MMW – Prelim

Importance of Mathematic Language Grammar of Mathematical Language

- one very important element in a student’s mathematical success Four Basic Concepts
is his competence to communicate mathematically (Schiro, 1997)
a. Sets
Characteristics of Math Language  Collection of objects such as numbers or points

a. Precise b. Functions
 Marked by exactness and accuracy  Transform one mathematical object into another (f(x))
 Behave like nouns when used in mathematical sentences
b. Concise
 Brief but comprehensive c. Relations
 Giving a lot of information clearly and in a few words.  Behave like adjectives
 Refers to a property rather than an object
c. Powerful  Statement of relationship
 Having great power or strength Ex. “Equals” and “is an element of”

d. Nontemporal d. Binary Operations

 No boundaries  Acts like a conjunction that sits between two objects (nouns)
Ex. (+, - , *, /, ^)
Expressions
Mathematics
- Noun given to a math object/ symbol
- All about:
Sentences
a. Unbelievable patterns of number formed by nature and of the
- States a complete thought universe

Synonyms b. Language in different forms like patterns, shapes, music etc.

- Mathematical objects have different names

c. What our eyes can see, ears can hear and even what we can
Ex. 8, 5+3, 16/2
perceive in our physical environment
Conventions
- Language we understand
- help distinguish different types of mathematical expressions - Formal system of thought for recognizing, classifying and
exploiting patterns (Stewart)
- Great secret uncovered by mathematics:
Nature’s patterns are not just there to be admired; they are
vital clues to the rules that govern natural processes.
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Common notions associated with Mathematics: b. Helps us become better persons

c. Helps make the world a better place to live in
a. Numbers and counting (operations)
b. Numeric and Geometric Patterns Symbolic Logic
c. Patterns of movement
- Studies relationships of natural language by using symbols
What is it for? - Main ingredients are statements and connectives

a. Organize patterns and regularities as well as irregularities Sentences

b. To be able to predict
c. To help us control weather, epidemics - Assertion of something that can be either true or false
d. Provides tool for calculations
Simple Statements
e. Provides new questions to think about
- Do not contain other statements as their parts
What is it all about?
- Represent simple statements using P, Q, R
a. Numbers, symbols, notations
Connectives
b. Operations, equations, functions
c. Processes and “thingification” of processes (that are abstractions) - Join simple statements into more complex statements, called
d. Proof – a story rather than a sequence of statements compound statements
- Most common:
And / but “∧”
How is it done?
Or “∨”
a. With curiosity (Sherlock Holmes analogy) If …, then “”
b. With a penchant for seeking patterns and generalities - “operation” not (-) turns a single statement into its negation and is
(inquisitiveness) not a connective
c. With a desire to know the truth - Parentheses are used for punctuation
d. With trial and error
e. Without fear of facing more questions and problems to solve Simple Statements

Who uses it? p p is true (Assertion)

¬p p is false (Negation)
a. Mathematicians: pure and applied
b. Scientists: Natural and Social Connectives and compound statements
c. Practically everyone
p∧q p and q (Conjunction)
Why is it important? p∨q either p or q, or both (Disjunction)
p→q if p then q (Conditional)
a. Puts order in disorder p↔q p if and only if q (Biconditional)
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*connective or, in logic, has an inclusive meaning

Truth Table

- Every logical statement, simple or compound, is either true or

false
- Truth value of a statement is true (T) when the statement is true;
De Morgan’s Laws
- and false (F) when the statement is false
- Summarizes all possible truth values of a statement (A) ¬(p∧q) is logically equivalent to (¬p)∨¬q.
(B) ¬(p∨q) is logically equivalent to (¬p)∧¬q.

Conditional

The conditional p→q can be equivalently translated as

q is necessary for p
p is sufficient for q (or p only if q)

Simple Bi – Conditional

- Truth table for negation Bi-implication P ←→ Q is well-named as such since it is actually

- Truth values are always the opposite of the original the same as
(P →Q )∧(Q → P).

Tautology

- The statement is a tautology if the output in truth table contains

entirely of T

Logical Equivalence

- Two statements are logically equivalent when their truth tables

are identical
Ex.
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Contradiction  universal quantifier: ∀ read, “for all,” or “for every;”

 existential quantifier: ∃ read, “there exists;”
- The statement is a contradiction if the output in truth table
 uniqueness quantifier: ∃! “unique.”
contains entirely of F
Cockroft Report (1982)

- Mathematics is useful because it provides a means of

communication which is powerful, concise and unambiguous

Problem solving

- Ability to:
Negation
a. Make choices
- The negation ¬(p→q) is logically equivalent to the conjunction p∧ b. Interpret
c. Formulate
¬q
d. Model and investigate problem situations
Converse e. Communicate solutions effectively

- The converse statement is obtained by interchanging antecedent Reasoning

and consequent.
- Sophisticated capacity for logical thought and actions such as:
q →p
a. Analyzing
Inverse b. Proving
c. Evaluating
- The inverse statement is obtained by negating the antecedent d. Explaining
and the consequent e. Inferring
(¬p)→¬q. f. Justifying
g. Generalizing
Contrapositive
Inductive
- It is obtained by both negating the antecedent and the
consequent and by interchanging them - generates a conclusion based on the examination of specific
(¬q)→¬p. examples (the conclusion formed is called conjecture – it may or
may not be correct)
- Specific  whole
Quantifiers -

- The three quantifiers used by nearly every professional

mathematician are as follow:
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Deductive Premise Indicators

- generates a conclusion by applying general assumptions, a. Because e. since

procedures, or principles b. For f. given that
- Whole  specific c. As g. in as much as
- d. As indicated by h. in view of the fact that

Conclusion Indicators
R – representation (asked, given)
a. Therefore e. thus
E – equation (formula) b. Accordingly f. it follows that
c. Hence g. so
S – solution (computation, proof) d. Consequently h. we may infer that
F A – final answer Statements
C – checking (can be written or done mentally) - Building blocks of arguments
- Group of concepts the purpose of which is to assert or claim
Reasoning
something.
- Form of thinking; not all thinking is reasoning - It is always either true or false
- Mental process in which the mind links thought together in a way - Expressed through declarative sentences
that one thought supports another thought
Sentence
Argument
- Group of words that expresses a complete thought
- Claim put forward and defended with reasons
Important Things About Statements
- Composed of premise(s) and a conclusion
a. Premises - A sentence may be used to express more than one statement
 Statements in an argument offered as evidence or - Two or more sentences are different from each other because
reasons in support of another statement they consist of different sets of words differently arranged, may
be in the same context, have the same meaning and may be
b. Conclusion used to assert the same statement.
 Statement in an argument that the premises are intended - A statement can sometimes be expressed as a phrase or an
to support or prove incomplete clause rather than as a complete declarative sentence.
- A statement can also be expressed in non-verbal means
- Group of statements in which one statement is claimed to be true
on the basis of another statement
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Concepts 4. Explanations
 Tries to show why something is the case
- Building blocks of a statement
- Formed through the process of abstraction in which the mind Truth
grasps the essence of a thing
- Expressed through terms - Conformity of the statement to reality
*Term – word or group of words that is used to express a concept
Logic

- Connection between the premises and conclusion of an argument

Mental Operation Product Expression
Soundness
1. Abstraction Concept Term
- Property of an argument that is achieved when both truth and
logic are present
2. Judgment Statement Sentence
Criteria for a Sound Argument
3. Reasoning Argument Argument
1. All premises are true
2. The argument is logical
Non – argumentative Discourse
Critical Thinking
1. Reports
 Focused on exercising objective, fair and skilled judgment and
 Purpose of a report is to convey information
analysis of ideas, beliefs and arguments
 Aims to correct what is right
2. Unsupported Opinions
 Statements of beliefs or opinions are statements about
 Not focused on finding faults or weaknesses in a particular
what a speaker or writer happens to believe. These can
person or thing
be true or false, rational or irrational
 Does not aim to put down a person
3. Conditional Statements Critical Thinking Skills
 A conditional statement contains an if-then relationship.
 It is made up of two basic components 1. Interpretive Skill
a. (1) antecedent (if-clause)and  Analysis of language and awareness of its complexities
b. (2) consequent (then-clause).
2. Verification Skill
 Conditional statements are not arguments because there  Knowing the truth or falsity of statements
is no claim that one statement is true because of the other
statement.
 MMW – Prelim

3. Reasoning Skill
 Identifying the criteria of a good argument

4. Art of Questioning
 Ability to ask relevant questions to challenge the accuracy of
one’s statement, ideas or arguments

Value of Critical Thinking

1. Focuses on one’s higher order thinking skills (HOTS)

The active, intelligent evaluation of ideas and information.

It teaches us a wide range of strategies and skills that can greatly

improve our ability to engage in such critical evaluations.

2. Critical thinking can help us avoid making foolish personal

decisions.

3. Filipinos who are citizens of a democratic society, the Philippines,

must have the ultimate say over what programs and policies the
government should implement.

The future of our country depends heavily on the kinds of choices

and decisions we make during elections, mass actions and
political reforms.

4. Mastering critical thinking skills is a matter of self-respect.

One of the fundamental truths of the human condition is that most

people, most of the time, believe what they are told, e.g. people
used to believe that the earth was the center of the universe.

It diminishes us as persons if we let others do our thinking for us.

If we are not prepared to think for ourselves, and to make the

effort to learn how to do this well, we will always remain slaves to
the ideas and values of others and to our own ignorance.