MMW E Worktext Chapter 2 Only

Mathematics in the
Modern World
▪ Mahid M. Mangontarum ▪ Mark P. Laurente ▪ Salma L. Naga-Marohombsar ▪ Norlailah M.
Madid ▪ Aslayn H. Datu-dacula ▪ Rodelito M. Aldema ▪ Ednelyn Ranas-Cantallopez ▪ Janet B.
Macoy ▪ Charles B. Montero ▪ Redeemtor R. Sacayan ▪ Gloria A. Rosalejos ▪ Erneta A. Intod ▪
Merry Jane S. Benitez ▪ Amerkhan G. Cabaro ▪ Alyssa Fatmah S. Mastura ▪ Raicah R. Cayongcat-
Rakim
Mathematics Department
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
1
Chapter 2. Mathematical Language
and Symbols
Importance of Language
According to Schiro (1997), one very important element in a student’s

mathematical success is his competence to communicate mathematically.
Hermann Weyl (1922) contributes that “Just as everybody must strive to learn
language and writing before he can use them freely for expression of his thoughts, here
too there is only one way to escape the weight of formulas. It is to acquire such power
over the tool that, unhampered by formal technique, one can turn to the true
problems”.
Language is a necessary tool in the communication process. Good
communication requires understanding. Everyone needs to firstly understand the
language used in communicating to successfully transmit ideas from one to another.
Hypothetical Situation:
Imagine the following scenario: you’re in a math class and the instructor passes
a piece of paper to each student. It is announced that the paper contains Study Strategies
for Students of Mathematics and that you are to read it and make comments. Upon glancing
at the paper, however, you observe that it is written in a foreign language that you do
not understand. Is the instructor being fair? Will the student be able to receive the ideas
being transmitted by the instructor? Definitely, the answer to these questions is a big
NO! The instructor is probably trying to make a point. Although the ideas in the
paragraph may be simple, there is no access to the ideas without a knowledge of the
language in which the ideas are expressed. This situation has a very strong analogy in
mathematics.
People frequently have trouble understanding mathematical ideas: not
necessarily because the ideas are difficult, but because they are being presented in a
foreign language ― the language of Mathematics.
2
Characteristics of Mathematical Language
Like any other language, mathematical language also has unique characteristics
that help mathematicians to easily convey the thoughts or ideas they want to express.
These characteristics also help every individual to communicate mathematically
without the fear of being misinterpreted. Some important characteristics of
mathematical language are as follows
1. Precise. It enables shared ideas/thoughts to be interpreted accurately with very
fine distinctions. It prevents ambiguous interpretation of the transmitted
ideas/thought.
2. Concise. It enables ideas/thoughts to be expressed completely and briefly.
3. Powerful. It enables to one express complex thoughts with relative case.
4. Devoid of emotional content. Unlike other languages, it doesn’t give
importance to associating emotions/feelings in expressing thoughts or ideas. In
communicating mathematically, sender doesn’t need emotions to successfully
transmit ideas to its receiver.
5. Nontemporal. It emphasizes that there is no past, present, or future time in
the process of mathematical communication. Everything is in “is-form”.
It is important to keep in mind that the language of Mathematics can easily be
learned, but it requires the efforts needed to learn any foreign language.
Nouns versus Sentences
In the English language, a part of speech necessary in constructing an idea

expressing a complete thought is the noun, and any idea that expresses a complete
thought is called sentence. In Mathematics, we also have nouns and sentences.
Expressions are the mathematical version of “noun”. In Mathematics, it is
also defined as a name given to a mathematical object or interest. This however does
not state a complete thought. On the other hand, the mathematical version of
“sentences” is called Sentences and these express facts or opinions that gives
complete thought.
For illustration, we will try to compare the nouns and sentences in mathematical
language to that in English language. See the following table:
3
Examples of Nouns and Sentences
English Mathematics
1
Nouns Lisa, Blackpink, Marawi City, birthday 5, 2+3, , 𝑥 − 1
2
1. Lisa is a member of the K-Pop girl 2 + 3 = 5.

group, Blackpink.
2. The capital of the Philippines is 5 − 2 = 4.
Sentences Marawi City. 𝑥 − 1 = 0.
3. Jenny invites Rose to her birthday
tomorrow.
It can be observed from this table that all sentences numbered 1 are true
sentences, whereas those sentences numbered 2 are false. The third examples are
sentences that states an opinion which is either true of false. It is true that Jenny invites
Rose to her birthday party tomorrow if Jenny really does, but if she doesn’t, then that
sentence is false. Similarly, 𝑥 − 1 = 0 is true when 𝑥 = 1. However, this is false when
𝑥 ≠ 1.
This simply means that sentences are ideas that can either be true or false but
not both.
Synonyms and Antonyms
In the English language, we have synonyms and antonyms. Synonyms are

defined as words having the same meaning while words having opposite meanings are
called antonyms.
Similarly, in Mathematics, we also have synonyms and antonyms. Expressions
that can be expressed differently are called synonyms. Examples of these are the
following:
16
1. The expression 8 can also be expressed as 5 + 3, , 23 , (10 − 3) + 1, 2 +
2
2 + 2 + 2, 2 × 4, and so on.
2. The expression 5 × 2 can also be expressed as 2 × 5, 1 × 2 × 5, and so on.
4
Antonyms in mathematics exist and are called “inverses”. There are two
different types: the additive inverse and the multiplicative inverse. Note every real
number, always has an additive and multiplicative inverse.
Examples.
1
1. The real number 8 has additive inverse −8 and the multiplicative inverse .
8
3 3
2. The additive inverse of the expression − is while its multiplicative
7 7
7
inverse is − .
3
We denote the additive inverse of any real number 𝑎 as −𝑎 and its multiplicative
inverse by 𝑎−1 . Multiplicative inverses are commonly known as reciprocals.
Conventions
Languages have conventions. In English, for example, it is conventional to

capitalize proper names like “Ana” and “Japan”. This convention makes it easy for a
reader to distinguish between a common noun (like “carol”, a Christmas song) and a
proper noun (like “Carol”, a person). Mathematics also has its conventions, which help
readers to distinguish between different types of mathematical expressions.
Mathematical conventions are defined as sets of facts, names, notations
which are widely-used in the area of Mathematics. Mathematicians abide by
conventions in order to allow readers to understand what they write without constantly
redefining basic terms. For instance, the fact that one evaluates multiplication before
addition in the expression 2 + 3 × 4 is merely conventional since PEMDAS is
mathematical convention. Another one is letter conventions. In Mathematics, letters
often have special uses. For example, letters at the beginning of English alphabet (such
as 𝑎, 𝑏, and 𝑐) usually mean constants or fixed values. In the general equation 𝑦 =
𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏. In this given equation, people may assume that 𝑎 and 𝑏 are fixed values and 𝑥
is the one that changes which in turn makes 𝑦 change. Aside from that, letters from 𝑖
to 𝑛, that is, 𝑖, 𝑗, 𝑘, 𝑙, 𝑚, 𝑛, usually mean positive integers and letters at the end of
English Alphabet, that is … , 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧, usually mean variables or unknowns. Note that
letter conventions are not rules but they are often used as such in the world of
Mathematics.
5
ACTIVITY
Watch the following video:
Math isn’t hard, it’s a language|Randy Palisoc|TEDxManhattanBeace
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6yixyiJcos
Write a 1-page essay about what you have learned after watching the said video.
REFERENCES
The Language of Mathematics by Dr. Carol JVF Burns, http://onemathematicalcat.org
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/Mathematical_convention
https://www.mathsisfun.com/mathematics-language.html

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Mathematics in the

According to Schiro (1997), one very important element in a student’s

Nouns versus Sentences

In the English language, a part of speech necessary in constructing an idea

1. Lisa is a member of the K-Pop girl 2 + 3 = 5.

Synonyms and Antonyms

In the English language, we have synonyms and antonyms. Synonyms are

Languages have conventions. In English, for example, it is conventional to

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