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Mathematics in The Modern World Lesson2

This document discusses mathematical language and symbolism. It notes that mathematical language is precise, concise, and powerful. Expressions are used in mathematics analogous to nouns, naming mathematical objects of interest. Mathematical sentences use expressions and have verbs like the equal sign, just as English sentences have verbs. The document provides examples of mathematical expressions and sentences and discusses conventions to distinguish types of expressions.

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April Razo
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80 views

Mathematics in The Modern World Lesson2

This document discusses mathematical language and symbolism. It notes that mathematical language is precise, concise, and powerful. Expressions are used in mathematics analogous to nouns, naming mathematical objects of interest. Mathematical sentences use expressions and have verbs like the equal sign, just as English sentences have verbs. The document provides examples of mathematical expressions and sentences and discusses conventions to distinguish types of expressions.

Uploaded by

April Razo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Mathematics in the modern world

Lesson II : Mathematical language


and symbol
Studie Strategieën voor
studenten wiskunde;
Characteristic of mathematical language:

The language of mathematics makes it easy to


express the kinds of thoughts that
mathematicians like to express. It is:
• Precise (able to make very fine distinctions);
• Concise (able to say things briefly);
• Powerful (able to express complex thoughts
with relative ease).
Vocabulary Versus Sentences
• Every language has its vocabulary (the words),
and its rules for combining these words into
complete thoughts (the sentences).
Mathematics is no exception.
E.g:
ENGLISH: Nouns Versus Sentences
• In English, nouns are used to name things we
want to talk about (like people, places, and
things); whereas sentences are used to state
complete thoughts. A typical English sentence
has at least one noun, and at least one verb.
MATHEMATICS: Expressions Versus
Sentences
• The mathematical analogue of a ‘noun’ will be called an
expression. Thus, an expression is a name given to a
mathematical object of interest. Whereas in English we
need to talk about people, places, and things, we’ll see
that mathematics has much different ‘objects of interest’.
ENGLISH MATHEMATICS
Name given to an object NOUN (person, place, EXPRESSION
of interest: thing) Examples: 5 , 2 + 3 , 1/2
Examples: Carol, Idaho,
book
A complete thought: SENTENCE Examples: SENTENCE Examples:
• The capital of Idaho is 3+4=7
Boise. 3+4=8
• The capital of Idaho is
Pocatello.
Ideas regarding sentences: sentences
have verbs
• Just as English sentences have verbs, so do
mathematical sentences. In the mathematical
sentence ‘ 3 + 4 = 7 ’, the verb is ‘ = ’. If you
read the sentence as ‘three plus four is equal
to seven’, then it’s easy to ‘hear’ the verb.
Indeed, the equal sign ‘ = ’ is one of the most
popular mathematical verbs.
Conventions In Languages
• Languages have conventions. In English, for
example, it is conventional to capitalize proper
names (like ‘Carol’ and ‘Idaho’). This convention
makes it easy for a reader to distinguish
between a common noun (like ‘carol’, a
Christmas song) and a proper noun (like
‘Carol’). Mathematics also has its conventions,
which help readers distinguish between
different types of mathematical expressions.
EXERCISES
• I. Circle the verbs in the following sentences:
a) The capital of Idaho is Boise.
b) The capital of Idaho is Pocatello.
c) 3 + 4 = 7 d) 3 + 4 = 8
• II. TRUE or FALSE:
a) The capital of Idaho is Boise.
b) The capital of Idaho is Pocatello.
c) 3 + 4 = 7
d) 3 + 4 = 8
Fill in the blanks: Identify whether English noun,
English sentence, Mathematical sentence or
expression
________1. cat
________ 2. 2
________ 3. The word ‘cat’ begins with the letter ‘ k ’.
________ 4. 1 + 2 = 4
________ 5. 5 − 3
________ 6. 5 − 3 = 2
________ 7. The cat is black.
________ 8. x 9. x = 1
________ 10. x − 1 = 0
________ 11. t + 3
________ 12. t + 3 = 3 + t
________ 13. This sentence is false.
________ 14. x + 0 = x
________ 15. 1 · x = x
________ 16. Hat sat bat.
Classify the entries in the list below as:
• an English noun, or a mathematical expression
• an English sentence, or a mathematical sentence In each
sentence (English or mathematical), circle the verb.
______a) Carol
______ b) Carol loves mathematics.
______ c) The name ‘Carol’ begins with the letter ‘ C ’. d) 7
______ e) 3 + 4
______ f) 7 = 3 + 4
______ g) 3 + 4 = 7
______ h) 7 = 3 + 5
______ i) t
______ j) t = 2
______ k) 0 = 2 − t
______ l) t − 1
______ m) t − 1 = 1 − t
______ n) t + t + t
______ o) t − 0 = t
______ p) 0 = 1
Classify each entry as a mathematical expression
(EXP), or a mathematical sentence (SEN).
• Classify the truth value of each entry that is a
sentence: (always) true (T); (always) false (F);
or sometimes true/sometimes false (ST/SF).
The first two are done for you.
(sample) 1+2 EXP
(sample) 1 + 2 = 3 SEN, T
a) 1/2
b) x − 1
c) x − 1 = 3
d) 1 + 2 + x
e) x ÷ 3
f) x ÷ 3 = 2
g) 1 + 2 + x = x + 1 + 2
I. Use the English noun ‘Julia’ in three sentences: one that
is true, one that is false, and one whose truth cannot be
determined without additional information.
II. Use the mathematical expression ‘ 3 ’ in three
sentences: one that is true, one that is false, and one
whose truth cannot be determined without additional
information.
II. Use the mathematical expression ‘ x ’ in three sentences:
one that is always true, one that is always false, and one
whose truth cannot be determined without additional
information.

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