LANGUAGE OF

MATHEMATICS
English Language vs Mathematics Language
SOLVE THIS:
 Ana est deux fois plus âgée que son frère et
la somme de leurs âges est de 36 ans. Quel
âge ont-ils?
WHY DO WE NEED TO KNOW
THE LANGUAGE OF MATHS?
 To be able to understand the idea/concepts
of Maths.
WHY DO WE NEED TO KNOW
THE LANGUAGE OF MATHS?
 To be able to understand the idea/concepts
of Maths.
 To figure out clearly the logic of maths
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
LANGUAGE OF MATHEMATICS
 Precise – able to make very fine distinction
 Concise – able to say things briefly
 Powerful – able to express complex thoughts
with relative ease
 Non-temporal – no relation to time
 Devoid of emotion
 Learnable
COMPONENT OF LANGUAGE OF
MATHEMATICS
1. Vocabulary
2. Grammar
 COMPARISON: ENGLISH VS
MATHS LANGUAGES
ENGLISH MATHEMATICS
SYMBOLS English Alphabet and English Alphabet,
punctuation Numerals, Greek
Letters, Grouping
Symbols, Special
Symbols
Name Noun Expressions
Complete though Sentence Sentence
Action Verbs Operations and other
actions(e.g. simplify,
rationalize
What’s is in a sentence Verbs Equality, inequality,
membership in a set
Attribute of a sentence Fact or fiction True or false
Synonyms Different words but The same object but
the same meaning different names
COMPARISON: ENGLISH VS
MATH LANGUAGES
 English – Noun
= is used to name things we want to talk
about

 Math – Expression
= refers to the object of interest
COMPARISON: ENGLISH VS
MATH LANGUAGES
 English – Noun
= is used to name things we want to talk
about

Examples:
Carol loves Mathematics
COMPARISON: ENGLISH VS
MATH LANGUAGES
 English – Noun
= is used to name things we want to talk
about

Examples:
Carol loves Mathematics
COMPARISON: ENGLISH VS
MATH LANGUAGES
 Math – Expression
= refers to the object of interest.

Examples:
5, 1.2 + 6, 3x – 3
COMPARISON: ENGLISH VS
MATH LANGUAGES
 Math – Expression
= refers to the object of interest.

Examples:
5, 1.2 + 6, 3x – 3

Other types of expression:

* numbers, set, functions, ordered pairs,
matrices, vectors, groups..
 COMPARISON: ENGLISH VS
MATHS LANGUAGES
ENGLISH MATHEMATICS
SYMBOLS English Alphabet and English Alphabet,
punctuation Numerals, Greek
Letters, Grouping
Symbols, Special
Symbols
Name Noun Expressions
Complete though Sentence Sentence
Action Verbs Operations and other
actions(e.g. simplify,
rationalize
What’s is in a sentence Verbs Equality, inequality,
membership in a set
Attribute of a sentence Fact or fiction True or false
Synonyms Different words but The same object but
the same meaning different names
COMPARISON: ENGLISH VS
MATHEMATICS LANGUAGES
 English/Math – Sentence
= must show complete thought (noun and
verb)
= can express true, false or sometimes true
or sometimes false idea.

Examples:

Carol loves Mathematics 1.2 + 6 = 7.2

 COMPARISON: ENGLISH VS
MATHS LANGUAGES
ENGLISH MATHEMATICS
SYMBOLS English Alphabet and English Alphabet,
punctuation Numerals, Greek
Letters, Grouping
Symbols, Special
Symbols
Name Noun Expressions
Complete though Sentence Sentence
Action Verbs Operations and other
actions(e.g. simplify,
rationalize
What’s is in a sentence Verbs Equality, inequality,
membership in a set
Attribute of a sentence Fact or fiction True or false
Synonyms Different words but The same object but
the same meaning different names
COMPARISON: ENGLISH VS
MATHS LANGUAGES
 English – Synonyms
= different words with the same meaning
(have nearest meaning)

Example : Group - association

COMPARISON: ENGLISH VS
MATHS LANGUAGES
 Mathematics – Synonyms
= the same object but different names

Example : 1 + 2 + 6 and 9
½ + ½ , 2 - 1, 5/5,
TRANSLATION E. STATEMENTS
TO MATHEMATICAL STATEMENTS
Exercise:
Translate each of the following phrases into
mathematical expression. Use as few
variables as possible:

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 time the sum of two numbers
5. Twice a number.
TRANSLATION E. STATEMENTS
TO MATHEMATICAL STATEMENTS
6. Five less than a number
7. A number, less 8
8. Six more than a number
9. A number, plus 6
10. The square of a number
11. Four times the square of a number
12. One –half a number
13. Three less than twice a number
14. Five more than three a number
15. The square of the sum of 5 and a number
16. A number is subtracted from 6.
TRANSLATION E. STATEMENTS
TO MATHEMATICAL STATEMENTS

17. There are twice as many boys as there are

girls
18. There are 10 more cars than jeeps
19. A man’s age 10 years ago
20. The area of a rectangle whose length is 7
more than the width.