THE NATURE OF

MATHEMATICS
MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE
AND SYMBOLS
 OBJECTIVES
• Discuss the language, symbols, and conventions of
mathematics.
• Explain the nature of mathematics as a language.
• Convert English to Mathematical sentences and
vice versa.
• Perform operations on mathematical expressions
correctly.
• Acknowledge that mathematics is a useful
language.
CHARACTERISTICS OF MATHEMATICAL
LANGUAGE

TOPIC 1
 LANGUAGE
• a systematic means of communicating by the use of
sounds or conventional symbols
• a system of words used in a particular discipline
• may be descried in terms of:
• vocabulary of symbols or words
• grammar consisting of rules on these symbols
• community of people who use and understand these
symbols
• range of meaning which can be communicated through
these symbols
 THE LANGUAGE OF MATHEMATICS

• Precise (able to make fine distinctions)

• Concise (able to say things briefly)
• Powerful (able to express complex thoughts with
relative case)
A universal language, the only one shared by all
human beings regardless of culture, religion or gender
 SYMBOLS

Instead of writing sentences with words,

mathematical sentences are written in terms of
numbers and symbols.
 SHARING

• What symbols in Mathematics have you

encountered?
• What do you think are action words in
Mathematics?
 MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSION

• a mathematical analogue of an English noun

• correct arrangement of mathematical symbols used
to represent a mathematical object of interest
• does not state a complete thought
• cannot be verified if true or false
 MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSION

• the most common expression types are numbers,

sets, and functions
• numbers have different names: for example, the
expressions:
10
5 2+3 6−2 +1
2
all look different, but are all just different names
for the same number
 MATHEMATICAL SENTENCE

• an analogue of an English sentence

• a correct arrangement of mathematical symbols
that expresses a complete thought
• can be verified if true or false
 MATHEMATICAL SENTENCE

• sentences have verbs

3 + 4 = 7, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑏 𝑖𝑠 " = “
• a sentence can be (always) true, (always) false, or
sometimes true/sometimes false
1 + 2 = 3 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑒
1 + 5 = 4 𝑖𝑠 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑒
2𝑥 = 10 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑒
 DIFFICULTIES IN THE
MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE
• The word “and” means differently in Mathematics
from English in use. The Mathematics “and” is
equivalent to “plus”.
• The different uses of a number to express quantity
(cardinal). To indicate the order (ordinal), and as a
label (nominal).
• Mathematical objects may be represented in many
ways i.e. sets and functions.
 FUNCTIONS/ CLASSIFICATIONS OF
NUMBERS
• Nominal Numbers – attribute of subjects that is used
for naming, labelling and categorizing
• Ordinal Numbers – characteristic of subjects that is
used for ranking or ordering
• Cardinal Numbers – used for referring to quantity,
measurement or number of pieces
 ASSIGNMENT

• Search for mathematical symbols with relevance to

set notation, functions and operations on such.
 TRANSLATING ENGLISH PHRASES/
SENTENCES TO MATHEMATICAL
EXPRESSIONS/ SENTENCES
Mathematical phrases (for
Examples:
examples)
The sum of two and a number
2+𝑥 The total of two and a number
addition Two increased by a number
Three augmented by four equals
seven.
3+4=7 Three plus four is equals to seven.
error The sum of three and four equal to
seven
 TRANSLATING ENGLISH PHRASES/
SENTENCES TO MATHEMATICAL
EXPRESSIONS/ SENTENCES
Examples: Mathematical phrases (for examples)
The difference of twelve and five
Twelve decreased by five
12-5
Twelve less five
subtraction Five less than twelve
Ten less two is eight.
Two less than ten is equal to 8.
10 − 2 = 8 The difference of ten and two is eight.
The difference of two and ten is eight.
error
Ten less than two is 8.
 TRANSLATING ENGLISH PHRASES/
SENTENCES TO MATHEMATICAL
EXPRESSIONS/ SENTENCES
Examples: Mathematical phrases (for examples)
The product of three and seven
3∙7
multiplication Three times seven
Twice the number seven is fourteen.
Double the seven is fourteen.
7 2 = 14
error Twice the product of two and seven is
fourteen.
 TRANSLATING ENGLISH PHRASES/
SENTENCES TO MATHEMATICAL
EXPRESSIONS/ SENTENCES
Examples: Mathematical phrases (for examples)
𝑥 ÷ 15 The quotient of a number and fifteen
division
The ratio of six and two is three.
6÷2=3 The quotient if two and six is three.
error
The ratio of two and six is three.
 TRANSLATING ENGLISH PHRASES/
SENTENCES TO MATHEMATICAL
EXPRESSIONS/ SENTENCES
Examples: Mathematical phrases (for examples)
fraction of a 1
𝑥 One-fourth of a number
number 4
additive
−𝑥 Opposite of a number
inverse
exponentiation 104 The fourth power of ten
32 The square of three
𝑥3 The cube of a number
 TRANSLATING ENGLISH PHRASES/
SENTENCES TO MATHEMATICAL
EXPRESSIONS/ SENTENCES
Examples: Mathematical phrases (for examples)
radical
4 The square root of four
expression
multiplicative 1 The multiplicative inverse of a number
inverse 𝑥 The reciprocal of a number
order of The sum of three and four multiplied by
operations 2(3 + 4) two
Twice the sum of three and four
 TRANSLATING ENGLISH PHRASES/
SENTENCES TO MATHEMATICAL
EXPRESSIONS/ SENTENCES
Examples: Mathematical phrases (for examples)
2𝑥 + 6 The sum of twice a number and six
2 The difference of five and the product
5 − ( 𝑥 ∙ 6)
3 of the two-thirds of x and six
order of The product of the difference of twice
operations (2𝑥 − 3)(4 + 3𝑥) x and three, and the sum of four and
three times x
4 The fourth power of the sum of four
(4 + 𝑥)
and a number
 SEAT WORK

PART 1
If possible, classify the entries as an expression or
a sentence. In each sentence, state the verb.
 SEAT WORK

PART 2
Translate each of the following phrases into a
mathematical expression. Use as few variables as
possible.
 GROUP WORK

Count-off to 14. Group yourselves according to

the number assigned.
Make a Venn Diagram about the comparison
and contrast of the English Language and the
Mathematical Language.
 RUBRICS
6 4 2 1
Completeness all entries and their majority of the entries minority of the the task is
parts are complete are presented, some entries are incomplete
items are missed in presented/
the task completed
Relevance provides contains substantial contains some content contains
connections and factually correct error in contents multiple obvious
between content information and information errors, missing
and to the topic information
Correctness entries are few of the items entries are the entire output
constructed with presented are presented with contains faults
accuracy inaccurate multiple errors
Quality of ideas presented are ideas presented ideas presented majority of ideas
ideas & expressed indicates a certain signposts low presented are not
content of comprehensively extent of level of substantial
presentation and with high comprehension comprehension
quality
end