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Knowledge Update

Write in mathematics the way you write in other subjects

Write in mathematics the way you write in other subjects

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The contributions of intellectuals from all over the world and throughout history have contributed to the body of knowledge and practice known as mathematics.

We may use it to comprehend patterns, measure connections, and make future predictions. We utilize the world to understand math, and math helps us comprehend the world.

The entire globe is linked. These links and opportunities are evident in everyday mathematics. The sooner young students can put these skills into practice, the more probable it is that our culture and economy will continue to be innovative.

We want to communicate our ideas of mathematics by writing them in a way we write the ideas of other subjects in English. Nowadays the requirements of Problem-based learning, project-based learning, and peer-learning methods demand that we should know how to write in Mathematics as it is required in the other subjects.

Good writing observes the rules of grammar. This applies to writing mathematics papers as well. it may surprise us to know that in a math paper, formulas and equations follow the standard grammatical rules that apply to words.

Mathematical symbols can correspond to different parts of speech. For instance, below is a perfectly good complete sentence.

2+3 = 5

The symbol \=" acts like a verb. Below are a couple more examples of complete sentences.

3xy≤-12
5z ϵ R
10-s≠t

In the above, we can identify less than, belongs to, and not equal to representing the verbs in each of the sentences, but the expression x^2+y   has no verb, and cannot be a complete sentence and we can treat these as Nouns.

Formulas and equations need to be contained in complete sentences with proper punctuation. As per Dr. Kevin P. Lee, if
the total revenue, R, made from selling widgets is given by the equation
                                                R = pq

where p is the price at which each widget is sold, and q is the number of widgets sold. Based on experience, we know that when widgets are priced at $15 each, 2000 widgets will be sold. We also know that for every dollar increase in price, 150 fewer widgets are sold. Hence, if the price is increased by x dollars, then the revenue is.

R = (15 + x) (2000 - 150x)
                                         = -150x2 - 250x + 30,000

We can notice how punctuation follows each of the equations. A computation that ends a sentence needs to end with a period. Computations that do not end sentences are followed by commas.

To conclude let us note an example of mistakes that we commit always in English by using wrong punctuation, we should take care of these in Mathematical writing as well.

Example: (i) “Let's eat Grandma.” (ii) Revised: “Let's eat, Grandma.” In the first sentence Grandma is asked to eat with us whereas, in the second sentence due to the wrong use of punctuation, Grandma becomes food to eat. The comma sets apart the words “eat” and “Grandma” and clarifies the meaning of the sentence.