An Introduction to the

Language of Mathematics

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 Mathematics
as a Language

Spoken

Written
LANGUAGE

Symbol

Language is a system of communication used by a particular country,

community or any group of people.
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 Mathematics
as a Language
Definition. Mathematical Language
Is a system used in the field of mathematics to communicate
mathematical ideas, concepts and theories amon others. It is distinct
and unique from the usual language that people are used to. It is also
used to communicate abstract and logical ideas.

3 Characteristics of Mathematical Language

Precise Concise Powerful

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 Mathematics
as a Language Precise
Mathematical language is able to make very fine distinction of things.

Polytechnic University of the Philippines Department of Mathematics and

 Mathematics
as a Language Precise
Mathematical language is able to make very fine distinction of things.

Polytechnic University of the Philippines Department of Mathematics and

 Mathematics
as a Language Precise
Mathematical language is able to make very fine distinction of things.

means “accurate” or “exact”.

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 Mathematics
as a Language 645

6:45 Six, Forty-Five

645 Six Hundred Forty-Five

6-4-5 Six – Four – Five

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 Mathematics
as a Language Mathematical Symbols
Used to refer certain quantities, concepts, ideas, operate, and others.

Ten Digits: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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 Mathematics
as a Language Concise
Mathematical language is able to say or write things briefly.
We can always convert mathematical language into expressions or
equations.

Example.
The sum of 2 and a number.

Five times a number.

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 Mathematics Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion
as a Language

Consider the following

fractions:

Massive objects like a

boulder is difficult to displace
compared to a stone.
The higher the mass, the
more tough to accelerate an
object and it is more easy to
accelerate an object if its mass
is too low.
Polytechnic University of the Philippines Department of Mathematics and
 Mathematics
as a Language

Big object:
20N

Small object:

20N
 Mathematics
as a Language Powerful
Mathematical language is a powerful tool because it can express
complex thoughts with elative ease.

Example.

Arc Length
Law of Acceleration
Pythagorean Theorem
Accounting Equation

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 Mathematical
Expressions vs
Mathematical
Sentences

Mathematical EXPRESSIONS
vs.
Mathematical SENTENCES

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 Mathematical
Expressions vs Definition. Mathematical Expression
Mathematical
Sentences A mathematical expression is a mathematical analogue of an English
noun. It does not state a complete thought.

Example.
-3

Definition. Mathematical Sentences

Example.

1 +6 = 7

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 Mathematical
Expressions vs Mathematical sentences have verbs.
Mathematical
Sentences

Convert into mathematical sentence the following:

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 Mathematical
Expressions vs A mathematical sentence can
Mathematical
Sentences
- Always TRUE.
- Always FALSE.
- Sometimes True / Sometimes False.
Example.
True Sentence

False Sentence

Sometimes True /
Sometimes False Sentence

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 Mathematical
Expressions vs Exercise.
Mathematical
Sentences
Tell whether the given is a mathematical expression or mathematical
sentence. If it is a mathematical sentence, identify if it is true, false, or
sometimes true / sometimes false.

Mathematical Expression
Mathematical Expression
Mathematical Sentence (Sometimes True/False)

Mathematical Sentence (True)

Mathematical Sentence (False)

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 Propositions

Propositions

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 Propositions Definition. Declarative Sentence
Declarative sentence are simply statements that gives information about
something, it could be person, animal, thing, and event. It always ends with
a period.

Definition. Proposition
A proposition is a declarative sentence that can be objectively identified
as either true or false, but not both.

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 Propositions

Polytechnic University of the Philippines Department of Mathematics and

 Propositions

If a proposition is true, Then its truth value is

TRUE and is denoted by T or 1;
otherwise, its truth value is FALSE and is
denoted by F or 0.

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 Propositional
Variables Definition. Propositional Variables

To define a proposition, say 𝑝, we usually write …

𝑝: <the given statement.>

𝑝: The sun is hot.

𝑞: Seven divides 21.
𝑟: Today is Sunday.

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 Propositions Example.

Consider the following propositions and determine which of these are true
and which are false.

𝑝: The cat is a mammal.

True
𝑞: Dogs fly.
False
u: The real number 5 is even. False
𝑟: Today is Sunday. False
t: If 3 is prime, then 9 is odd. True

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 Negation, Simple,
and Compound
Propositions

Negation, Simple, and Compound

Propositions

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 Negation
Definition. Negation of a Proposition

Example.
Let
T
F
F
T

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 Negation T
F

F
T
T

F
T
T

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 Simple
Proposition Definition. Simple Proposition
A proposition which cannot be broken down further into two or more
smaller sentences is called simple or elementary proposition.
Bea likes … WHAT?
Example.
John sold …

Grade 12 is the
final …

Note.

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 Compound Definition. Compound Proposition
Proposition
A compound proposition is a proposition formed by joining two or more
simple propositions with a connective. It conveys two or more ideas. The
four basic connectives used in logic are and (conjunction), or (disjunction),
if ... then (conditional), and if and only if (biconditional).

Example.

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 Disjunction
What is your
plan this Sunday Either I will drink a
afternoon? coffee in Starbucks
alone or I’ll go with
my boyfriend.

One day, a single lady

received a message from a
guy who admires her …

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 Disjunction Definition. Disjunction
Let p and q be propositions. The disjunction of p and q, denoted by p ∨ q,
is
the proposition “p or q”. The disjunction p ∨ q is false only when both p
and
q are false,
Example. Letand is true otherwise.

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 Disjunction

Either Charice will hold a concert in Tutuban Mall or she will

brush her teeth.

Either Charice will not hold a concert in Tutuban Mall or the dog
is a mammal.

Charice will brush her teeth or the dugong is not a mammal.

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 Disjunction Example. Let

Either Zion is watching television or he is eating pizza.

It is not true that Zion is either watching television or eating
pizza.

Zion is either watching television or eating pizza.

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 Conjunction
Where are you at when the
crime happened? And what I was in Manila and
is the color of your attire wearing a blue shirt.
that time?

A person commits
a crime
somewhere in
Batangas …

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 Conjunction Definition. Conjunction
Let p and q be propositions. The conjunction of p and q, denoted by p ∧ q, is
the proposition “p and q”. The conjunction p ∧ q is true only when both p and
q are true, and is false otherwise.

Example. Let

Note: Notice that the connective “while” is also used to make the sentence
more pleasing to the ear.
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 Conjunction
James is not doing his homework but he is playing basketball.

James is doing his homework but he is not playing basketball.

It is not true that James is doing his homework and playing
basketball.
It is not the case that James is doing his homework and playing
basketball.
It is not true that James is playing basketball and not doing his
homework.

Note: Double negations are very important and plays a crucial role in logic.

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Conditional
Statement Definition. Conditional Statement
Let p and q be propositions. The conditional statement p → q is the
proposition “If p, then q.” or “p implies q”. In the conditional
statement p → q, p is called the hypothesis (or antecedent or premise) and q
is called the conclusion (or consequence). The conditional statement p → q
is false when p is true and q is false, and true otherwise.

Example. Let

T
T

F
Conditional
Statement
F

If not every real number has an additive inverse , then 5 is not odd. T

Other variations Note:

Other construction of conditional statements are
allowed as long as the grammar is correct and the
essence of your point is there.
 Conditional
Statement Example.

1. Passing a driver’s test is required to have a driver’s license.

Other variations:
If one has a driver’s license, then one passed the driver’s test.
 Conditional
Statement Example.

1. Passing a driver’s test is required to have a driver’s license.

Other variations:
If one has a driver’s license, then one passed the driver’s test.

2. Finishing Trigonometry is sufficient to have a basic understanding of Analytic

Geometry.
If one has finished Trigonometry, then one has basic understanding of
Analytic Geometry.
 Conditional
Statement Example.

1. Passing a driver’s test is required to have a driver’s license.

Other variations:
If one has a driver’s license, then one passed the driver’s test.

2. Finishing Trigonometry is sufficient to have a basic understanding of Analytic

Geometry.
If one has finished Trigonometry, then one has basic understanding of
Analytic Geometry.

3. He must exert his efforts in courting if he want to hear “yes” from me.
If he want to hear “yes” from me, he must exert his efforts in courting.
 Conditional
Statement

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Biconditional
Statement Definition. Biconditional Statement
Let p and q be propositions. The biconditional statement p ↔ q is the
proposition “p if and only if q” (or simply “p iff q”). The biconditional
statement p ↔ q is true only if p and q have the same truth values, and is
false otherwise.

This biconditional statement can also formed If we combine the converse of a

conditional statement using conjunction. That is,
Biconditional
Statement Example. Let

A figure is a triangle iff it has exactly three sides.

Biconditional
Statement Example. Let

Today is Monday iff we have a Mathematics in the Modern World class.

 Truth Table
Given a proposition, its TRUTH TABLE is a diagram in table
form that is used to show all its possible truth values.

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Definition.
A compound proposition that is always true, no matter what
the truth values of the propositional variables that occur in
it, is called a TAUTOLOGY. A compound proposition that
is always false is called a CONTRADICTION. A
compound proposition that is neither a tautology nor a
contradiction is called a CONTINGENCY
 Truth Tables

Solution.

Conjunction Disjunction

1 0
1 1 0
0 0
1 0 0
Conditional Biconditional 1 1
0 1 1
1 1
0 0 1
CONTINGENCY
 Tautology

Solution.

Conjunction Disjunction 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1

1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1

0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Conditional Biconditional 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1

0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1
TAUTOLOGY 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
 Contradiction Example. If I study hard, then I wll graduate in college. At the same time, I study
hard, but I will not graduate.

Sentential Form:

Conjunction Disjunction

1 0 0 0
1 1
0 1 1 0
1 0
1 0 0 0
0 1
1 1 0 0
Conditional Biconditional 0 0

CONTRADICTION