MATH 1013

Math in the Modern World

Week 2
THE LANGUAGE OF MATH
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1. Discuss the language, symbols and conventions in
mathematics;
2. Explain the nature of mathematics as a language
mathematical concept;
3. Perform operations on mathematical expressions
correctly; and
4. Use mathematical language to describe and solve
problems with mathematics content. 2
 Characteristics of Mathematical
Language

 It is non – temporal.

 It has no emotional content.

 It is concise and precise.

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 It is non – temporal.
It has no past, present and future.

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 It has no emotional
content.
Math language carries no emotional content. It
has no equivalent words for joy, happiness,
despair, or sadness.

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 It is precise and
concise.
Math language is precise and concise. It is exact
and accurate in its statements and as a
consequence, it has no need for unnecessary
words.

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 MATHEMATICAL
EXPRESSION
A mathematical expression is a number, a
variable, or a combination of numbers and
variables and operation symbols while a
mathematical equation is made up of two
expressions connected by an equal sign.
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 VERBAL
EXPRESSION
A verbal expression is a mathematical
expression that is expressed in words.

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Words and Phrases that Imply Mathematical Operations

ADDITION SUBTRACTION MULTIPLICATION DIVISION

Plus Minus Times Divided by

The sum of The difference of The product of The quotient of

Increased by Decreased by Multiplied by Per

Total Fewer than

More than Less than
Added to Subtracted from

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EXAMPLE 1
Translate the following verbal phrases to Mathematical
expressions: Let n be the number

MATHEMATICAL
VERBAL PHRASES
EXPRESSIONS
The sum of a number and ten
The difference of a number and twenty
The product of fifteen and a number
The quotient of thirty and a number
One – tenth of a number
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 MATHEMATICAL
VERBAL PHRASES
EXPRESSIONS
The square of a number subtracted
from ten
Thrice a number less than ten
Ten more than the reciprocal of a
number
The square root of the difference of a
number and six
Fifteen less than a number
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 MATHEMATICAL
VERBAL PHRASES
EXPRESSIONS
Twice the sum of a number and fifteen
The square of the sum of five and a
number
The sum of the squares of two
consecutive numbers
The cube of a number added to its
reciprocal
One – half of a number decreased by
twice its reciprocal
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 EXAMPLE 2
A Translate the following verbal phrases to Mathematical
expressions: Let n be the number
D
VERBAL MATHEMATICAL
D TRANSLATION
PHRASES EXPRESSIONS
plus A number plus fifteen
I
more than Fifteen more than a number
T the sum of The sum of a number and fifteen
I the total of
The total of ten and some
number
O increased by A number increased by ten
N added to Ten added to a number
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 SUBTRACTION
VERBAL MATHEMATICAL
TRANSLATION
PHRASES EXPRESSIONS
minus A number minus forty
less than Forty less than a number
the difference The difference of a number
of and forty
less Forty less a number
A number decreased by
decreased by
forty
Forty subtracted from a
subtracted from 14

number
 MULTIPLICATION
VERBAL MATHEMATICAL
TRANSLATION
PHRASES EXPRESSIONS
times Five times a number
The product of five and a
the product of
number
Thrice a number; triple a
twice; double
number
A number multiplied by
multiplied by
negative five
of Three tenths of a number 15
 DIVISION
VERBAL MATHEMATICAL
TRANSLATION
PHRASES EXPRESSIONS
The quotient of a number
the quotient of
and ten

divided by Ten divided by a number

The ratio of a number to

the ratio of
ten
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 POWERS
VERBAL MATHEMATICAL
TRANSLATION
PHRASES EXPRESSIONS
the square of; The square of a number; a
squared number squared
the cube of; The cube of a number; a
cubed number cubed

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 EQUALS
VERBAL MATHEMATICAL
TRANSLATION
PHRASES EXPRESSIONS
Five less than a number
equals
equals eight.
Five times a number is
is
negative eight.
Five is the same as twice a
is the same as
number.
Fifteen added to a number
yields
yields six.
Six less a number amounts to
amounts to 18
fifteen.
EXAMPLE 3
Translate the following verbal phrases into mathematical expressions:
Verbal Phrases Mathematical Expressions
Three – fifths of four hundred
The sum of two numbers less
fifteen
Twenty percent of the total cost

Triple the quantity of sales less

taxes

The difference of gross sales and

total expenditures 19
EXAMPLE 3
Translate the following verbal sentences into
mathematical sentences:

Problem 1
Fifteen percent of the total expenditures is P15,000.

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EXAMPLE 3
Translate the following verbal sentences into
mathematical sentences:
Problem 2
Gross sales less taxes is P35,000.

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EXAMPLE 3
Translate the following verbal sentences into
mathematical sentences:
Problem 3
Marianne’s monthly salary is twice what Michelle receives in
a month. Their combined monthly salary is P50,000.

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EXAMPLE 3
Translate the following verbal sentences into
mathematical sentences:
Problem 4
Jakob’s average of two learning tasks is 90. The first
learning task is 10 points higher than the second learning
task.

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