KOLEHIYO NG LUNGSOD NG DASMARIÑAS

Course Module
Mathematics in the Modern World

Prepared by:
GEC5000
MATHEMATICS IN THE
MODERN WORLD
INSTRUCTORS
 Institute of Applied Sciences
Mathematics and Statistics Unit

MODULE 2
Mathematical Language and Symbols

Can you imagine how you would be able to communicate with

a person who speaks an entirely different language from yours?
You may be able to tell him something either a direction, a question
or statement through certain nonverbal gestures that can be done
with sign language. Language facilitates communication and
meaning making. It allows people to express themselves and
maintain their identity. Likewise, language bridges the gap among
people from various cultural origins without prejudice to their
background and upbringing.

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Learning Outcomes

1. Discuss the language, symbols, and conventions of mathematics.

2. Explain the nature of mathematics as a language.

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OUTLINE OF TOPICS
1. Characteristics of Mathematical Language
2. Expressions vs. Sentences
3. Conventions in the Mathematical Language

LESSON PROPER
Language is a systematic way of communicating to other people by using sounds or
conventional symbols. It is the code humans use as a form of expressing themselves and
communicating ideas to others. It is a system of words used in a particular discipline.
Mathematical Language is the system used to communicate mathematical ideas. This
language consists of some natural language using technical terms (mathematical terms) and
grammatical conventions that are uncommon to mathematical discourse, supplemented by a
highly specialized symbolic notation for mathematical formulas.
Mathematics as a language is a system of communication about objects like numbers,
variables, sets, operations, functions, and equations.

Characteristics of Mathematical Language:

1. Precise. The mathematical language is precise. It is exact and accurate. It can make fine
distinctions. This is also the reason why it considers Math is an exact science.
Example:

The context in which we use mathematical symbols allows us to know when or how to
properly use them.

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2. Concise. It prefers brevity. It is being able to say things briefly. There is no need for
unnecessary words.
Example:
VERBAL PHRASE MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSION

Five less than a number 𝑥−5

Five less than twice a number is seven. 2𝑥 − 5 = 7

3. Powerful. It can express complex thoughts with relative ease. It can easily convey its
message and intended meaning. Mathematicians use the language of Mathematics in
laying the foundation of how we can understand the universe.

Expressions vs. Sentences

Mathematical expressions consist of terms. The term of a mathematical expression is

separated from other terms with either plus or minus sign. A single term may contain an
expression in parentheses or other grouping symbols. In Algebra, variables or letters are used to
represent numbers.
An algebraic expression is a quantity which contains numbers and variables. A variable is also
called a literal coefficient which represents the unknown and makes use of letters.
The number with the variable is the numerical coefficient. Any single number is called a
constant. A collection of different algebraic terms separated by different operations and has an
incomplete thought.

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Example:

A Mathematical sentence combines two mathematical expressions using a comparison

operator. These expressions either use numbers, variables, of both the comparison operators
include equal, not equal, greater than, greater than or equal to, less than and less than or equal
to. A mathematical expression containing the equal sign is an equation. It consists of mathematical
expressions using equality and inequality symbols and has a complete thought.
Example:

Just as English words have synonyms, numbers have lots of different names.
Example:
NUMBER EQUIVALENT VALUES

5 2 + 3, 10 ÷ 2, (6 − 2) + 1, 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1
3
3 × 1, −4 + 7, × 5
3 5

Can you give other names for the number 12? How about 0?

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A mathematical sentence must have a VERB to have a complete thought. Below are some of the
verbs used in mathematics.
Example:

A mathematical sentence can either be TRUE or FALSE.

Example:

Translating Verbal Phrases/Statements to Mathematical Expressions/Sentences

To translate phrases/statements into mathematical expressions/sentences:

• Identify key words that indicate the operation.

• Write the numbers/variables in the correct order.

Some keywords:

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Conventions in the Mathematical Language

Convention is a set of facts, rules or notations that are agreed upon or accepted to be the
norm.
Example:
Consider the number 353.
In the context of time, we read that as 3:53. In the context of whole numbers, we read
that as “three hundred fifty-three.”

353
To correctly solve problems in Math, we should know the order of operations and rules in
adding or subtracting and multiplying or dividing integers.

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The Language of Set

A set is a collection of distinct objects called ELEMENTS. A set can be defined by describing
the contents, or by listing the elements of the set, enclosed in braces.

A set that has no element is called the empty set or null set and is denoted by Ø or { }. The
set {Ø} is not empty since it has one element, namely Ø. In Mathematics, there are certain sets of
numbers that are given special symbolic names. Some of which are as follows:

𝑅 set of all real numbers

𝑅+ set of all positive real numbers

𝑄 set of all rational numbers

𝑁 set of all natural or counting numbers

𝑊 set of all whole numbers

𝑍 set of all negative numbers

Set Notation. It is a system of marks, signs, figures or characters that is used to represent
information. A set may be specified using set-roster notation by writing all the elements between
braces. For example, {1, 2, 3} denotes the sets whose elements are 1,2 and 3. A variation of the
notation is sometimes used to describe a very large set, as when we write {1, 2, 3, … , 100} to refer
to the set of all integers from 1 to 100. A similar notation can also describe an infinite set, as when
we write {1, 2, 3, . . . } to refer to the set of all positive integers. The symbol “…” Is called an ellipsis
and is read “and so forth.”

1. Set Roster Notation. The roster method is used to represent a set by listing each
element of the set inside a pair of braces. Commas are used to separate the elements.
Example:
a. Natural/Counting numbers:
𝑁 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, … }
b. Whole Numbers
𝑊 = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, … }
c. Integers
𝑍 = {… , −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, … }

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2. Set Builder Notation. The set-builder notation is another way of defining a set by
describing its elements. The set is described by stating all the properties that all the
elements must satisfy.

Example:
The set of all 𝑥’s that are members of Real numbers, such that 𝑥 is greater than or
equal to 3.

Other Examples:

Rewrite the following sets in Set-Builder Notation to Roster Method and vice versa.

1. 𝐴 = {𝑥 ∈ 𝑊|2 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 7}
Answer: 𝐴 = {2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}
2. 𝐵 = {𝑥 ∈ 𝑍| − 4 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 0}
Answer: 𝐵 = {−4, −3, −2, −1, 0}
3. 𝐶 = {1, 2, 3, 4, … , 100}
Answer: 𝐶 = {𝑥 ∈ 𝑁|𝑥 > 101}
4. 𝐷 = {−6, −5, −4, … , 4, 5, 6}
Answer: 𝐷 = {𝑥 ∈ 𝑍| − 6 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 6}

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Cardinality of Set. The cardinality or the cardinal number of a finite set is the number of
elements in the set. The cardinality of a finite set 𝐴 is denoted by the notation 𝑛(𝐴).

Example:

1. If 𝐴 = {30, 60, 90}, then 𝑛(𝐴) = 3

2. If 𝐵 = {1, 3, 5, 7, … 19}, then 𝑛(𝐵) = 10

Types of Set
A. Finite Set. A set is said to be finite if the number of elements can be counted.
Example:
a. A set of months in a year
𝑀 = {𝐽𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑦, 𝐹𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑦, 𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ, 𝐴𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑙, 𝑀𝑎𝑦, 𝐽𝑢𝑛𝑒, 𝐽𝑢𝑙𝑦, 𝐴𝑢𝑔𝑢𝑠𝑡, 𝑆𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟,
𝑂𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑏𝑒𝑟, 𝑁𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟, 𝐷𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟}
b. 𝑆 = {𝑥|𝑥 ∈ 𝑍 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 2 − 81 = 0}
𝑆 = {−9, 9}
B. Infinite Set. A set is said to be infinite if the elements are uncountable or unlimited. The
symbol “…” called ellipsis is used to denote infinity in an infinite set.
Example:
a. The set of numbers greater than 10.
𝑃 = {11, 12, 13, 14, 15, … }
b. The set of numbers between 3 and 5.
𝑁 = {3.0001, 3.075,4.25, … }
C. Equal Sets. Set 𝐴 is equal to Set 𝐵, denoted by 𝐴 = 𝐵, if and only if 𝐴 and 𝐵 have exactly
the same elements.
Example:
Let 𝑃 = {𝑑, 𝑒, 𝑓} and 𝑀 = {𝑒, 𝑓, 𝑑}. We say that 𝑃 = 𝑀.
D. Equivalent Sets. Set 𝐴 is equivalent to set 𝐵, denoted by 𝐴 ~ 𝐵, if and only if 𝐴 and 𝐵
have the same number of elements. Using mathematical notation, the previous
sentence can be expressed as 𝐴 ~𝐵 provided 𝑛(𝐴) = 𝑛(𝐵).
Example:
Let 𝐴 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} and 𝐵 = {𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑, 𝑒}
𝑛(𝐴) = 5 and 𝑛(𝐵) = 5
Since 𝑛(𝐴) = 𝑛(𝐵), thus 𝐴~𝐵.

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E. Subset. A basic relation between sets is that of subset. If 𝐴 and 𝐵 are sets, then 𝐴 is
called a subset of 𝐵 and only if, every element of 𝐴 is also an element of 𝐵. It is denoted
by 𝐴 ⊆ 𝐵.
Example:
Let 𝐴 = {1, 2, 3} and 𝐵 = {1 ,2, 3, 6, 7, 8}. We say that 𝐴 ⊆ 𝐵.
F. Proper Subsets. A proper subset is a subset which contains fewer elements of its parent
set.
Example:
The proper subsets of 𝐴 = {𝑞, 𝑦, 𝑧} are 𝐴 = {{𝑞}, {𝑦}, {𝑧}, {𝑞, 𝑦}, {𝑞, 𝑧}, {𝑦, 𝑧}, { }}.

Remember:
▪ If there is at least one element of 𝐴 that is not an element of 𝐵, then we say that 𝐴 is
a subset of 𝐵. In symbols, 𝐴 ⊆ 𝐵.
▪ If 𝐴 is a subset of 𝐵 and 𝐵 is also a subset of 𝐴, then 𝐴 and 𝐵 are said to be equal, in
symbols, 𝐴 = 𝐵. Note that every set is a subset of itself and the empty set is a subset
of every set.
▪ Null or Empty Set. An empty set is a set with no elements. It is denoted by two braces
{ } with no elements inside or by the null symbol ∅. An empty set is a subset of every
set.
▪ The Universal Set and the Complement of a Set. The universal set, denoted by 𝑈,
is the set of all elements that are under consideration. The complement of set 𝐴,
denoted by 𝐴’, is the set of all elements of the universal set that are not elements of
𝐴.

Example:
Let 𝑈 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}
𝑆 = {2, 4, 6, 7}
𝑇 = {𝑥 |𝑥 < 10 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 ∈ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑑𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑠}
Find:
a. 𝑆′
b. 𝑇′

Solution:
a. The elements of the universal set are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. From these
elements, we wish to exclude the elements of 𝑆, which are 2, 4, 6, and 7. Therefore,
𝑆’ = {1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10}
b. 𝑇 = {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}
Excluding the elements of 𝑇 from 𝑈 gives us 𝑇’ = {2, 4, 6, 8, 10}

Mathematics in the Modern World

 Institute of Applied Sciences
Mathematics and Statistics Unit

The Language of Functions and Relations

A relation is a rule that relates values from a set of values (called the domain) to a second
set of values called the range.

A relation is a set of ordered pairs (𝑥, 𝑦).

A function is a relation where each element in the domain is related to only one value in
the range by some rule. A function is a set of ordered pairs (𝑥, 𝑦) such that no two ordered pairs
have the same x value but different y-values.

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑦 “𝑓 of 𝑥 is equal to 𝑦”
For instance, a man is riding in a car which travels an average rate of 40 mph. The distance
traveled (𝑠) by the car is determined by the time traveled (𝑡) and the rate (𝑟), thus the relationship
of the two variables can be written in symbol as 𝑠 = 40𝑡.
This defines 𝑠 as a function of 𝑡 because for each value of 𝑡, there corresponds exactly one
value for 𝑠, hence 𝑠 is called the dependent variable and 𝑡 is the independent variable of the function,
𝑡 ≥ 0. Given that that the distance traveled 𝑠 is a function of time traveled 𝑡, we can write it in a
functional notation as 𝑠 = 𝑓(𝑡) “ read as 𝑠 equals the 𝑓 of 𝑡”.
The symbols 𝑓, 𝑔, and ℎ are used to denote a function. If 𝑓 is a function with variable 𝑥 as
its domain and variable 𝑦 as its range, the symbol 𝑓(𝑥) , read as “𝑓 of 𝑥” or “𝑓 at 𝑥” denotes a
particular value of 𝑦 that corresponds to the value of 𝑥.
Example:
Evaluate the given function, 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 3 if:
a. 𝑓 = −1
b. 𝑓 = 7
c. 𝑓 = 1⁄2

Solution:
a. 𝑓 (−1) = (−1)2 + 3 = 𝟒
b. 𝑓 (7) = (7)2 + 3 = 𝟓𝟐
c. 𝑓(1⁄2) = (1⁄2)2 + 3 = 13⁄4

Vertical Line Test. A graph defines a function if each vertical line in the rectangular
coordinate system passes through at most one point on the graph.

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Example:

Which curves represent the graph of a function in 𝑥?

Operations on Functions

• Addition: 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)

• Subtraction: 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)
• Multiplication: 𝑓(𝑥) ∙ 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑓(𝑥)
• Division: 𝑔(𝑥)
• Composition: 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) 𝑜𝑟 𝑔(𝑓(𝑥))

Example:
Given the following: 𝑓(𝑥) = 3; 𝑔(𝑥) = −4; ℎ(𝑥) = 2
Find the following:
a. 𝑓 (𝑥 ) + 𝑔(𝑥 )
b. 𝑔(𝑥 ) − ℎ(𝑥)
c. 𝑓(𝑥) ⋅ ℎ(𝑥)

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Answers:
a. 𝑓 (𝑥 ) + 𝑔(𝑥 ) = 3 + (−4) = −𝟏
b. 𝑔(𝑥 ) − ℎ(𝑥 ) = −4 − 2 = −𝟔
c. 𝑓 (𝑥 ) ⋅ ℎ(𝑥 ) = 3 ⋅ 2 = 𝟔

The Language of Logic

Logic Statements and Quantifiers
A statement is a declarative sentence that is either true or false, but not both true and
false.
Example:
Determine whether each sentence is a statement.
a. Florida is a state in the United States.
b. How are you?
c. 99 + 2 is a prime number.
d. 𝑥 + 1 – 5

Solution:
a. Florida is one of the 50 states in the United States, so this sentence is true and it is a
statement.
b. The sentence “How are you?” is a question; it is not a declarative sentence. Thus it is
not a statement.
c. You may not know whether 99 + 2 is a prime number; however, you do know that it
is a whole number larger than 1, so it is either a prime number or it is not a prime
number. The sentence is either true or it is false, and it is not both true and false, so
it is a statement.
d. x + 1 - 5 is a statement. It is known as an open statement. It is true for x - 4, and it is
false for any other values of x. For any given value of x, it is true or false but not both.

Simple Statements and Compound Statements

A simple statement is a statement that conveys a single idea. A compound statement is a
statement that conveys two or more ideas. Connecting simple statements with words and phrases
such as and, or, if ... then, and if and only if creates a compound statement. For instance, “I will
attend the meeting, or I will go to school.” is a compound statement. It is composed of the two
simple statements, “I will attend the meeting.” and “I will go to school.” The word or is a connective
for the two simple statements.

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Truth Value and Truth Tables

The truth value of a simple statement is either true (T) or false (F). The truth value of a
compound statement depends on the truth values of its simple statements and its connectives.
A truth table is a table that shows the truth value of a compound statement for all possible
truth values of its simple statements.
Example:
Consider the following simple statements:
𝑝: Today is Friday.
𝑞: It is raining.
𝑟: I am going to a movie.
𝑠: I am not going to the basketball game.
Write the following compound statements in symbolic form.
a. Today is Friday, and it is raining.
b. It is not raining, and I am going to a movie.
c. I am going to the basketball game, or I am going to a movie.
d. If it is raining, then I am not going to the basketball game.

Answers:
a. 𝑝 ∧ 𝑞
b. ~𝑞 ∧ 𝑟
c. ~𝑠 ∨ 𝑟
d. 𝑞 → 𝑠
Truth Value of a Conjunction Truth Value of a Disjunction

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Quantifiers and Negation

In a statement, the word some and the phrases “there exists” and “at least one” are called
existential quantifiers. Existential quantifiers are used as prefixes to assert the existence of
something.

In a statement, the words “none”, “no”, “all”, and “every” are called universal quantifiers. The
universal quantifiers none and no deny the existence of something, whereas the universal
quantifiers all and every are used to assert that every element of a given set satisfies some
condition.

Example:

Write the negation of each of the following statements.

a. Some airports are open.
b. All movies are worth the price of admission.
c. No odd numbers are divisible by 2.

Solution:
a. No airports are open.
b. Some movies are not worth the price of admission.
c. Some odd numbers are divisible by 2.

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KEY POINTS
Mathematical Language is the system used to communicate mathematical ideas. This
language consists of some natural language using technical terms (mathematical terms) and
grammatical conventions that are uncommon to mathematical discourse, supplemented by
a highly specialized symbolic notation for mathematical formulas.
Mathematical expressions consist of terms. The term of a mathematical expressions is
separated from other terms with either plus or minus signs. Mathematical sentence combines
two mathematical expressions using a comparison operator.
A set is a collection of distinct objects called elements. A set can be defined by describing the
contents, or by listing the elements of the set, enclosed in braces. The types of sets are finite,
infinite, equal, equivalent, subset, proper subset, empty or nulls et and the universal set.
A relation is a rule that relates values from a set of values (called the domain) to a second set
of values called the range. A function is a relation where each element in the domain is related
to only one value in the range by some rule.
A logic statement is a declarative sentence that is either true or false, but not both true and
false.
The truth value of a simple statement is either true (T) or false (F). The truth value of a
compound statement depends on the truth values of its simple statements and its
connectives. A truth table is a table that shows the truth value of a compound statement for
all possible truth values of its simple statements.

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ASSESSMENT
Answer the following questions. Write your answers on a ¼ yellow paper and to be submitted in
class.
A. Determine the verbs in the following sentence.
1. Philippines is a country in Asia.
2. The world has 7 continents.
3. 4 + 7 = 11
4. 6 > 10
5. This sentence is false.
B. Write the corresponding mathematical sentence of each statement.
1. The ratio of a number and 6 yields 5.
2. The product of two numbers equals 4.
3. Less than the product of 9 and a number is 10.
4. Five times the sum of a number and 4 is 21.
5. Six less than twice a number is 45.
C. Let 𝑈 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, 𝐴 = {2, 4, }, 𝐵 = {1, 2, 5}. Find each of the following.
1. 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵′
2. (𝐴′ ∩ 𝐵)′
3. 𝐵 ∪ 𝐵′
D. Prove if the following is a function or not a function by plotting the points.
1. {(1,2)(2,3)(3,4)(5,4)}
2. {(0,3)(3,0)(1,0)(2,3)}
3. {(1,3)(1,3)(2,3)(2,4)}
E. Write each symbolic statement, as an English sentence. Use 𝑝, 𝑞, 𝑟, 𝑠, and 𝑡 as defined
below.
𝑝: Taylor Swift is a singer.
𝑞: Taylor Swift is not a songwriter.
𝑟: Taylor Swift is an actress.
𝑠: Taylor Swift plays the piano.
𝑡: Taylor Swift does not play the guitar.
1. (𝑝 ∨ 𝑟) ∧ 𝑞
2. ~𝑠 → (𝑝 ∧ ~𝑞)
3. 𝑝 → (𝑞 ∧ ~𝑟)

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F. Write each sentence in symbolic form. Use 𝑝, 𝑞, 𝑟, and 𝑠 as defined below.

𝑝: Stephen Curry is a football player.
𝑞: Stephen Curry is a basketball player.
𝑟: Stephen Curry is a rock star.
𝑠: Stephen Curry plays for the Warriors.
1. Stephen Curry is a football player or a basketball player, and he is not a rock star.
2. Stephen Curry is a rock star, and he is not a basketball player or a football player.
3. If Stephen Curry is a basketball player and a rock star, then he is not a football
player.

REFERENCES

1. Auffman, R.N., Lockwood, J.S., Nation, R.D., & Clegg, D.K. (2018). Mathematical Excursion
(4th ed.). Cengage Learning.
2. Jamison, Robert. E. (2000), Learning the Language of Mathematics. Types of Sets | Tagalog
Tutorial | MathTV PH, https://youtu.be/9JIRay8oMCs

Mathematics in the Modern World