Binalonan, Pangasinan
College of Information Technology
2nd Semester A.Y 2025-2026
MODULE 3
MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS
Course Title: Mathematics in the Modern World
Course Code: GE 4
Name: _____________________________________ Course and Year: ___________
I. Module Objectives
At the end of the course, the student should be able to:
• Discuss the language symbols, symbols, and conventions used in mathematics:
• Categorized statements into mathematical and mathematical sentence:
• Differentiate mathematical expression to mathematical equation:
• Identify operational terms in English statement:
• Convert English expression to mathematical sentence, and vice versa
II. Lecture and Discussions
CHARACTERISTICS OF MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE
Language is the system of words, signs and symbols which people use to express ideas, thoughts and feelings. Language consists
of the words, their pronunciation and the methods of combining them to be understood by a community. Language is a systematic
means of communicating ideas or feelings by the use of conventionalized signs, sounds, gestures or marks having understood
meanings.
Every science has its own lingo and word usage. Mathematical language is the system used to communicate mathematical ideas.
The language of Mathematics is more precise than any other language one may think of. Like other languages, it has its own
grammar, syntax, vocabulary, word order, synonyms, negations, conventions, idioms, abbreviations, sentence structure and
paragraph structure. It has certain language features unparalleled in other languages such as representation. The language also
includes a large component of logic. The ordinary language which gradually expands to comprise symbolism and logic leads to
learning mathematics and its useful application to problem situations.
1. Precise: Able to make very fine distinction based on definition.
Example: A triangle is different to a circle based on definition.
2. Concise: Able to say things briefly because it has different symbols in it.
Example: Twice a number eight is sixteen. (2x8=16)
3. Powerful: Able to express complex thoughts with relative ease.
Example: “3+4” means we need to add 3 and 4 to get
Prepared by:
ANGELINE M. GAMOSO,LPT
Instructor
Binalonan, Pangasinan
EXPRESSIONS vs. SENTENCES
Mathematical expression is a name given to any mathematical object of interest. It does not state a complete thought.
Mathematical sentence express a complete thought, it asks about the truth of a sentence. It is either True or False or
Sometimes true or sometimes false.
MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSION MATHEMATICAL SENTENCE
1. 5 1. 5 is an odd number
2. 2+5 2. 2 + 5 = 7
3. 5 x 6 3. 5 x 6 = 30
4. (4 + 5) - 2 4. (4 + 5) – 2 = 7
MATHEMATICAL OPERATIONS and SYMBOLS and THEIR WORD EXPRESSIONS
OPERATION WORD EXPRESSION
Addition + Add, added to, plus, the sum, more than, total of, increased by
Subtraction - Subtract, minus, less than, subtracted from, decreased by, reduced by,
difference, less, diminished by
Multiplication x or ( ) Multiply, times, product of, times as much as, multiply by
Division ÷ or / Divided, divided by, quotient, per, ratio of, equal amounts
Equation = Equals, is/are, was/were, results, exactly as, equivalent to, as similar to
Writing Expression and Equations are numbers and/or variables that are connected by operation.
An Equation usually has words like “equals”, “is equal to” or “is”.
Example 1: Convert the English sentence into a mathematical equation. “Twelve and a number is sixteen”
Step 1: Identify the variable/s and/or constants
Constant: Twelve 12
Sixteen 16
Variable: a number x
Step 2: Determine the connectors/operations.
Connectors: and +
Is =
Step 3: Translate the constants, variables, and connectors/operations into symbols
Example 2: Write each phrase or sentence as an algebraic equation
PHRASE/SENTENCE ALGEBRAIC FORM
1. Twice as old as Tom is 30 2𝑔 = 30
2. Grace’s age divided by 5 all less than 3 − (ℎ ÷ 5) = 1
three is one
3. Elizabeth’s age multiplied by three is 3𝑘 = 45
forty-five
4. The ratio of twenty-four and the number (24 ÷ 𝑦) = 6
of workers is 6
5. Amy’s age less two is twenty-one 𝑓 − 2 = 21
Prepared by:
ANGELINE M. GAMOSO,LPT
Instructor
Binalonan, Pangasinan
Example 3: Write each mathematical sentence in words
ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSION ENGLISH SENTENCE
1. 6 + a = 40 Six more than a number is forty
2. 5b = 40 Product of 5 and a number is forty
3. c ÷ 5 = 40 The ratio of a number and 5 is forty
4. 2m – 4 =40 Four less than twice a number is forty
OTHER MATHEMATICAL SYMBOLS AND THEIR MEANING
SYMBOLS MEANING
∑ the sum of
Ǝ there exist
o for every (for any)
∈ element of (or member of)
∉ not an element of (or not member of)
⊆ subset of
⟹ if…, then
ℝ set of real numbers
ℕ set of natural numbers
ℤ set of integers
ℚ set of rational numbers
∞ infinity
III. Student Activity
Assignment No. 1
The student must be able to classify if it is mathematical expression or equation and translate each mathematical phrase
into a mathematical expression and vice versa.
A. Tell whether a mathematical expression or equation
1. The sum of two numbers is 1.
2. Seven more than five times a number
3. Nine more than thrice a number is three less than the number
4. √𝑥 − 1 = 0
5. 5𝑥 − 𝑥 + 2
B. Let the number be presented by x and y. Translate the following mathematical phrase to mathematical
expression/algebraic form
1. 3 increased by twice the number
2. 6 subtracted from five times the number
3. Product of two numbers
4. One half a number is 6
5. Ten more than four times a number less than six
C. Translate the following mathematical phrases to algebraic expression
1. 2mt
2. 𝑥 + 5 = 15
Prepared by:
ANGELINE M. GAMOSO,LPT
Instructor
Binalonan, Pangasinan
IV. Assessment / Evaluation of Learning Comprehension and Understanding
A. Assignments and Homework
The teacher may from time to time partially assess the learning aptitude and comprehension of the learners by
giving assignments and require them to submit their output during face-to-face classes. The student is required to
analyze and evaluate the problems indicated above.
Prepared by:
ANGELINE M. GAMOSO, LPT
Faculty, College of Information Technology
Noted by:
FREDERICK J. SORIANO, MIT
Dean, College of Information Technology
Approved by:
RAYMOND N. CLARO, PHD
OIC- Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Intertionalization
Prepared by:
ANGELINE M. GAMOSO,LPT
Instructor