Basic Math Notation

[#1procrastinator]

Just curious as to how everyone else starts a new line when solving a problem, like when you're rearranging an equation for example, do you just start a new line for each step of the working (if you happen to show each individual step), or do you use the therefore symbol, or an arrow...

According to this http://www.math.vanderbilt.edu/~schectex/commerrs/
The proper symbol is but I've never seen it in use before

[dc302]

If you're just doing elementary algebra then you can use the therefore sign. If you need to introduce a new piece of information, you write it and then you can make another therefore sign.

ie.

y+x = 5
y-x = -1

so you go:
y+x = 5
=> y = 5-x ...(1)
and y-x=-1
=> y = x-1 ...(2)

so from (1) and (2), we have: 5-x = x-1
=> 4 = 2x
=> x=2
substituting into (1) we have:
y = 5-2
=> y=3


Now this is quite pedantic and for something so simple you wouldn't have to do it, but this is just an example. You don't have to use => all the time, you can use 'so' 'therefore' etc, whatever you want really. Starting a new line without any notation may be ok but I'm not sure.

[pi]

I use the same notation as dc302, but sometimes use 'therefore' (3 dots) when I'm lazy

[brightsky]

Pretty sure it's okay to start a new line without any symbols; most, if not all, of the formal maths books I've seen do this. But I've found that most mathematicians aren't that pedantic about correct notation. For example, in maths competitions, you'll often find solutions written as a chunky paragraph, explaining things in word, and not even showing trivial arithmetic.

[TrueTears]

Pretty sure it's okay to start a new line without any symbols; most, if not all, of the formal maths books I've seen do this. But I've found that most mathematicians aren't that pedantic about correct notation. For example, in maths competitions, you'll often find solutions written as a chunky paragraph, explaining things in word, and not even showing trivial arithmetic.

exactly this

[dc302]

A lot of maths IS in paragraphs and words, but that's not what VCE maths is like. Of course, the aim of notation is for simplification, but the ultimate aim of a piece of work is to provide and explain a solution, so notation isn't that important. For VCE though, the important thing is satisfying your exam markers!

[Mao]

Off topic, but we can prove God using only symbols.

[TrueTears]

Off topic, but we can prove God using only symbols.

Abuse of logic notation!