MATHEMATICS AS A

LANGUAGE
Module 2. Mathematical Language
and Symbols

• Grammatical conventions in
mathematical language.
• Sets, Functions and Binary operations
which are basic tools used in presenting
mathematical sentences and concepts
• Basic mathematical logic.
Language of Mathematics

Characteristics of Mathematics as a
Language
1.It is precise.
2.It is concise.
3.It is powerful.
4.It is non-temporal.
5.It has vocabulary and parts of speech.
Lesson 2.1 Mathematics as a Language

Like any ordinary language, mathematics also has

syntax and structure.

A mathematical expression refers to objects of interest

acting as the subject in the ordinary language.

A sentence with a complete thought is a mathematical

sentence which can be regarded as true or false.
Lesson 2.2. Basic Concepts of Mathematical
Language: Sets, Functions
and Binary Operations.

This section introduces the students to different

forms of representation of a mathematical sentence.
Intended Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

1. 2. 3. 4.
know and identify if a given perform binary
represent
demonstrate set is a function. operations on
sentences using
understanding of sets.
set notations
the basic
concepts in sets,
functions and
binary
operations.
Relations- it is a set of ordered pairs.
Ex. A = { (1,2), (2,3), (3,4)}
B = { (1,1), (-1,1), (2,4), (-2,4)}
Parts of a Relation
1. x-value
2. y-value

Domain – is the set of the x-values.

Range – is the set of the y-values.

Ex. From A, Domain = {1,2,3} Range = { {2,3,4}

From B, Domain = {1,-1,2,-2} Range = { 1,4}

NOTE: Even though the number 1 and 4 in set B is listed twice in

the set, you only note the number once in the range.
Function – it is a relation that assigns each y-value
only to one x-value.

2 Ways to Determine if a Relation is Function

1. Vertical Line Test
2. Mapping
1
2
3

4
Mapping

1. Draw two ovals.

2. In one oval, list all the elements of the domain.
In the other oval, list all the elements of the
range.
3. Draw a line connecting the pairs of domain and
range.
4. If any domain value maps to two different range
values, the relation is not a function.
 -2 1

-1

Functions 1 4

A function f assigns each element

x of set A to a unique element, y
of set B. In notations, we write,
y=fx.

1 -1
X f(x)
-2

4 1

2
Binary Operations
A binary operation takes two input elements from a
set and gives a unique result
that also belongs to the same set.

Example:

In operation addition. In “3 + 5 = 8”

The operation “+” takes two real numbers 3 and 5

and gives the result 8 number
Binary Operations
A mapping from a set A to a set B is a set of ordered
pairs (a,b)

Where a is an element of A and b is an element of B.

A binary operation on a set S is a mapping denoted by

* which assigns to
each ordered pair of elements of S a uniquely
determined element of S.
The set S is closed under the operation * which means
taking the binary operation
with any two elements of S will give a result that
belong to S
Binary Operations

Example:

Addition and multiplication of real numbers are

binary operations which combines
two real numbers to produce a unique real number

+ : (a,b) a+b
• : (a,b) a• b

where a, b, a+b, a• b ϵ R
Binary Operations
Example:
Addition and multiplication are also binary
operation on the set of integers Z.
However, Z is not closed under division because a /b
is not always an integer

Example:
Let the operation * be a binary operation on the set of
natural numbers N defined by
a*b = a2 . The set N is closed under the operation,
however it is not commutative
a*b ≠ b*a