JENNY ROSE S. AGUILA, LPT, M.A.Ed.

Course Instructor
 Module 2:
MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND
SYMBOLS
Learning Outcomes
1. Discuss the language, symbols, and conventions
of mathematics.
2. Explain the nature of mathematics as a language
3. Perform operations on mathematical expressions
correctly.
4. Acknowledge that mathematics is a useful
language.
CLARISSA N. MIRANDA, LPT, M.A.Ed.
Lecturer II
Unit Lesson
Lesson 2.1 Characteristics and Conventions
in the Mathematical Language
Lesson 2.2 Four Basic Concepts
Lesson 2.3 Logic and Formality

CLARISSA N. MIRANDA, LPT, M.A.Ed.

Lecturer II
 Lesson 2.1:
Characteristics and Conventions in
the Mathematical Language
 God's Story:
THE TOWER OF BABEL

CLARISSA N. MIRANDA, LPT, M.A.Ed.

Lecturer II
 What was the most important
feature that people should have to
complete a particular task?

CLARISSA N. MIRANDA, LPT, M.A.Ed.

Lecturer II
 What is language,
and why is it so important?

CLARISSA N. MIRANDA, LPT, M.A.Ed.

Lecturer II
 Language is a system of
communication consisting of sounds,
words, and grammar, or the system of
communication used by people in a
particular country or type of work.

CLARISSA N. MIRANDA, LPT, M.A.Ed.

Lecturer II
 Imagine this scenario:
You’re in Math class, and the instructor passes a
piece of paper to each student. It is announced
that the paper contains Study Strategies for
Students of Mathematics; you are to read it and
make comments. Upon glancing at the paper,
however, you observe that it is written in a
foreign language that you do not understand!

CLARISSA N. MIRANDA, LPT, M.A.Ed.

Lecturer II
 Characteristics of Mathematical
Language
• Precise - able to make a very fine distinction
• Concise - able to say things briefly
• Powerful - able to express complex thoughts
with relative cases

CLARISSA N. MIRANDA, LPT, M.A.Ed.

Lecturer II
 Importance of
Mathematical Language
• a major contributor to overall comprehension
• vital for the development of mathematics proficiency
• enables both the teacher and the students to
communicate mathematical knowledge with precision

CLARISSA N. MIRANDA, LPT, M.A.Ed.

Lecturer II
Every language has its vocabulary
(the words), and its rules for
combining these words into
complete thoughts (the sentences).

CLARISSA N. MIRANDA, LPT, M.A.Ed.

Lecturer II
ENGLISH vs MATHEMATICS

CLARISSA N. MIRANDA, LPT, M.A.Ed.

Lecturer II
ENGLISH vs MATHEMATICS

CLARISSA N. MIRANDA, LPT, M.A.Ed.

Lecturer II
 Idea regarding expression:
Numbers have lots of
different names.
CLARISSA N. MIRANDA, LPT, M.A.Ed.
Lecturer II
 Try!
The number ‘seven’ has lots of different names.
Give names satisfying the following properties.
a) the ‘standard’ name
b) a name using a plus sign, +
c) a name using a minus sign, −
d) a name using a multiplication sign,
e) a name using a division sign, ÷

CLARISSA N. MIRANDA, LPT, M.A.Ed.

Lecturer II
 Ideas regarding SENTENCES:
Sentences have verbs.
Sentences can be true or false.
Mathematics has conventions.

CLARISSA N. MIRANDA, LPT, M.A.Ed.

Lecturer II
 Conventions in Mathematics, Some
Commonly Used Symbols, Its Meaning,
And An Example
Sets and Logic
Basic Operations and Relational Symbols
Set of Numbers

CLARISSA N. MIRANDA, LPT, M.A.Ed.

Lecturer II
Translating words into symbols
Practical problems seldom, if ever, come in equation form.
Problem Solver Job:
• to translate the problem from phrases and statements into
mathematical expressions and equations, and then solve
the equations
• translate verbal phrases to mathematical expressions and
follow steps in solving applied problems

CLARISSA N. MIRANDA, LPT, M.A.Ed.

Lecturer II
 English Phrases Key Words
ADDITION SUBTRACTION MULTIPLICATION DIVISION
the sum of the difference of the product of the quotient of
added to diminished by multiplied by divided by
increased by decreased by of all over
plus minus times ratio
more than subtracted from twice split into
greater than less than thrice per
exceeds by take away EXPONENTS
more less square cube

CLARISSA N. MIRANDA, LPT, M.A.Ed.

Lecturer II
BOARDWORK
Let 𝒙 be a number. Translate each phrase or
sentence into a mathematical expression or
equation.
1. The sum of a number and 7.
2. seven minus a number.
3. 𝑟 exceeds by 20.
4. thrice a number
5. the quotient of a number and seven
CLARISSA N. MIRANDA, LPT, M.A.Ed.
Lecturer II
BOARDWORK
Let 𝒙 be a number. Translate each phrase or
sentence into a mathematical expression or
equation.
6. The product of five and a number, decreased by three
7. five more than two times a number is three less than two
times the number.
8. Thrice a number less five is equal to one more than five
times a number.
CLARISSA N. MIRANDA, LPT, M.A.Ed.
Lecturer II
BOARDWORK
Translate each into English phrases.
1. 2𝑥 + 5
𝑎+𝑏
2. 𝑎−𝑏
2
3. 𝑎 − 3𝑏
4. 3 𝑥 + 2 CLARISSA N. MIRANDA, LPT, M.A.Ed.
Lecturer II