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What is a Sentence of a Mathematical Expression?

Published in Mathematics Basics 1 min read

A mathematical expression, in itself, is not a sentence. However, a mathematical sentence is formed when you combine mathematical expressions with a relation symbol (like =, >, <, ≤, or ≥) to express a complete thought or relationship.

In more detail:

  • Mathematical Expression: A combination of numbers, variables, and operation symbols (+, -, ×, ÷, etc.). For example: x + 5, 3y - 2, a^2 + b^2. These expressions represent a value but do not make a statement about that value in relation to something else. Think of them as mathematical "phrases."

  • Mathematical Sentence (Equation or Inequality): A statement that expresses a relationship between two mathematical expressions using a relation symbol. This forms a complete thought, similar to a sentence in English. For example:

    • Equation: x + 5 = 10 (This states that the expression x + 5 is equal to 10.)
    • Inequality: 3y - 2 > 7 (This states that the expression 3y - 2 is greater than 7.)
    • a^2 + b^2 ≤ c^2 (This states that the expression a^2 + b^2 is less than or equal to c^2.)

Therefore, a mathematical sentence takes one or more expressions and uses relational symbols to make a statement about their relationship. This creates a full, meaningful mathematical statement that can be evaluated as true or false (depending on the values of the variables).