Mathematical Language and Symbol: Lesson 1. Mathematics and English As Languages
Mathematical Language and Symbol: Lesson 1. Mathematics and English As Languages
0 10-July-2020
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
MODULE 2
MODULE OVERVIEW
Even though the words “noun”, “verb”, or pronoun” are not used in mathematics, the similarities
with the English language can be observed :
Nouns could be constants such as numbers or expression with numbers:
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
( 13 ) ,−58
12 ,2 4−
Mathematics has grammar too, but it is the mathematical logic that determines whether the
statements are true or not true, valid or not valid. Therefore, we need to view Mathematics as a
language and must learn it in a way a language is learned.
A sentence must contain a complete thought. In the English language an ordinary sentence
must contain a subject and a predicate.. Similarly, a mathematical sentence must state a complete
thought. While an expression is a name given to a mathematical object of interest. Below are
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
Combined
Mathematical English Translations
Sentences
- The sum of six and two all over four is two.
6+2 - The ratio of six plus two, and four is equal to two.
=2 - Two is the quotient when the sum of six and two is divided by
4
four.
2(x=1) -The ratio of twice the sum of a number and one , and three is
=5 equal to five.
3
Example 1
. Translate the following expression and sentences in English into
Mathematical expressions and statement or vice versa. Use the letter n to represent the
unknown.
a. A number increased by 10 .
b. 2n + 1.
c. The difference between the ages of mom and son is 27.
d. 3 n−1=23
Solution
a. n+10 or 10+n
b. The sum of twice a number and 1.
c. m−n=27
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
Your turn 1
Translate the following expression and sentences in English into
Mathematical expressions and statement or vice versa. Use the letter x to
represent the unknown.
a. Four times the square of a number
b. ( x , y )∈ A
c. x 2+ 1≠ 0
d. A sum of three consecutive numbers is eighteen.
LEARNING POINTS
A sentence must contain a complete thought. In the English language an ordinary sentence must
contain a subject and a predicate.. Similarly, a mathematical sentence must state a complete thought.
While an expression is a name given to a mathematical object of interest.
LEARNING ACTIVITY 1
B. Give your own expression and sentences that conform with the stated type and truth value .
Take note : None means no verb or connective being used.
Open means , need verification / conditions
Ee −expression∈english
E M – expression in mathematics
Se −sentence∈english
S M - sentence in mathematics
Truth Value of
Sentences/Expression Type Verb/Connectives Sentence:
True/False/Open
Ex. 3+3> 6 SM + and > False
1. SE True
2. SE False
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
3. EE None
4. SM True
5. SM False
6. EM None
7. SM None
8. EM Open
9. SE Open
10. SM True
The concept of sets was formalized by George Cantor, a German mathematician (1845-1918). He
defined set as a collection of definite distinguished objects called elements.
It is important to note that in Mathematics , there are certain conventions in the ways sets are
represented, written, and interpreted .The following examples will illustrate these conventions.
Example 1 The set is composed of five vowels of the English alphabet may be named
and can be denoted as A={ a , e , i ,o ,u } . Sets like A which has a definite
number of elements in roster method where the elements are listed . Commas are used between each
element and a pair of braces are used to enclose the list elements.
The set whose elements are all integers may be named and can be written as
Example 2
N={x∨x ∈ Z } . This is read as “Set N is the set of all values of x such that
xis an integer”. Sets like Set N which has indefinite number of elements are written in
set-builder method . This notation is used whenever it is convenient or impossible to list all the
elements of a set; it merely describes the characterizing property of its elements in terms of symbols.
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
a. Set M is the set whose elements are numbers greater than negative five but less than four .
b. Set P is the set whose elements are numbers greater than or equal to zero.
c. Set N is the set of even numbers greater than or equal to four but less than or equal to twenty.
Unit Set is a finite set that has only one element. Examples are:
o C={0}
o Set D is the set consisting of the number that is neither prime nor composite.
Infinite Set is a set where the number of elements is unlimited or not countable. Examples :
o E={… ,−6 ,−4 ,−2 ,0 , 2 , 4 , 6 , …}
o Set F is the set of positive integers
Cardinality or cardinal number of a set is the number of elements in it . For example , the
cardinal number of set A (describe above) is denoted by n ( A ) =5 . Take note that in finding
for the cardinality of a set elements that are listed more than once are counted only once. For
example the set T ={3 , 3 , 4 ,7,8 } has a cardinality of 4 and is denoted as n ( T )=4
Equivalent Sets are sets that have the same number of elements. In other words, they have the
same a cardinality. For example , set C and D are equivalent sets denoted by C Dsince they
have the one element each ; that is n ( C )=n( D) . However , Set A and Set B are not
equivalent because Set A has five elements and Set B has only four elements.
Equal sets are sets that have exactly the same elements. Examples are :
o If V ={a , e , i , o ,u } and W ={i , e , o , a , u } , then Sets V and W are equal denoted by V =W .
o If N={x∨x ∈ Z } and L={… ,−3 ,−2 ,−1 , 0 ,1 , 2 ,3 , … }, then N=L.
The symbol ∈ is used to indicate that an element belongs to a set ;while is used to indicate that
an element does not belong to a set .Example are :
o Given V ={a , e , i , o ,u } , we say that ais an element of V ” or in symbols, a ∈ V .
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
The symbol ⊂ is used to indicate that set is a proper subset of another set. By proper subset , in
given two sets A and B , every element of Set Ais also an element of Set B , but not all elements
of Set Bare elements of Set B are in Set A. Such a relation between sets is denoted by A ⊂ B and
is read as “ A is a proper subset of B.” . It is important to note that the set on the right of ⊂ is the
one with more elements .
On the other hand , the symbol ⊄ is used to indicate that a set is not a subset of another set ;
meaning not all elements of the first set are also element of the second set.
The symbol ⊆ is used to indicate that equal sets are subset of one another . Suppose we are given
two sets , V ={a , e , i , o ,u } and W ={i , e , o , a , u } . Since Sets V and W are equal sets, we say that
V is a subset of W , and conversely, W is a subset of V . In set notation , we state
V ⊆ W and W ⊆ V .
Power set is the set composed of all the subsets of a given set. For example , the power set of set
A={2 , 4 , 6 } denoted as P ( A ) , is {∅ , { 2 } , { 4 } , { 6 } , { 2,4 } , { 2,6 } , { 4,6 } , {2,4,6 } }.
Do note that an empty set is a subset of every set and every set is a subset of itself.
Sets that have common elements are called joint sets ; while those that do not have common
elements are called disjoint sets.
Your turn 3
Fill in the table below with corresponding notation of statement and
evaluate if what it states is true or false.
Your turn 4
Do you notice any relation between the number of elements in a set and
number of elements in its power set ; that is the number of subsets (proper subsets plus its
equal set)?What seems to be the pattern? Can you come up with a formula?Go and investigate! Put
your observations in the table .
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
0
1
2
3 8
4
5
6
n
In this section we will discuss the set operations such as : Union, Intersection, Difference,
Complementation, and Cartesian Product.
The union of two sets X andY is the set composed of elements that belong to either Set X and or
Set Y or both sets , and is denoted by X ∪ Y which read as X unionY .
Find A ∪ B , A ∪ C , B∪C .
Solution
A ∪ B={January,March, April,June, July}
A ∪ C={January,March, May,June, July}
B∪ C=¿{ March, April, May}
In “March”, the common element of Sets B and C is written only once in B∪C.
Your turn 5 Perform the indicated operation. Use the same sets given in example 3.
a. C ∪ B
b. A ∪ B ∪ C
The intersection of two sets X andY is the set composed of elements that belong to either Set X a
nd or Set Y or both sets , and is denoted by X ∩Y which read as X intersectionY .
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
Find D ∩ E , E ∩ F , D ∩ F
Solution
D ∩ E=∅
E ∩ F=¿ {July}
D ∩ F=¿ {May, June}
Set D and E are disjoint sets so their intersection is empty set.
Your turn 6 Perform the indicated operation. Use the same sets given in example 5.
a. F ∩ D
b. D ∩ E ∩ F
c. ( D ∩ E)∪( E ∩ F)
The difference of two sets X andY is the set of elements in set X , but its common elements with
Set of Y is taken out and is denoted by X −Y which is read as ”X minus Y . “ X −Y can be
understood also as the set composed of the elements of X with the elements of its intersection
with Y removed or in symbols, X −Y = X−( X ∩Y ) .
Example 5
Given
A=¿{January , June , July} D=¿{March, May, June} F=¿{May , June, July}
Solution
A−D=¿{January, July}
D− A=¿ {March , May}
A−F=¿{January}
F− A=¿ {May}
Your turn 7 Perform the following using the same sets given in Example 5.
a. D−F
b. F−D
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
c. ( A ∪ D )−F
d. ( F ∩ D ) −A
e. ( A ∪ F ) −( A ∩ D )
The complement of a Set X relative to a universal set U is the set of elements in U that are not in
X and is denoted by X ' (read as” X prime”). The universal set is the totality of all elements
that are included under a defined condition. X ' can be understood as the set that is composed
of all elements of U with its common elements with X taken out , or in symbols , X ' =U −X .
Solution
A' ={−5 ,−4 ,−3 ,−2 ,−1 }
B' ={−5 ,−3 ,−1 ,1 , 3 , 5}
a. ( A ∪ B)'
b. ( A ∩ B)'
c. ( A ∪ B )− A'
d. B' ∩( A−B)
The Cartesian product of two sets X and Y is the set of all possible pairs of elements and is
denoted by X ×Y (read as “the Cartesian product of X and Y ”). Each pair of elements is called
an ordered pair ( x , y ) ,where the first element xis an element of the first set X ; that is , x ∈ X;
the second element yis an element of the second set Y ; that is y ∈Y .
Find M × N , N ×M , and M × M
Solution
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
Interchanging the Sets M and N, that is M × N to N × M , will result to equivalent set but not equal
set s of ordered pairs.
Your turn 9 Perform the indicated set operations using the given sets in Example 7
a. ( M × N ) ∪ ( N × M )
b. ( M × N ) ∩ ( N × M )
c. ( M × N )−( N × M )
d. ( N ∩ M ) × ( M ∪ N )
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
Figure 1
Figure 2
Solution :
a. A ∩C is represented by all the regions common to
circles A and C. Thus A ∩C is represented by regions i and iv.
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
Figure 3
Solution:
a. A ∪ B={1.3 .5 .7 }
b. B∩ C={3.7 }
c. B− A={3 }
d. C ' ={1,5,9 }
Counting problems occur in many areas of applied mathematics. To solve these counting problems,
we often make use of a Venn diagram. In the next example, we can use Venn Diagram to help us
solve some word problems.
Example 10 A movie company is making plans for future movies it wishes to produce.
The company has done a random survey of 1000 people. The results of the
survey are shown below.
Solution
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
A Venn diagram can be used to illustrate the results of the survey. We use two overlapping circles
(see Figure 4). One circle represents the set of people who like action adventures and the other
represents the set of people who like comedies. The region i where the circles intersect represents the
set of people who like both types of movies.
We start with the information that 180 people like both types of movies and write 180 in
region i . See Figure 5.
a. Regions i and ii have a total of 695 people. So far we have accounted for 180 of these people in
region i. Thus the number of people in region ii, which is the set of people who like action
adventures but do not like comedies, is 695−180=515.
b. Regions i and iii have a total of 340 people. Thus the number of people in region iii, which is the
set of people who like comedies but do not like action adventures, is 340−180=160.
c. The number of people who do not like action adventure movies or comedies is represented by
region iv. The number of people in region iv must be the total number of people, which is 1000, less
the number of people accounted for in regions i, ii, and iii, which is 855. Thus the number of people
who do not like either type of movie is 1000−855=145.
Your turn 10 An activities director for a cruise ship has surveyed 240 passengers. Of the
240 passengers,
LEARNING POINTS
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
Sets like A={ a , e , i ,o ,u }which has a definite number of elements in roster method where the
elements are listed
Sets like Set N={x∨x ∈ Z } . This is read as “Set N is the set of all values of x such that xis
an integer”which has indefinite number of elements are written in set-builder method . This notation
is used whenever it is convenient or impossible to list all the elements of a set; it merely describes
the characterizing property of its elements in terms of symbols.
Set operations such as : Union, Intersection, Difference, Complementation, and Cartesian
Product.
LEARNING ACTIVITY 2
In exercises 1 to 5, use the roster method to write each of the given sets .
1. The set of whole numbers less than 4.
2. The set of counting numbers larger than 11 and less than or equal to 19.
3. The set of negative integers between -5 and 7.
4. The set of months of the year with a name that ends with the letter y
5. The set of integers x that satisfy 2 x−1=−11
In exercises 11 to 15, fill in the table below with the corresponding notation or statement and
evaluate if what it states is true or false . Refer to these four sets for your answer.
A={2 , 3 ,10 , 12 ,20 } C={10 , 20,30,40,50 , … }
B={2,4,6,8} D={…−4 ,−2 ,−1 , 0 ,1 , 2 ,3 , 4 , … }
Notation Statement True/ False
11. B⊂ D B is a proper subset of D.
12. B⊄C
13. C is not a subset of D.
14. A ⊂ D
15. 10∈ A 10 is an element of A .
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
'
24. ( A ∩ B)
25. B' ∪ C '
In exercises 26 to 27, if E=¿ {even counting numbers } and O=¿ {odd counting numbers}, then
which of the following are true or false .
26. (2, 3) ∈ E ×O
27. 22 ∈ E × E
In exercises 28 to 29 . Draw a Venn diagram with each of the given elements placed in the correct
region.
28. U ={2,4,6,8,10,12,14 }
A={2,10,12 }
B={4,8 }
C={−1 , 8 , 9}
29. U ={Hal, Marie, Rob, Armando, Joel, Juan, Melody}
A=¿{Marie, Armando, Melody}
B={Rob, Juan, Hal}
R=¿{Hal, Marie, Rob, Joel, Juan, Melody}
Mrs. Cruz asked her 30 students who among their mother, father, or sibling will attend the
quarterly conference. Sixteen students said their mother will attend, another 16 said their father will
attend, and 11 said their siblings will attend. Five said their mother and sibling will attend, and of
these, 3 said their father will also attend. Five said only their sibling will attend and 8 said only their
father will attend. How many students said only their mother will attend? Support your answer by
illustrating the Venn Diagram which represents the given data.
Solution
a. Lingayen is the capital of Pangasinan, so this sentence is true and it is a proposition.
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
b. The sentence “How are you?” is a question; it is not a declarative sentence. Thus it is
not a proposition.
c. You may not know whether 992 +2 is a prime number; however, you do know that
it is a whole number larger than 1, so it is either a prime number or it is not a prime
number. The sentence is either true or it is false, and it is not both true and false, so it
is a statement.
d. x +1=5 is a statement. It is known as an open statement. It is true for x ¿ 4, and
it is false for any other values of x. For any given value of x, it is true or false but not
both.
George Boole (the one who published The Mathematical Analysis of Logic in 1848) used symbols
such as p, q, r, and s to represent simple statements and the symbols ∧ ,∨ ,∼ , ⟶ and ⟷ to
represent connectives. See Table 1.
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
Solution
a. Rodrigo Duterte is not our president.
b. MMW is not an easy subject / MMW is a hard easy subject
c. The number 10 is not a prime number / The number 10 is a composite number
d. The fire engine is red .
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
Solution
a. p ∧q b. ∼ q ∧ r c. ∼ s ∨r d. q ⟶ s
Solution
a. The game will be shown on CBS and the game will be played in Atlanta.
b. The game will be shown on ESPN and the Dodgers are favored to win.
c. The Dodgers are favored to win if and only if the game will not be played in Atlanta.
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
Solution
a. Both equations are true when x=3, and both are false when x ≠ 3. Both equations have the same
truth value for any value of x, so this is a true statement.
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
b. If x=−6, the fi rst equation is true and the second equation is false. Thus this is a false statement.
Truth Table
In this section, we consider methods of constructing truth tables for a statement that involves
a combination of conjunctions, disjunctions, and/or negations. If the given statement involves only
two simple statements, then start with a table with four rows (see the table below ), called the
standard truth table form, and proceed as shown in Example 19.
p q Given
Statement
T T
T F
. F T
F F
Solution
a. Start with the standard truth table form and then include a ∼ p column.
p q ∼p
T T F
T F F
F T T
F F T
Now use the truth values from the ∼ pand q columns to produce the truth values for ∼ p ∨ q, as
shown in the rightmost column of the following table.
p q ∼p ∼ p ∨q
T T F T
T F F F
F T T T
F F T T
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
T T F T F
T F F F T
F T T T F
F F T T F
As our last step, we form the disjunction of ∼ ¿ ∨ q)with q and place the results in the rightmost
column of the table. See the following table. The shaded column is the truth table for ∼ ¿ ∨ q ¿∨ q .
p q ∼p ∼ p ∨q ∼ ¿ ∨ q) ∼ ¿ ∨ q ¿∨ q
T T F T F T row 1
T F F F T T row 2
F T T T F T row 3
F F T T F F row 4
b. In row 2 of the above truth table, we see that when p is true, and q is false, the statement
∼ ¿ ∨ q ¿∨ q in the rightmost column is true.
Compound statements that involve exactly three simple statements require a standard truth
table form with 23=8 rows.
p q r p ∧q ∼r ∼ r ∨q ( p ∧q) ∧¿ )
T T T T F T T row 1
T T F T T T T row 2
T F T F F F F row 3
T F F F T T F row 4
F T T F F T F row 5
F T F F T T F row 6
F F T F F F F row 7
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
F F F F T T F row 8
b. In row 2 of the above truth table, we see that ( p ∧q ) ∧ (∼ r ∨ q ) is true when p is true, q is true, and
r is false.
LEARNING POINTS
The term logic refers to the science that studies the principle of correct reasoning. Logic
requires the act of reasoning to form thoughts and opinions, as well as classification and
judgements. The foundation of logical argument is its proposition or statement The proposition is
either accurate (true) or not accurate (false) but not both true and false . The argument is then built
on premises. The premises are the propositions used to build the argument.
The truth value of a simple statement is either true (T) or false (F).
The truth value of a compound statement depends on the truth values of its simple statements and
its connectives.
A truth table is a table that shows the truth value of a compound statement for all possible truth
values of its simple statements.
LEARNING ACTIVITY 3
In exercises 1 to 6. Determine which of the following sentences are propositions and indicate
their truth values.
1. Legazpi is the capital of Albay.
2. 3+ 4=7
3. x + y= y + x for every pair of real numbers x and y .
4. x +3=15
5. x +1=5 if x=1
6. Answer this question.
In exercises 7 to 9 .Write each sentence in symbolic form. Use p , q , r and s as defined below.
p: Dwyane Wade is a football player.
q: Dwyane Wade is a basketball player.
r: Dwyane Wade is a rock star.
s: Dwyane Wade plays for the Miami Heat.
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
7. Dwyane Wade is a rock star, and he is not a basketball player or a football player.
8. Dwyane Wade is a basketball player, if and only if he is not a football player and he is not a rock
star.
9. It is not true that, Dwyane Wade is a football player or a rock star.
In exercises 14 to 18. Determine the truth value of the compound statement given that p is a
false statement, q is a true
statement, and r is a true statement.
14. p ∨(∼ q ∨r )
15. r ∧∼( p ∨ r)
16. ( p ∧q) ∨(∼ p ∧∼ q)
17. ( p ∧q ) ∨[(∼ p ∧∼ q) ∨q ]
18. [∼( p ∧∼q)∨r ]∧( p ∧ ∼r)
19. p ∨q
20. [ (p ∨ q ¿ ¿∧(∼r ∨q )
LEARNING ACTIVITY
REFERENCES
References :
Blay et. all, Mathematical Trips in the Modern World Outcomes-Based Approach
Nocon et. al , Essential Mathematics for the Modern World
Baltazar et. al, Mathematics in the Modern World
Aufman,Richard et. al, Mathematics in the Modern World
Mathematics in the World book from RBSI
Domantay,Gloria, et. al. College Algebra
Photo credits:
Venn diagram worksheet, mathaids.com
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
1. a. N={1,2,3,4 }
b. S={−6 }
c. Ζ−¿={−4 ,−2 ,−1 }¿
2. a. M ={ x∨−5< x <4 }
b. P={ y∨ y ≥ 0 }
c. N={x∨4 ≤ x ≤20 }
3.
4.
Number of Elements in a Set Number of Subsets
0 1
1 2
2 4
3 8
4 16
5 32
6 64
n 2n
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
10. The intersection of the three sets includes the 15 people who like all three activities.
a. Because 140 students like volleyball and 85 like both sports, there must be 140−85=55 students
who like only volleyball.
b. Because 120 students like basketball and 85 like both sports, there must be 120−85=35 students
who like only basketball.
c. The Venn diagram shows that the number of students who like only volleyball plus the number
who like only basketball plus the number who like both sports is 55 + 35 + 85=175. Thus of the 200
students
surveyed, only 200−175=25 do not like either of the sports.
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
3. a. ∼ p ∧r c. r ⟷ q
b. ∼ s ∧−r d. p ⟶∼r
5. a. True. A conjunction of two statements is true provided that both statements are true.
b. True. A disjunction of two statements is true provided that at least one statement is true.
c. False. If both statements of a disjunction are false, then the disjunction is false.
6 . a. Because the antecedent is true and the consequent is false, the statement is a false statement.
b. Because the antecedent is false, the statement is a true statement.
c. Because the consequent is true, the statement is a true statement.
7. a. Let x=6.5. Then the first inequality of the biconditional is false, and the second inequality of
the biconditional is true. Thus the given biconditional statement is false.
b. Both inequalities of the biconditional are true for x >2, and both inequalities are false for x ≤ 2.
Because both inequalities have the same truth value for any real number x, the given biconditional
is true.
8. a.
p q ∼p ∼q p ∧∼q ∼ p ∨q ( p ∧∼q ) ∨ ( ∼ p ∨q )
T T F F F T T row 1
T F F T T F T row 2
F T T F F T T row 3
F F T T F T T row 4
b. p is true and q is false in row 2 of the above truth table. The truth value of ( p ∧∼q ) ∨ ( ∼ p ∨q )in
row 2 is T (true).
9. a.
p q r ∼p ∼ p ∧r ∼ r ∨q (∼ p ∧r )∨(q ∧ ∼r)
GE7 Mathematics in the Modern World Module 2 : Mathematical Language and Symbol
T T T F F T F row 1
T T F F F T T row 2
T F T F F F F row 3
T F F F F T F row 4
F T T T T T T row 5
F T F T F T T row 6
F F T T T F T row 7
F F F T F T F row 8
b. p is false, q is true, and r is false in row 6 of the above truth table. The truth value of (∼ p ∧r )∨(q ∧ ∼r) in row
6 is T (true).