Mathematical Language and Symbols

Mathematical
Language and
Symbols
Like any language, mathematics has its own
symbols, syntax and rules. Mathematics grammar
and syntax, like vocabulary, are universal.
No matter what country you’re from or what

language you speak, the structure of the
mathematical language is the same.
Characteristics of the Language of
Mathematics
 Precise - able to make very fine distinctions or
definitions.
 Concise - able to say things briefly.
 Powerful - able to express complex thought with

relative ease.

Mathematics is a symbolic language. The following are
some symbols commonly used in mathematics.

R Set of Real numbers Element of (or member
of)
N Set of Natural numbers ⊆ Subset of
Z Set of Integers Proper subset
Z+ Set of Positive Integers → If - then
Z- Set of Negative Integers ↔ If and only if
Q Set of Rational Numbers Σ The sum of
 For every (for any) Infinity
There exists
Comparison: English vs Mathematics Languages
Elements of a
Language
English Language Mathematics Language
Noun: Expression:
Noun is used to name things we want to talk An expression refers to the object of interest
Noun about
Ex. 5, 1.2 + 6, 3x – 3
Ex. Carol loves Mathematics.
Pronoun: Variable:
Pronouns are another way of calling a noun. A variable is any symbol that represents any
constant value.
Pronoun Ex. She loves Mathematics. Ex. x – 2
** She is the pronoun that ** x is the variable that represents
replaces the noun Carol. any quantity. The value of the
variable varies depending on its
context.
Elements of a
Language
Verb: Verb:
A verb is any action word Verbs are words or symbols that indicate actions,
such as plus (+), minus (-), simplify, rationalize.
Verb Ex. Leslie computes for the value of
x. Ex. 2x + 5, the symbol ‘+’ is the
verb.
** The word ‘computes’ is the verb Simplify the expression (2x + 5)
that indicates action. – 5(x – 4). The word simplify is
the verb as it indicates what
needs to be done.
Sentence: Equation:
A sentence expresses a complete thought. It In mathematical language, a mathematical sentence
Sentence contains both the noun and the verb. also expresses complete thought. It also contains
both the expression and the verb, together with
Ex. Carol loves Mathematics. equality or inequality symbols.
**The above example expresses a complete
thought with Carol and Mathematics as the nouns Ex. 1.2 + 6 = 7.2
and loves as the verb. 5x – 4 < 15
Elements of a
Language
Synonyms: Synonyms:
Synonyms Synonyms are different words with the same Synonyms are the same object but different
meaning. names.
Ex. group - association Ex. 3 + 5 and 8
2 -1 and 5/5

A variable is a letter or a symbol that represents
unknown quantity or unspecified number. It may take
various values. A constant is a number or sometimes a
letter, such as a, b, c that stand for a fixed value.

An expression is defined as a mathematical phrase
that comprises numbers with at least one arithmetic
operation. An algebraic expression is defined as an
expression that comprises variables and/or constants that
appear alone or in combination with operators. An
expression does not contain equal to or any inequalities
signs.

Example. 7 + 2 is an expression, which can be written in
words as “two more than seven”
x + 4 is an algebraic expression, also expressed as

“four more than x”

Translating English Statements to
Mathematical Expressions
Each mathematical symbol has equivalent words

or phrases. It is therefore important for us to learn
the different words or phrases equivalent for each
mathematical symbol. Next slide is a table that
shows the different words for the four fundamental
operations.
Operation Symbol Words Algebraic expression Word Equivalent
Plus, sum, more than, * two more than a

Addition
+ increased by, add to, x+2 number x
total * x increased by 2
- Subtracted from, minus, * z minus 5

difference of, less than, z-5 * a number z
Subtraction decreased by, less subtracted by 5
Times, product, multiply, * 7 times a number

•, ( ) twice, of 7(k) or 7•k or simply 7k k
Multiplication * the product of 7
and k
Divided by, quotient, * w divided by 8

Division
÷, / into, ratio of w ÷ 8, w/8 * the quotient of a
number w and 8
In the given examples, the phrase “a number”
indicates that it is an unknown number. There was
no specific value given to it. So, the phrase “a
number” is replaced with the variable, such as x,
z, k and w.
To write an English phrase into an algebraic

expression, first look for the words or phrase that
refer to a mathematical operation. Then, let a
variable represent any number that is unknown.
Lastly, put everything together.
Example:
Write the phrase as an algebraic expression:
1. Eight less than the product of three and a number x.
Solution:
Step 1. The product of three and a number x can be written as 3x.
Step 2. Eight less than something means that we subtract 8 from it.
Step 3. If we subtract 8 from 3x, we have 3x – 8.
2. Five times the sum of a number and four.
Solution:
Step 1. The sum of a number and four can be written as x + 4.
Step 2. Fives times something means that we can multiply 5 to it.
Step 3. If we multiply 5 to x + 4, we have 5(x + 4).
3. the sum of a number and 7
n+7
4. v decreased by three
v-3
5. the sum of seven and the product of one and a number b

 7 + (1 • b)
6. nine minus the quotient of four and a number z

 9 - (4/z)
7. three more than the product of two and a number w

 3 + ( 2 • w)
Translating an English Sentence into a
Mathematical Equation
A statement of equality of two algebraic expressions which involves

one or more literals (variables) is called an equation.
x + 3 = 7 is an equation
5x – 3(y + 1) = 10 is an equation.
Since an equation is two expressions set equal to each other, the

same mathematical translations will be used. Only this time, we will
have an equal sign between the two expressions.
The following are some words and phrases that
translate into an equal sign (=).
Equal sign (=) : equals, gives, is,

yields, amounts to, is the same as

Example 1:
Write the sentence as an equation. Let v represents the unknown number.
The quotient of 3 and a number is .
Solution:
Remember that the word ‘quotient’ translates into division. The
phrase ‘a number’ will be replaced by v and the word ‘is’ will be replaced
by the equality symbol =. Hence, putting them together, we have
Take note that we are not evaluating an expression, thus we will not solve
for the value of the unknown.

2. The sum of a number and 28 is 45.
 n + 28 = 45
3. 7 less than 3 times a number is the same as 5.

 5 - 3n = 5
4. The sum of 10 and 4 times a number is equal to 18.

 10 + 4(n) = 18
5. One-half of a number less two is five.

 ½(n) - 2 = 5
Translating English Statements
to Mathematical Expressions
Exercise:
Translate each of the following phrases into mathematical
expression.
1. The sum of a number and 10
2. The product of two numbers
3. The product of -1 and a number
4. One-half times the sum of two numbers
5. Twice a number
Answer:
1.x + 10
2.x • y or xy
3.(a)(-1) or a • (-1)
4.½(a + b)
5.2x
Exercise:
Translate each of the following phrases into mathematical
expression.
6. Five less than a number
7. Six more than a number
8. A number plus 9
9. The square of a number
10. Three less than twice a number
Answer:
6. 5 - n
7. 6 + n
8. nx 2+ 9
9.
10. 3 - 2x
Choose a quantity to be represented by a variable, then
write the mathematical expression for each.
1. Lota’s age in 5 years
Answer :
Let x be the present age of Lota
“in 5 years” means adding five
x+5
2. A three-digit numbers whose hundreds digit is half the
tens digit and the tens digit is 2 more than the units
digit.
Answer:
Let x be the unit’s digit
x+2 be the tens digit
½ (x + 2)
Translating English Sentences to
Mathematical Equations
1. The sum of a number and four is twelve.
2. The difference of twice a number and eleven is fifty.
3. One-fourth of a number less two is five.
4. David is five years older than Tracey and the sum of
their ages is nineteen.
5. The sum of four consecutive integers is 106.
6. The sum of three consecutive even integers is 252.
Answer:
1. n + 4 = 12
2. 2x - 11 = 50
1
3. x -2=5
4
4. Let: x be the age of Tracey
x + 5 be the age of of David
x + x + 5 = 19
Answer:
5. Let: x be the first integer
x + 1 be the second integer
x + 2 be the third integer
x + 3 be the fourth integer
x + x+1 + x+2 + x+3 = 106
6. Let: x be the 1st consecutive even integer

x+2 be the 2nd consecutive even integer
x+4 be the 3rd consecutive even integer
x + x+2 + x+4 = 252

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Mathematical

No matter what country you’re from or what

 Concise - able to say things briefly.

 Powerful - able to express complex thought with

x + 4 is an algebraic expression, also expressed as

Each mathematical symbol has equivalent words

Plus, sum, more than, * two more than a

- Subtracted from, minus, * z minus 5

Times, product, multiply, * 7 times a number

Divided by, quotient, * w divided by 8

To write an English phrase into an algebraic

5. the sum of seven and the product of one and a number b

6. nine minus the quotient of four and a number z

7. three more than the product of two and a number w

A statement of equality of two algebraic expressions which involves

Since an equation is two expressions set equal to each other, the

Equal sign (=) : equals, gives, is,

3. 7 less than 3 times a number is the same as 5.

4. The sum of 10 and 4 times a number is equal to 18.

5. One-half of a number less two is five.

6. Let: x be the 1st consecutive even integer

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