Module 2

San Jose Community College
College of Education
Malilipot, Albay
SPEAKING MATHEMATICALLY
MODULE 2
Section 2.1: Variables
In Algebra, a variable is an alphabet which is used to represent the unknown number. It represents the value. A variable is a
quantity that may be changed according to the mathematical problem. The generic letters which are used in many algebraic expressions
and equations are x, y, z. In other words, a variable is a symbol for a number where the value is not known.
For example, x + 5 = 10
Here “x” is a variable.
The value of the variable “x” can be easily found by solving the equation. In this case, if the equation is solved, the value of the
variable “x” is obtained as 5. It means that x = 5.
Similarly, the term variable is used in Statistics also. In Statistics, a variable may be sometimes called a data item. It represents
the number/characteristics that can be measured. For example, sex, age, income, capital expenditure are examples of variables in
Statistics
EXAMPLE 1 Writing Sentences Using Variables
Use variables to rewrite the following sentences more formally.
a. Are there numbers with the property that the sum of their squares equals the square of their sum?
b. Given any real number, its square is nonnegative.
SOLUTION:
a. Are there number 𝑎 and 𝑏 with the property that 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 = (𝑎 + 𝑏)2 ?
Or: Are there numbers 𝑎 and 𝑏 such that 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 = (𝑎 + 𝑏)2 ?
Or: Do there exist any numbers 𝑎 and 𝑏 such that 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 = (𝑎 + 𝑏)2 ?
b. Given and number 𝑟, 𝑟 2 is nonnegative.
Or: For any real number 𝑟, 𝑟 2 ≥ 0.
Or: For all real numbers 𝑟, 𝑟 2 ≥ 0.
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING 1
Use variables to rewrite the following sentences more formally.
a. Are there numbers whose squares are smaller than the numbers themselves?
b. A prime number is an integer greater than 1 whose only positive divisors are 1 and itself?
Some Important Kinds of Mathematical Statements
Three of the most important kinds of sentences in mathematics are universal statements, conditional statements, and existential
statements.
Universal Statement – says that a certain property is true for all elements in a set.
(For example: All positive integers are greater than zero)
Conditional Statement – says that if one thing is true, some other thing also has to be true.
(For example: If 378 is divisible by 18, then 378 is divisible by 6)
Existential Statement – Given a property that may or may not be true, it says that there is at least one thing for
which the property is true. (For example: There is a prime number that is even)
Universal Conditional Statements

Universal statements contain some variations of the words "𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑙" and conditional statements contain versions of the words
"𝑖𝑓 − 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛". A universal conditional statement is a statement that is both universal and conditional. Here is an example;
For all animals 𝑎, if 𝑎 is a dog, then 𝑎 is a mammal.
One of the most important facts about universal statements is that they can be written in ways that make them appear to be
purely universal or purely conditional. For example, the previous statement can be written in a way that makes its conditional nature
explicit but its universal nature implicit:
If 𝑎 is a dog, then 𝑎 is a mammal.
Or: If an animal is a dog, then the animal is a mammal.
The statement can also be expressed so as to make its universal nature explicit and its conditional nature implicit:
For all dogs 𝑎, 𝑎 is a mammal.
Or: All dogs are mammal.
The crucial point is that the ability to translate among various ways of expressing universal conditional statements is enormously
useful for doing mathematics and many parts of computer science.
EXAMPLE 2 Rewriting a Universal Conditional Statement
Fill in the blanks to rewrite the following statement:
For all real numbers 𝑥, if 𝑥 is nonzero then 𝑥 2 is positive.
a. If a real number is nonzero, then its square __________.
b. For all nonzero real number 𝑥, __________.
c. If 𝑥 __________, then __________.
d. The square of any nonzero real number is __________.
e. All nonzero real numbers have __________.
SOLUTION
a. is positive
b. 𝑥 2 is positive
c. is a nonzero real number, 𝑥 2 is positive
d. positive
e. positive squares (or : squares that are positive)
CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 2
Fill in the blanks to rewrite the following statement:
For all real numbers 𝑥, if 𝑥 is greater than 2, then 𝑥 2 is greater than 4.

a. If a real number is greater than 2, then its square is __________.
b. For all real numbers greater than 2, __________.
c. If 𝑥 __________, then __________.
d. The square of any real number greater than 2 is __________.
e. All real numbers greater than 2 have __________.
Universal Existential Statements

A universal existential statement is a statement that is universal because its first part says that a certain property is true for all
objects of given type, and it is existential because its second part asserts the existence of something. For example:
Every real number has an additive inverse.
In this statement, the property “has an additive inverse” applies universally to all real numbers. “Has an additive inverse” asserts
the existence of something – an additive inverse – for each real number. However, the nature of the additive inverse depends on the real
number; different real numbers have different additive inverse. Knowing that an additive inverse is a real number, you can rewrite this
statement in several ways, some less formal and some more formal.
All real numbers have additive inverse.
Or: For all real numbers 𝑟, there is an additive inverse for 𝑟.
Or: For all real numbers 𝑟, there is a real number 𝑠 such that 𝑠 in an additive inverse for 𝑟.
One of the most important reasons for using variables in mathematics is that it gives you the ability to refer to quantities
unambiguously throughout a lengthy mathematical argument, while not restricting you to consider only specific values for them.
EXAMPLE 3 Rewriting a Universal Existential Statement
Fill in the blanks to rewrite the following statement: Every pot has a lid.
a. All pots __________.
b. For all pots 𝑃, there is __________.
c. For all pots 𝑃, there is a lid 𝐿 such that __________.
SOLUTION
a. Have lids.
b. a lid for 𝑃
c. 𝐿 is a lid for 𝑃
CHECK YOUR PROGRESS
Fill in the blanks to rewrite the following statement: All bottles have cap.
a. Every bottle __________.
b. For all bottles 𝐵, there __________.
c. For all bottles 𝐵, there there is a cap 𝐶 such that __________.
Existential Universal Statement

It is a statement that is existential because its first part asserts that a certain object exists and is universal because its second
part says that the object satisfies a certain property for all things of a certain kind. For example:
There is a positive integer that is less than or equal to every positive integer.
This statement is true because the number one is a positive integer, and it satisfies the property of being less than or equal to
every positive integer. We can rewrite the statement in several ways, some less formal and some more formal:
Some positive integer is less than or equal to every positive integer.
Or: There is a positive integr 𝑚 that is less than or equal to every positive integer.
Or: There is a positive integr 𝑚 such that every positive integer is greater than or equal to 𝑚.
Or: There is a positive integr 𝑚 with the property that positive integer 𝑛, 𝑚 ≤ 𝑛.
EXAMPLE 4 Rewriting an Existential Universal Statement
Fill in the blanks to rewrite the following statement in three different ways.
There is a person in my class who is at least as old as every person in my class.
a. Some __________ is at least as old as __________.
b. There is a person 𝑝 in my class such that 𝑝 is __________.
c. There is a person 𝑝 in my class with the property that for every person 𝑞 in my class, 𝑝 is __________.
SOLUTION
a. person in my class ; evry person in my class.
b. at least as old as every person in my class.
c. at least as old as 𝑞.
CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 4
Fill in the blanks to rewrite the following statement in three different ways.
There is a bird in his flock that is at least as heavy as every bird in the flock.
a. Some __________ is at least as heavy as __________.
b. There is a bird 𝑏, in his flock such that 𝑏 is __________.
c. There is a bird 𝑏 in this flock with the property that for every bird 𝑏 in the flock, 𝑏 is __________.
NOTE: Write your answers in CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 1, 2, 3, and 4 in a yellow pad paper.

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San Jose Community College

Section 2.1: Variables

Universal Conditional Statements

For all real numbers 𝑥, if 𝑥 is greater than 2, then 𝑥 2 is greater than 4.

Universal Existential Statements

Existential Universal Statement

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