Unit 2: Mathematical Language and Symbols

Topic 2: The Language of Variables

Learning Objectives

Upon the completion of this topic, you are expected to:

a. identify conventions in the mathematical language;
b. define universal and existential quantifiers; and
c. translate statements/phrases to variables or mathematical symbols using quantifiers:

Presentation of Content

Suppose we say something like “At time t the speed of a car is S. The letters t and S stand for
real numbers and they are called variables.

More generally, a variable is any letter used to stand for a mathematical object, whether or not
one thinks of that object as changing through time. (1) it has one or more values or (2) it is
equally true for all elements in a given set.

Example: Writing sentences using variables

a. Is there a number with the property doubling it and adding 5 and gives the same
result as squaring it?
b. Numbers with the property that the sum of their squares equals the square of their
sum?
c. Given any real number, its square is nonnegative.

Solution:
a. Let x be the number then 2𝑥 + 5 = 𝑥 2 .
b. 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = (𝑎 + 𝑏)2 .
c. For any real number z, 𝑧 2 ≥ 0.

Variables Used in a Mathematical Sentence

Two of the most important kinds of mathematical sentences are universal statements and
existential statements.

In mathematics, the order in which we write or say in words is crucial. We have to be precise
in what we want to say. If we mean that “for all x=3m -10, where m is an integer, x is an even
number then we should write the words and symbols in the precise order.

To help us in reading and writing mathematical statement, we must know special words that
express quantification. These are called quantifiers.
We distinguished between universal quantifiers and existential quantifiers. Some universal
quantifiers include “every”, “for all” and “any”. Some existential quantifiers include, “for
some”, “at least one” and “there exists”.

Thus, the following definition and statements illustrate the use of universal and existential
quantifiers.

Universal Statement says that a certain property is true for all elements in a set.

Definition:
Let P be a propositional function with domain of discourse D. The statement for all x, P(x)
is said to be a Universally Quantified Statement.
The statement for all x, P(x) may be written as:
“∀𝒙, 𝑷(𝒙)". The symbol ∀ means “for all” and is called the universal quantifier.

Example 7: Universal quantified statement

a. All counting numbers are greater than zero. ∀𝒄, (𝒄 ≥ 𝟎), 𝒄 ∈ Counting Numbers
b. ∀𝑥, (𝑥 2 ≥ 0), 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅
c. ∀𝑥, (𝑥 2 − 1 ≥ 0), 𝑥 ∈ 𝑍 +
d. ∀𝑥, (𝑥 2 − 1 ≥ 0), 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅
e. All birds can fly.
f. Every student in the class wear socks.

An Existential Statement says that there is at least one thing for which the property is true.

Definition:
Let P be a propositional function with domain of discourse D. The statement there exists x,
P(x) is said to be Existentially Quantified Statement .
The statement there exists x, P(x) may be written as:
“∃𝒙, 𝑷(𝒙)".
The symbol ∃ means “there exists” and is called the existential quantifier.

Example 8: Existentially Quantified Statement

a. ∃𝑥, (2𝑥 + 1 = 0), 𝑥 ∈ 𝑍
𝑥
b. ∃𝑥, (𝑥 2+1 > 0) 𝑥 ∈ 𝑍
c. ∃𝑥, (𝑥 2 > 𝑥 ), 𝑥 ∈ 𝑍 −
d. ∃𝑥, (𝑥 > 1 → 𝑥 2 = 𝑥), 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅
e. There exists an elementary student who can vote for the national election.