MATHEMATICAL

LANGUAGE AND
SYMBOL
CHARACTERISTICS OF
MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE
Precise – able to make very fine distinctions
Concise – able to say things briefly
Powerful – able to express complex thoughts with
relative ease
SYMBOLS USED IN MATHEMATICS

The ten digits Hindu-Arabic numerals: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Symbols for operations: +, -, ,
•  
Symbols that represent values: x, y, z, w, etc.
Other special symbols: =, <, , >, , %, , e, etc.
Like other languages, mathematics has its
vocabulary (the words), and its rules for
combining these words into complete thoughts
(the sentences). It also has the notions of
nouns, sentences and verbs.
MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSION

Is the mathematical analogue of an English noun

It is a correct arrangement of mathematical symbols used
to represent a mathematical object of interest.
It does not state a complete thought; in particular, it does
not make sense to ask if an expression is true or false.
EXAMPLE:

 Numbers
 Sets
 Functions
 Ordered pair
 Matrices
 Vectors
 MATHEMATICAL SENTENCE
Is the analogue of an English sentence
It is a correct arrangement of mathematical symbols that express a complete thought

Example:

“3 + 4” is an expression
“3 + 4 = 7” is a sentence
Just as English sentences have verbs, so do mathematical sentences.

“3 + 4 = 7”
the verb is “ =“

Indeed, the equal sign “=“ is one of the most popular mathematical
verbs.

If “=“ is the verb, then what is the “+”?

CONNECTIVE

Is used to connect objects of a given type to get

a compound object of the same type
 English Mathematics
Name given to an object of Noun (person, place, thing) Expression
interest
Examples: Mrs. Reyes, teacher, Examples: 7, 14/2, 3x, (2, -1, 1)
Cebu, bag
A complete thought Sentence (mathematical) sentence

Examples: Examples:
 The capital of the Philippines is 7–2=5
Cebu. 7–2=3
 Manila is the capital city of the
Philippines.
Action Verb Operations and other actions

Examples: add, simplify,

rationalize
Attribute of a sentence Fact or Fiction True or False
IDENTIFY IF IT IS A NOUN, ENGLISH SENTENCE,
MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSION OR MATHEMATICAL
SENTENCE
1. Tubod is the capital of Lanao del Norte.
2. X + Y = 5
3. Tubod College
4. 11 + 7 – 3
5. 4 – 3x = x
•6.  

7. 2 + 3 < 5
8. 10
9. 6 – 4
10. 4x -7 = 5
ANSWER THIS!
Identify if it is a noun, English sentence, 1. 1+2=5
mathematical expression or mathematical 2. A girl
sentence
3. =
4.
1. Leyte
5. - 2x + 1 =
2. 9 – 6 = 7
6.
3. Leyte is the largest province in the
•  Philippines.
7. Every Ferrari is red.
4. x – 2 + 5x
5. x – y = y – x
6. 5
7. 3 + 3 – 1