LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students will be able to:

▪ Discuss the language, symbols, and conventions of mathematics;
▪ Perform operations on mathematical expressions; and
▪ Use mathematical language to describe and solve problems with
mathematics content
▪ Translate verbal phrases and sentences into mathematical expressions
and sentences and vice versa
 MATHEMATICS LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS

The Language, Symbols, Syntax, and Rules of Mathematics

The language of mathematics is the system used by mathematicians to communicate mathematical
ideas among themselves.
Mathematics as a language has:
• symbols to express a formula or represent a constant
• syntax to make the expression well-formed to make the characters and symbols clear and valid that do not
violate the rules.
Mathematical symbols help to determine the order of operations and other aspects of logical syntax.
• convention that dictates the meaning of a mathematical concept which is independent of the symbol
chosen to represent.
 MATHEMATICS LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS

Characteristics of Mathematics as a Language

a.Precise – able to make very fine distinctions.
b.Concise – able to say things briefly.
c.Powerful – able to express complex thoughts with
relative ease.
 MATHEMATICS LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS

Writing Mathematical Language as an Expression or a Sentence

Expression/Mathematical expression is a finite combination of
symbols that is well-formed according to rules that depend on the
context.
- A correct arrangement of mathematical symbols used to represent a
mathematical object or interest. An expression does not state a
complete thought; it does not make sense to ask if an expression is true
or false.
 MATHEMATICS LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS
Common expression types:
• Numbers
• Sets
• Functions
Examples: 5 2+3 10/2 6−2 +1 1+1+1+1

The basic syntax for entering mathematical formulas or expressions in the systems enables you to quickly
enter using 2-D notation. The most common mistake is to forget parentheses “( )”. For example, the
expression:
1/(𝑥 + 1) is different from 1/𝑥 + 1 which the system interprets as (1/𝑥) + 1.
 MATHEMATICS LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS

Mathematical Expressions

A mathematical expression is a group of characters or symbols

representing a quantity and/or an operation.
An algebraic expression is a mathematical expression which contains
numbers, variables represented by letters and operations that indicate
addition, subtraction, multiplication or division.
 MATHEMATICS LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS

Examples:
The use of expression ranges from the simple:
8x+5 (linear polynomial)
7x^2+4x-10 (quadratic polynomial)
(x-2)/(x^2+12) (rational fraction)
to the complex:
1/2π ∫_0^2π▒dθ/(a+b sin⁡ θ)
Symbol Meaning Example
+ Add 3 + 7 = 10
− Subtract 5−2=3
× Multiply 4 × 3 = 12
÷ Divide 20 ÷ 5 = 4
/ Divide 20/4 = 5
𝜋 Pi 𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 2
∞ Infinity ∞ is endless
= Equals 3 + 7 = 10
≈ Approximately equal to 𝜋 ≈ 3.141592 …
≠ Not equal to 𝜋≠2
<, ≤ Less than to, less than or equal to 2<3

>, ≥ Greater than to, greater than or equal to 5>1

Square root (radical) 4=2

° Degrees 90°
∴ Therefore 𝑎=𝑏∴𝑏=𝑎
 WORDS AND PHRASES THAT IMPLY MATHEMATICAL OPERATIONS

ADDITION SUBTRACTION MULTIPLICATIO DIVISION

N
Plus Minus Times Divided by
The sum of The difference of The product of The quotient of
Increased by Decreased by Multiplied by Per
Total Fewer than Of
More than Less than
Added to Subtracted from
Example: TRANSLATING VERBAL PHRASES INTO MATH EXPRESSIONS
Translate the following verbal phrases into mathematical expressions.
a) Three-fourths of 500 Php 3
× 500
4
b) The sum of two numbers less 11 x + y − 11, where x and y are the two numbers

c) Thirty percent of selling price 0.30x , where x is the selling price

d) Double the quantity of sales less taxes 2𝑦 − 𝑡; where y is sales and t taxes

e) The difference of gross sales and total cost 𝑦 − 𝑐, where y is gross sales and c is
total cost
 MATHEMATICS LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS

Mathematical Sentence

A mathematical sentence is analogue of an English sentence; it is correct

arrangement of mathematical symbols that states a complete thought. Sentences
have verbs. In the mathematical sentences ‘3 + 4 = 7’, the verb is ‘=’.

A sentence can be (always) true, (always) false, or sometimes true/sometimes false.

For example, the sentence 1 + 2 = 3 is true. The sentence 1 + 2 = 4 is false.
Example: TRANSLATING VERBAL SENTENCES INTO MATH SENTENCES
Translate the following verbal sentences into mathematical sentences.
a) Ten percent of sales is 5,450 Php

0.10𝑥 = 5450, where x represents sales

b) Gross sales less taxes is 7,560 Php

𝑥 − 𝑦 = 7560, where x is gross sales and y taxes

Example: TRANSLATING VERBAL SENTENCES INTO MATH SENTENCES
Translate the following verbal sentences into mathematical sentences.
c) My father’s monthly salary is twice what my mother makes in a month. Their
combined monthly salary is 27,000 Php
Let x be the father’s monthly salary and y the mother’s
𝑥 = 2𝑦
ቊ
𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 27000
d) The average of two quizzes is 85. The first quiz is 10 points higher than the
second Let x and y be the quizzes
𝑥+𝑦
= 85
ቐ 2
𝑥 = 10 + 𝑦
 MATHEMATICS LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS

Mathematical Convention

A mathematical convention is a fact, name, notation, or usage which is

generally agreed upon by mathematicians.
Symbol Meaning Example
+ Add 3 + 7 = 10
− Subtract 5−2=3
× Multiply 4 × 3 = 12
÷ Divide 20 ÷ 5 = 4
/ Divide 20/4 = 5
𝜋 Pi 𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 2
∞ Infinity ∞ is endless
= Equals 3 + 7 = 10
≈ Approximately equal to 𝜋 ≈ 3.141592 …
≠ Not equal to 𝜋≠2
<, ≤ Less than to, less than or equal to 2<3

>, ≥ Greater than to, greater than or equal to 5>1

Square root (radical) 4=2

° Degrees 90°
∴ Therefore 𝑎=𝑏∴𝑏=𝑎
Perform Operations on Mathematical Expression Correctly

The order of operations is the hierarchy of mathematical operations. It is

the set of rules that determines which operations should be done before or
after others.
MDAS
PEMDAS
BODMAS
 The order of operations or BODMAS/PEMDAS is merely a set of rules that
prioritize the sequence of operations starting from the most important to
the least important:
Step 1: Do as much as you can to simplify everything inside the
parenthesis.
Step 2: Simplify every exponential number in the numerical expression.
Step 3: Multiply and divide whenever comes first, from left to right.
Step 4: Add and Subtract whichever comes first, from left to right.
Examples:
1)Simplify the expression: 11 − 5 × 2 − 3 + 1
Solution:
= 6 ×2−3+1 (Remove the parenthesis)
= 12 − 3 + 1 (Multiply)
=9+1 (Subtract)
= 10 (Add)
Examples:
2) Evaluate 10 ÷ 2 + 12 ÷ 2 × 3
Using the PEMDAS rule, we need to evaluate the division and multiplication
before subtraction and addition. It is recommended that you put in parentheses to
remind yourself the order of operation.
From the given, 10 ÷ 2 + 12 ÷ 2 × 3
= 10 ÷ 2 + 12 ÷ 2 × 3
= 5 + 18
=2
Examples:
3) Simplify 4 − 3 4 − 2(6 − 3) ÷ 2 4) Simplify 16 − 3 8 − 3 2 ÷5
= 4 − 3 4 − 2(6 − 3) ÷ 2 2
= 16 − 3 8 − 3 ÷5
= 4 − 3 4 − 2(3) ÷ 2 = 16 − 3(5)2 ÷ 5
= 4 − 3 4 − 6) ÷ 2 = 16 − 3 25 ÷ 5
= 4 − 3 −2 ÷ 2 = 16 − 75 ÷ 5
=4+6÷2 = 16 − 15
=4+3 =1
=7
ACTIVITY
Translate the following verbal phrases into mathematical sentences.
1. Two hundred pesos is taken away from Jun's allowance, and what is left is
450 pesos.
2. The average of 10 quizzes is 85.
3. A fifth of the books in my collection and two-thirds of the books in my
father's collection make 250 books.
4. The square root of the difference of two numbers is 4
5. The area of our farm land in square meters is five times the lot area of the
town plaza plus another 250 square meters
B. Simplify the following.

1. 4 − 2 − 7 − 4 + (11 − 8)
2. 25 − 7 3 − 2 18 − 16 + 5
3. 2 −4 − 6 + 3 + (7 − 1 + 8 + 12 − 3 + 5
4. −5 − −2 + 6 − 8 4 − 7 − 4 − 2 + 2 − 1
5. 4− 8 2+6 +7 −5 +2