The Language of Mathematics

1. The Language of Mathematics Symbols

2. Symbols A symbol is something that someoneintends to stand for something other than itself. This statue, , stands for the idea of liberty The word “liberty” also stands for the idea of liberty. Both the statue and the word stand for something other than themselves.

3. Symbols • We use symbols to quickly communicate concepts and complex information. • In natural languages, words, not letters of the alphabet, convey information. • Mathematics uses letters of alphabets along with some special symbols as shorthand for natural language words.

4. Math Symbols The 5 types of math symbols you begin with are: • Numbers – the things we talk about • Variables - more things we talk about • Operations – used to make new things • Grouping Symbols – used for punctuation • Comparisons – used to make sentences

5. Numbers

6. Variables * Any symbol: , , , …, etc., can be used as shorthand for the word “number”, but letters are easy to type and write.

7. Operations

8. Grouping Symbols

9. Comparisons

10. Do you know your types? • What type of symbol is “)”? • What type of symbol is “+”? • What type of symbol is “>”? • What type of symbol is “y”? • Are “=“ and “2” the same type of symbol?

11. Look it up Look these up on the Internet or in a library. • What is the name of “+” in French? • What is the name of “3” in Chinese? • What is the name of “<“ in Arabic? • What is the name of “=“ in Turkish

12. Look it up • What is the name of “7” in Spanish? • What is the name of “=“ in Russian? • What is the name of “×” in Hindi? • What is the name of “1” in Swahili? • What is the name of “÷” in Vietnamese? • What is the name of “0” in Martian?

13. Home Projects Discuss the use of symbols in some other area of human endeavor, such as • Sports • Music • Science • Language • Art • History