MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

(MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND Luzviminda T. Orilla, Ph.D.

SYMBOLS)
MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE
“THE LANGUAGE OF MATHEMATICS IS THE
SYSTEM USED BY MATHEMATICIANS TO
COMMUNICATE MATHEMATICAL IDEAS AMONG
THEMSELVES.”
Mathematics has its own language , of which we
are already familiar with. For Example the digits
0,1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 , 9
are part of our everyday lives.
These encounters could be riding a vehicle, re-loading
cellular phones ina a station; buying a particular item
from a store; taking allowances from parents or
guardians; expectations of grades in a particular
subject/course and many more.

MATHEMATICAL SYMBOL
There are many symbols in mathematics and most are used as a
precise form of shorthand. We need to be confident when using the
symbols, and to gain that confidence we need to understand their
meaning.
There are two things to help us understand their meaning; context and
convention.
CONTEXT This is the context in which we are
working; or the particular topics
being studied.
CONVENTIO This is where mathematicians and
N scientists have decided that particular
symbols will have particular
meaning.
Let us look at some symbols commonly associated with mathematical
operations. In the symbol , the words associated with this are ‘plus’, ‘add’,
‘increase’, ‘positive’.
CONTEXT

If we see the + symbol written in the sum

2+3
We understand that the context is one of the adding the two numbers,
2 and 3, to give 5.
So, here , the symbol + is an instruction to add two numbers together.
Looking at cellphone numbers with country code,
+44 927 624 5211
In this context, the + symbol means that, in addition to the usual c p
no., a person is dialing that number from overseas will need to include
the country
code (in this case 44).
So, we see that + symbol can have completely different
meanings in different contexts, and it is important to be
clear about the context.
MATHEMATICAL STATEMENTS/SENTENCES
TRANSLATED TO ENGLISH SENTENCES
In mathematics, mathematical ideas are expressed in sentences. For example,
80 x 85 + 15 = 83
100
In the symbol =, the words associated with this are ‘equals’, ‘is equal to’, ‘is
equivalent to’, ‘represents’, ‘is the same as’, ‘is’, ‘results in’.

Consider the following examples of mathematical operations, and the manner in

which these will be translated in the English language.
Mathematical Statements English Translations
3+4=7 Three plus four equals seven; Three plus four is equal to seven;
Three increased by four is seven; Three augmented by four equals seven
2 (12-4) = 16 Twice the difference of twelve and four is sixteen;
The product of two and twelve less four is sixteen
MATHEMATICA ENGLISH TRANSLATION
L STATEMENT
1. 12 + 1 = 13 Twelve plus one equals thirteen.
2. 3(8) = 24 Three times eight is equal to twenty-
four.
3. 10 – 4 = 2 The difference between ten and four
3 divided by three equals two.
4. 3(4 + 1) = 3 Thrice the sum of four and one all
5 over five is three.
5. (202) – 2 = 2 The quotient of twenty and two,
4 minus two and divided by four is
two.
MATHEMATICAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION
STATEMENT
6. 3 (11-5) = 18 Thrice the difference of eleven and five is equal
to eighteen.
7. 5(3 -2) + 4(3 -1) = 13 Five multiplied by the difference between three
and two, added by the product of 4 and the
difference between three and one is thirteen.
8. ½ (4+6) = 1 One-half of the sum of four and six all over five
5 is equal to one.
9. 2( 4 – 1) = 3 Two multiplied by the difference between four
5 -3 and one all over the difference between five and
three equals three.
10. 3 ( 4 + 1) - 6 = 3 Thrice the sum of four and one, minus six , all
3 over three is equal to three.
Translating phrases into expressions

The following common words and phrases indicate addition,

subtraction, multiplication, and division.
VARIABLE
Variables are another form of mathematical symbol. These are
used when quantities take a different values.
This is represented by letters in the alphabet. Below are some
examples of letters used to represent hidden values.

VARIABLE MEANING
T TIME
D DISTANCE
MATHEMATICAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION
STATEMENT
Let x be the variable for a
hidden number
1. 12 x = 10 - 2 Twelve of a number (x) is equal
to the difference of ten and two.
2. 3x = 5 - 2x Thrice of a number (x) equals
five minus twice the number (x).
4. 3 (x + 1) = 7 Thrice the sum of a number (x)
5 and one, divided by five is equal
to seven.
MATHEMATICAL SYMBOLS