You’re in Math class and the teacher passes a piece
of paper to each students. It is announced that the
paper contains Study Strategies for Students of
Mathematics; 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.
"Mathematics is the language
in which God has written the
universe."
In order to be considered a language, a system of
communication must have vocabulary, grammar, syntax, and
people who use and understand it.
• Mathematics meets this definition of a language. Linguists
who don't consider math a language cite its use as a written
rather than spoken form of communication.
• Math is a universal language. The symbols and
organization to form equations are the same in every
country of the world.
• There must be
a vocabulary of
words or symbols.
• Meaning must
be attached to
the words or
symbols.
A language
employs grammar,
which is a set of
rules that outline
how vocabulary is
used.
• A syntax organizes
symbols into linear
structures or
propositions.
• A narrative or
discourse consists
of strings of
syntactic
propositions.
There must be (or
have been) a
group of people
who use and
understand the
symbols.
The vocabulary of math draws from many different alphabets
and includes symbols unique to math. A mathematical equation
may be stated in words to form a sentence that has a noun and
a verb, just like a sentence in a spoken language.
3 + 5 = 8 could be stated as “ Three
added to five equals eight.”
NOUNS in math include:
Arabic numerals (0, 5, 123.7)
Fractions (1⁄4, 5⁄9, 2 1⁄3)
Variables (a, b, c, x, y, z)
Expressions (3x, x2, 4 + x)
Diagrams or visual elements (circle, angle, triangle, tensor,
matrix)
Infinity (∞)
Pi (π)
Imaginary numbers (i, -i)
The speed of light (c)
Verbs include symbols including:
• Equalities or inequalities (=, <, >)
• Actions such as addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division
• (+, -, x or *, ÷ or /)
• Other operations (sin, cos, tan, sec)
International Rules
• Formulas are read from left to right.
• The Latin alphabet is used for parameters and
variables. To some extent, the Greek alphabet is
also used. Integers are usually drawn
from i, j, k, l, m, n. Real numbers are represented
by a, b, c, α, β, γ. Complex numbers are indicated
by w and z. Unknowns are x, y, z. Names of
functions are usually f, g, h.
.
International Rules
The Greek alphabet is used to represent specific
concepts. For example, λ is used to indicate
wavelength and ρ means density
Parentheses and brackets indicate the order in
which the symbols interact.
• The way functions, integrals, and derivatives are
phrased is uniform.
According to
Jamison (2000) the
use of language in
mathematics differs
from the language of
ordinary speech in
three important ways
1. Mathematics language is
non - temporal
2. Mathematics language is
devoid of emotional content
3. Mathematics language is
precise
MATHEMATICS: expressions versus sentences
ENGLISH MATHEMATICS
Name given NOUN EXPRESSION
to an object (person, place Examples: 5,
of interest thing) 2+3, 10÷5
A complete SENTENCE SENTENCE
thought Example: Examples
The capital of 3+4=7
Philippines is
Manila
Operational Terms and Symbols
Let’s try this!
Let’s try this!
𝟐𝒙 + 𝟔
(𝒙 + 𝟓)𝟑
ENGLISH ALGEBRAIC
EXPRESSIONS/SENTENCE EXPRESSIONS/SENTENCES
S of a number
Thrice the square 2𝑥 3 −5
A.
3
Seven plus 𝑟 to the power of 4
B. 𝑝 + 2𝑥 = 10
The sum of 𝑝 and twice of 𝑥 is 10.
C. 3𝑥 2
Eight decreased by twice a
number raised to the fifth is 𝑦. 14
D. 𝑚
=2
The ratio of the difference
between 2𝑥 3 and 5 to 3 E. 8 − 2𝑔5 = 𝑦
Fourteen divided by a number 𝑚
is equal to 2. F. 7 + 𝑟 4
NUMERICAL COEFFICIENT
a constant factor
EXPONENT multiplied to a DEGREE
the number of variable
the “highest exponent”
times a number is in the expression
multiplied by itself
2 5
𝑦 + 2𝑥 − 8
CONSTANT
VARIABLE a number with a
symbols or letters that fixed value
may have one or more LITERAL COEFFICIENT
values variable factor/s including
the exponent (𝑥 5 )
Translate the following phrases into mathematical
expression and vice versa
1 3x The product of 3 and x
2 𝑥÷𝑦 The quotient of x and y
3 2𝑥 + 5 The sum of twice of x and 5
4 A number x increased by two 𝑥+2
5 A number y divided by eight, plus seven 𝑦/8+7
6 Five less than some quantity x is 10 5 − 𝑥 = 10
A number divided by five, plus two is seven 𝑦
+2=7
7 5
LOGIC STATEMENTS
