LESSON 2:

MATHEMATICAL
LANGUAGE &
SYMBOLS
LESSON CONTENT:
- Mathematics as a Language
- Sets
- Functions
PART 1: Mathematics
as Language
Pre-Test
 Language is a systematic
way of communicating with
other people by the use of
sounds or conventional
symbols. It is a system of
words used in a particular
discipline.
 It is also a system of abstract
codes which represents antecedent
events and concepts and arranged
in order sequence to form words,
with rule for combining these
words into sequences or strings
that express thoughts, intentions,
experiences, and feelings.
Unique characteristics of the
mathematical language:
1. precise
2. concise
3. powerful
4. nontemporal
5. It has vocabulary and parts of
speech.
Part of Speech for
Mathematics
1. Numbers are the very first
symbols that can be used to
represent quantity. These are
nouns (objects) in the English
language.
2. Operational symbols like
+, ÷, ×, - can act as connectives
in mathematical sentence.
3. Relation symbols such as
=, ≤ and ~ are used for
comparison and act as verbs in
the mathematical language.
4. Grouping symbols such as
( ), { }, and [ ] are used to
associate groups of numbers
and operators.
 5. Variables are letters that
represent quantities and act as
pronoun
Expression vs. Sentence
 An expression does not state a
complete thought;
it does not make sense to ask if an
expression is true or false.

The most common expression

types are numbers, sets, and
functions.
 A sentence states a complete
thought. It can be (always) true,
(always) false, or sometimes
true/sometimes false.
Which of the following are sentences?
1. Manila is the capital of the
Philippines.
2. The province of Cavite
3. The number 5 is a composite number.
4. (x+1)2
 Mathematical Convention is a
fact, name, usage or notation
which is generally agreed upon by
mathematicians.
1. PEMDAS
2. When using variables, use dot
instead of (). If there will be no
confusion, the symbol may be
dropped.
3. It is conventional to write the
constant first before the variables.
The variables must be in
alphabetical order.
1. PEMDAS
2. When using variables, use dot
instead of (). If there will be no
confusion, the symbol may be
dropped.
3. It is conventional to write the
constant first before the variables.
The variables must be in
alphabetical order.
 Translating English
Sentence to
Mathematical Sentence
 Example 1:
Six more than seven times a number is thirty-
four. Find the number.