CHAPTER 2

MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS

Intended Learning Outcome

At the end of the chapter, the students should be able to:
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

Introduction:
“Mathematics is the language with which God has written the universe.”

― Galileo Galilei
According to Ethnologue, there are currently 7,111 known languages in the world. It is
by using language that we communicate each other. However, mathematics has its own
language which is foreign language for most students especially those who doesn’t like
mathematics. The language of mathematics was purposely designed so one can express his
ideas on something such as writing about numbers, sets, functions, or expressions and explain
what he can do with these.
Mathematical concept is often very vague which causes anxiety in understanding among
students. The language of mathematics is referred to as the system that is often used by
mathematicians to accurately communicate mathematical ideas, and abstract ideas. Setati
(2002) describes mathematics as a language as it uses notations, symbols, terminology,
conventions, models and expressions to process and communicate information. Mathematics
uses different symbols and variables instead of words. The common symbols/operations are +, -
, ÷, x, =, >, <. The variables / letters in the alphabet are very special to mathematics since it is
used to represent the unknown number.
Teaching and learning the language of mathematics is vigorous for the improvement of
mathematical proficiency. Students’ mathematical vocabulary learning is a vital part of their
language improvement and ultimately mathematical proficiency. Riccomini, Paul J., et al (2015).
In this chapter, we will focus on the following
2.1 The Mathematical Langauge
2.2. The Basic Concepts of Mathematics (Sets, Relations and Functions)
 2.3 Logic

2.1 The Mathematical Language

What is a Language?
There are multiple definitions of language. Language is…
 a system of words or codes used within a discipline.
 a systematic way of communication using symbols or sounds.
 a code humans use as a form of expressing themselves and communicating
with others
 facilitates communication and elucidates meaning
 allows individuals to express themselves and maintain their identity.
What is Mathematics?
There are multiple definitions of Mathematics. Mathematics is...
 a universal language, shared by all human beings in every country of the
world regardless of culture, religion, or gender.
 a method of communication about objects like numbers, variables, sets,
operations, functions and equations
 a collection of symbols and their meaning shared by a global community of
people who have an interest in the subject
Importance of Mathematical Language
 To communicate and understand the expressed ideas to others
 Communication helps in the thinking ability
 Mathematical way communication and mathematics thinking is necessary for
students to achieve success in life especially when working with real-life
problems
 To provide a powerful means of communication which can be used to present
findings in figures, tables, charts, graphs and symbols
Characteristic of the Language of Mathematics
 Precise – able to make very fine distinctions
Example: The use of mathematical symbol is only done based on its meaning
and purpose. Like + means add, - means minus, x multiply and ÷ means
divide.
 Concise - to be able to say things briefly
Example: The long English sentence can be shortened using mathematical
symbols. Five plus two equals seven which means 5 + 2 = 7
  Powerful - able to express complex thoughts with relative ease
Example: The application of critical thinking and problem solving skills
requires the comprehension, analysis and reasoning to obtain the correct
solution.
Components of a language
 a vocabulary of words or symbols
 has syntax to make the expression well informed to make the characters and
symbols clear and valid that do not violate rules.
 a grammar consisting of rules on the use of these symbols
 community of people who use and understand these symbols
 a range of meanings that can be communicated with these symbols
MATHEMATICS: expressions versus sentences
 Mathematical expression is correct arrangement of mathematical symbols used to
represent a mathematical object of interest. It doesn't make sense to ask its truth
value. The common types: numbers, sets and functions.
o Examples: 5, f(x), sin x, 2x-7
 Mathematical sentence - is a correct arrangement of mathematical symbols that
states a complete thought. It makes sense to ask about its truth value. It contains
verb (equal sign or inequality symbol) may contain a connective (operations, logical
connectives)
o Examples: Six is divisible by 2 and 3.; x + 3 = 5; 6x2 + 3x - 2 = 0
Mathematical Symbols
1. Common Mathematical Symbols
 The symbol +. Words associated with this symbol are ‘plus’, ‘add’, ‘increase’ and
‘positive’.
 The symbol −. Words associated with this symbol are ‘minus’, ‘subtract’, ‘take
away’, ‘negative’ and ‘decrease’.
 The symbol ×. Words associated with this symbol are ‘multiply’, ‘lots of’, and
‘times’.
 The division symbols ÷ Division is symbolized in several different ways: 10÷ 5, 5/6
 The = sign and its variants
o ≠ which means ‘is not equal to’
o ≈ which means ‘is approximately equal to’
o > which means ‘is greater than or equal to’
o < which means ‘is less than or equal to’

2. Variables
Variables are another form of mathematical symbol. These are used when quantities
take different values. Most variables that is being used are the letters of the alphabet
from a to z.
3. Greek Alphabet
 You will find that Greek letters are used in many calculations.
 For example, the Greek letter ‘pi’, written π, is used to represent the number
3.14159.... This number continues forever without repeating.
 We often use α (‘alpha’), β (‘beta’), and θ (‘theta’) to represent angles.
 The Greek capital letter ‘sigma’ or Σ is frequently used to represent the addition of
several numbers, and you will see it provided for this purpose on the toolbar of any
spreadsheet program.
 For future reference the full alphabet is given here
Using Mathematical Symbols/ Notations
Learning mathematical symbols/ notations is a little like learning another language.
Rather than using words, it uses symbols and often letters to represent numbers to make
statements.
The first step in learning is to consider the most commonly used words to translate
English words, phrases and sentences into mathematical symbols, expressions and equations
respectively.

+ - X ÷
Plus Minus Times Divide
Add subtract Multiply quotient
Increased by Decreased by Product the ratio of
Sum Difference …of…
Total Less twice
More than Less than
Subtracted from
Diminished by
Examples:
Translating mathematical sentence into mathematical symbols
1. 8 increased by x Answer: 8 + x
2. 8 more than x x+8
3. 8 is more than x 8>x
4. 10 less x 10 - x
5. 10 subtracted from x x - 10
6. 10 is less than x 10 < x
7. 6 added to the product of 11 and m 11m + 6
8. twice the difference of m and 3 2 (m -3)
9. the difference of 6 and k divided by 9 (6 – k)/ 9 or (6-k) ÷ 9
10. 4 times the sum of 12 and y 4 (12 + y)
11. The sum of 20c and c cubed divided by 3

12. Eight less than twice the sum of four and y

is the same as 19. 2(4 + y) – 8 = 19
13. Five less than x is less than five less x. x–5<5–x
14. The quotient of m and 3 is six less than the
product of 10 and m. = 10m - 6
 15. Six more than x is more than thrice the
difference of x and 8. x + 6 > 3(x – 8)
Conventions in Mathematical Languages
 Merriam dictionary defines convention as a general agreement about basic principles
or procedures. In mathematics, a mathematical convention is a fact, name, notation or
usage which is generally agreed by the mathematicians. Mathematicians abide by
conventions in order to allow other mathematicians to understand what they write
without constantly having to redefine basic terms.
Some common conventions used in mathematics are listed below.
 In Geometry for instance, by convention, capital letters are used to label vertices of a
polygon or to name a dot. Infinite lines are often named using small italic letters, such
as a, b, and c. Line segments are sometimes named using upper-case letters that
denote the two endpoints. Angles can be named using three letters (3 vertices), a
number or a small letter. When naming an angle using three letters, the middle letter
must be the vertex.
 As is common in algebra, italic letters like x are used to denote numbers, constants, and
variables. Letters are also used to label various objects, such as like l, point P, function f,
set S, list T, event E, random variable X, Brand X, City Y, and Company Z. The meaning of
a letter is determined by the context.
 When numbers, constants, or variables are given, their possible values are all real
numbers unless otherwise restricted. It is common to restrict the possible values in
various ways.
 Sometimes juxtaposition of letters does not denote multiplication, as in “consider a
three-digit positive integer denoted by BCD, where B, C, D are digits.” Whether or not
juxtaposition of letters denotes multiplication depends on the context in which the
juxtaposition occurs
 Mathematical expressions are to be interpreted with respect to order of operations,
which establishes which operations are performed before others in an expression. The
order is as follows: parenthesis, exponentiation, negation, multiplication and division,
addition and subtraction.
Take note that each area of mathematics has its particular conventions and somehow you are
expected to “just know what they are” when you’re studying a certain area.
Perform Operations on Mathematical Expressions Correctly.
In simplifying mathematical expressions, the following order of operations is one critical
point to observe. Order of operations is the hierarchy of mathematical operations. Before, we
used to have the MDAS, that stands for Multiplication, Division, Addition and Subtraction. It
was changed to PEMDAS which means Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication, Division,
Addition and Subtraction. But now most scientific calculators follow BODMAS, that is Bracket,
Order, division and Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction.

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Examples:
1. (67 − 18) ÷ 7 × 3
= 49 ÷ 7 × 3
=7X3
= 21
2. 8 × 18 ÷ 4 + 15
= 144 ÷ 4 + 15
= 36 + 15
= 51
3. 24 - 3 x 4
= 16 – 3 X 4
= 16 – 12
=4