GE 4

Chapter 2: The Language of Mathematics

Notes:

The Language, Symbols, Syntax and Rules of Mathematics

The language of mathematics is the system used by mathematicians communicates mathematical ideas among
themselves. This language consists of a substrate of some natural language (for example English) using technical terms and
grammatical conventions that are peculiar to mathematical discourse supplemented by a highly specialized symbolic notation
for mathematical formulas.
Mathematics as a language has symbols to express a formula of to represent a constant. It has syntax to make the
expression well-formed to make the characters and symbols clear and valid that do not violate the rules. A mathematical
concept is independent of the symbol chosen to represent it. In short, convention dictates the meaning.
The language of mathematics makes it easy to express the kinds of symbols, syntax and rules that mathematicians like to
do and characterized by the following:
a. Precise – able to make very fine distinctions
b. Concise – able to say things briefly
c. Powerful – able to express complex thoughts with relative ease
Writing Mathematical Language as an Expression or a Sentence
In mathematics, an expression or mathematical expression is a finite combination of symbols that is well-formed
according to rules that depend on the context.
The most common expression types are number, sets, and functions. Numbers have lots of different names: for
example, the expressions:
5 2+3 10/2 (6-2) +1 1+1+1+1+1,
All look different, but are all just different names for the same number. The basic syntax for entering mathematical formulas
or expressions in the system enables you to quickly enter expressions using 2-D notation. The most common mistake is to
forget parenthesis “( )”. For example, the expression: 1 / (x + 1) is different from 1 / x + 1 which the system interprets as (1 /
x) + 1.
English language and Mathematical language are very contrasting. With respect to truth, there are mathematical
statements that are always true even if some part of the statements is false. For instance, if a mathematical statement starts
with something false, the truth value of the statement is always true no matter what the conclusion is. This is not acceptable
in ordinary normal conversations, but this is okay to mathematicians. For instance, the following is a true mathematical
statement:
“If a carabao can fly then Dumaguete City is not the capital of Philippines.”
Is a true statement in logic and mathematics.
There is also statement in the English language whose truth value is always true by the one speaking by could be
false to the one listening. For instance, the statement, like, “My mother is beautiful.” This may only be true to the one saying
the statement.

Mathematical verbs and nouns

Mathematics also has convention for verbs and nouns. Verbs in mathematics are usually relations like equals ‘=’,
order relation ‘<’ and ‘>’, congruence ‘≡’, etc.
When mathematical objects like numbers, matrices, set, vectors, functions, etc. are properly joined together by well-
defined operations, the result is called a mathematical expression. Examples of mathematical expressions are as follows:
1. 4(𝑥 + 6) - Four times the quantity of a number plus six.
2. 𝑥 + 5
2
- A number squared plus five.

Mathematical Symbols
Mathematical expressions are the nouns in a mathematical sentence
Examples of mathematical expressions
1. 2x + 3y
2. 7x3 + 3x2 - 2x +1

Mathematical Objects: When a mathematical object is not specified as to its value or its list of elements, then the mathematical
object is usually called a variable and can be denoted by a symbol, commonly by a letter in the English alphabet.

Example:
1. Write as a mathematical expression the following: “Mario’s age 5 years from now.”
Solution:
Let x be Mario’s age now. (x is the mathematical object)
Then x+5 is Mario’s age 5 years from now
So, the mathematical expression is: x + 5

TRANSLATING KEY WORDS AND PHRASES INTO ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

To write algebraic expressions and equations, assign a variable to represent the unknown number. Most of the time, the
letter “x” is used to represent the unknown. In translation problems, the words sum, total, difference, product and
quotient imply at least two parts – use parentheses when a sum or difference is multiplied.

Example:
1. The sum of three times a number and five. "3x + 5,"
2. Three times the sum of a number and five. "3(x + 5)."
Example 1: Translate the mathematical expressions/equations to mathematical statement.
1. x + 12 = 8 – Twelve added to a number is the same as eight
2. 3x = 15 – Three times a number equals fifteen
3. x/16 – The ratio of a number to fifteen
4. 10/x – Ten divided by a number
5. (6-x)/9 - The difference between six and a number divided by nine
6. 5(x+4) – Five times the sum of a number and four
7. 2(x-3) = 12 – Twice the difference of a number and three totals twelve
8. 4(12+y) – Four times the sum of twelve and y

Example 2: Translate the following phrases into mathematical expressions or equations.

1. Six less than twice a number is forty-five 2x – 6 = 45

2. A number minus seven yields ten x - 7 =10
3. The quotient of a number and seven is two x/7 = 2
4. Eight times a number is forty-eight 8x = 48

Since mathematical statements are emotion-less, its truth does not depend on the feeling of the person making the
statement or the person reading the statement. Its truth depends on the basic assumptions where the statement is based on
or developed from.

A mathematical statement/sentence is a mathematical sentence that is either true or false.

Thus, a mathematical statement can only be either true or false. However, there are mathematical statements that are
contingent on the value of the variable used. These statements are sometimes true or false.

Example:

1+1=2 (true)
1+1=3 (false)
1+1=x (truth or falsity depends on the value of x)

Truth of a Mathematical Sentence

The truth value of a mathematical sentence depends solely on how it relates with axioms which the sentence was
inferred from or how it relates with previous definitions and proven theorems. The statement:
“If 2 parallel lines are cut by a transversal, then alternate interior angles are congruent.”
The truth of this statement depends on the postulates in plane geometry6, definitions, and previously proven theorems.
The following then are true statements:
1. x – x = 0
2. 2x + x = 3x
3. 4 + 5 = 9
The language used in mathematics is also non-temporal. Sentences in mathematics are all in present terms since its truth
never fades nor will ever change as long as the assumptions for such statement hold true. Finally, terms and words used in
mathematics mean what they say and there are no hidden meanings.Every mathematical statement is precise. This is because
mathematical statements are developed from a consistent system and proven using established statement.

In the English language, there are generally four types of sentences:

a) declarative sentences,
b) interrogative,
 c) exclamatory, and
d) command.
The exciting sentences in English language are the declarative ones. Declarative sentences are interesting because they bring good
news and hope.
But in Mathematics, declarative sentences are very boring statements. They do not bring excitements because mathematical
declarative sentences are usually old facts, like 2 + 3 = 5 and 7 is prime number. Then after uttering any of these, someone will say “so
what?”
The interesting statements in mathematics are the conditional statements or the “if . . . then” statements, at least to the math
enthusiasts.

The interesting statements in mathematics are the conditional statements or the “if . . . then” statements, at least to the math
enthusiasts. Verifying the “then” given “if” fascinates them (math enthusiasts), especially if their proof is very elegant,
compact and direct. On the other hand, conditional statements in English are very boring. No newspaper editor has ever
placed a headline starting with the word “If. . . “.

The point in all these is that English language and mathematical language are very contrasting. With respect to truth, there
are mathematical statements that are always true even if some part of the statement is false. For instance, if a mathematical
statement starts with something false, the truth value of the statement is always true no matter what the conclusion is.

Elementary Logic
A logical connective (also called logical operator) is a symbol or a word which is used to connect two (2) or more sentences.
Each logical connective can be expressed as a truth function.
Logic and Mathematical Statements
Mathematical statements can be joined together using logical connectives. In elementary logic, there are four kinds of
logical connectives. These are:
1. ‘and’ connective denoted by ‘^’ (conjunction),
2. ‘or’ connective ‘˅’ (disjunction)
3. Conditional ‘→’ and
4. Bi-conditional, also known as ‘if and only if ‘↔’.
Truth Value
The truth or falsity of a statement is called its truth value.
Examples:
Determine the truth value of the following statements.
1. NORSU students are not genius.
Answer: (False)
2. 33 + 77 = 110.
Answer: (True)
3. Bayawan City is in Spain.
Answer: (False)
The truth value of the new statement produced out of connecting two simple statements depends on the rules in elementary
logic.
Logic and Mathematical Statements
The truth value of the new statement produces out of connecting two simple statements depends on the rules in
elementary logic.
1. Conjunction (∧ ). For the ‘and’ connective, statement, ‘p and q’, is true if both p and q are true. is a compound
sentence formed by using the word and to join two simple sentences. The symbol for this is ∧ . When two (2)
simple sentences, p and q, are joined in a conjunction statement, the conjunction is expressed symbolically as p
∧ q. The conjunction of two statements is true if both statements are true otherwise it is false.

Truth table for Conjunctions

p q p∧q
T T T
T F F
F T F
F F F
 2. Disjunction (∨ ). For the ‘or’ connective, ‘p or q’ is true if either p is true, or q is true, or both are true. is a
compound sentence formed by using the word or to join two simple sentences. The symbol for this is ∨ . When
two (2) simple sentences, p and q, are joined in a conjunction statement, the disjunction is expressed symbolically
as p ∨ q.
Truth table for Disjunction
p q p∨q
T T T
T F T
F T T
F F F

3. Conditional (→). In a conditional statement, if the premise is true and the conclusion is false, then the whole
statement is false. ‘p→q’ (where p is the premise and q the conclusion). In a conditional statement, if the premise
is true and the conclusion is false, then the whole statement is false.
Truth table for Conditional
p q p→q
T T T
T F F
F T T
F F T
Perhaps you are bothered by the fact that p →q is true in the last two lines of this table. Here’s an example to convince you
htat the table is cprrect. Suppose your professor makes the following promise:

If you pass the final exam, then you will pass the course.
Under what circumstances did she lie? These scenarios are tallied in the following table.
You pass the exam You pass the (You pass the exam) → (You pass the
course course)
T T T
T F F
F T T
F F T

The following is a true mathematical statement:

“If a carabao can fly then Dumaguete City is not the capital of the Philippines.”
Is a true statement in logic and mathematics.

4. Bi-conditional (↔ ). For bi-conditional, ‘p↔q’ is true if both p and q are t rue, or both p and q are false. If one of
the statements is true and the other is false, whichever comes first, the bi-conditional statement is false.
Example:

Answer: I am breathing if and only if I am alive. (True)

Truth table for Bi-conditional

p q p↔q
T T T
T F F
F T F
F F T
 5. Negation. If p is true then ~𝑝 is false and if p is false, ~𝑝 is true.

Truth table for Negation

p ~𝑝
T F
F T

Example 1: Make a truth table of the following statement.

~𝐩 ∧ (𝒑 → q)

Example 2: Make a truth table of the following statement.

(𝑝 ∨ 𝑞 ) ∧ ~(𝑝 ∧ 𝑞 )