑥 3 Is a symbolic term containing a variable x. This means the term has variable meaning

depending on which value is substituted for x. For example, if you set𝑥 = 2, we get23 , another

name for 8.

c) 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 𝑥𝑦 Is symbolic term with two variables? If you substitute 2 for x and 3 for y then

the expression denotes the integer 7.

Characteristics of Mathematical language:

1. Precise. Marked by exactness and accuracy of expression. Mathematical language can make very

fine distinctions.

2. Concise. Giving a lot of information clearly and in a few words: brief but comprehensive.

3. Powerful. Having the ability to control and influence. Mathematical language can express complex

thoughts with relative ease.

MATH 101 – MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD | Instructor: Engr. Natalie Mae L. Basa 3
Some Difficulties in Math Language:

1. The word "is" could mean equality, inequality or membership in a set

2. Different uses of a number; to express quantity (cardinal), to indicate the order (ordinal), and as a

label (nominal)

3. Mathematical objects may be represented in many ways, such as sets and functions

4. The words "and' & "or" means different from its English use

Objects that we use in Mathematics:

1. Numbers (4 operations and properties)

2. Variables. A variable is any letter used to stand for a mathematical object.

3. Operations (unary & binary)

A Unary Operation is an operation on a single element.
Example: negative of 5
A Binary Operation is an operation that combines two elements of a set to give a single
element.
Example: multiplication 3 x 4 = 12

MATH 101 – MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD | Instructor: Engr. Natalie Mae L. Basa 4
Topic 2. The Language of Algebra

▪ Math Anxiety
A stress, tension, and/or strain on the body and mind, often due to a negative
experience in math.

3 factors that affect Math Anxiety

1. Achievement
2. Power
3. Personal Relationships

▪ Variable
It is a symbol used to represent any element of a given set of numbers.
Example:
x, y, a, b, etc.

▪ Word Phrases
A phrase is a group of words that express a concept and is used as a unit within a
sentence.
Example:
3x+8 = Eight more than three times a number

▪ Algebraic Expression
In mathematics, an algebraic expression is an expression built up from integer
constants, variables, and the algebraic operations.
For example, 3x² − 2xy + c is an algebraic expression. Since taking the square root is
the same as raising to the power, is also an algebraic expression.

▪ Evaluating Algebraic Expression

A term can be a number, a variable, or a number and variable combined by multiplication or

division.

Some examples of terms are:

X , 8, 4y,

MATH 101 – MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD | Instructor: Engr. Natalie Mae L. Basa 5
 Number
Expression Description
of Terms
A number multiplied by a variable. The number is
6x 1
always written first followed by the variable(s).
3w – 8 2 Terms separated by –

7b + 5t –
3 Terms separated by + and –
6

1 All multiplication and division, no + or – symbol

Reference:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315712910_The_Symbolic_Language_of_Mathematics#:~:text=Mat
hematics%20is%20written%20in%20a,facts%20are%20expressed%20in%20symbolism.

“What music is to the heart, mathematics is

to the mind.”
― Amit Kalantri, Wealth of Words

MATH 101 – MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD | Instructor: Engr. Natalie Mae L. Basa 6