Thread: Mathematics Symbols

General curiousity. math formulas such as A

[quote=capecoddah]General curiousity. math formulas such as A

In formulas (in math, chemistry, physics, etc) we use the letters of Latin and Greek alphabets and pronounce them as in Latin (not like in English). The Pi letter (like all other Greek letters) is written in its original form:
.

I was wondering about this too. Because in English we just use our (Latin) alphabet for variables. But in Russian it seems that it would get confusing, since З looks like the number 3 and П looks like the sign for pi(at least when I write it).

So is the Latin alphabet used or is it a Cyrillic transliteration?

It's Latin and Greek. Mathematics is called an interantional language, so "Russian" and "English" formulas look the same, apart from some very minor differences.

As Zaya mentioned above we use mostly lowercase letters (a, b, c, d, ..., but not A, B, C, D, ...).

You may find this thread interesting: Maths stuff/vocabulary in Russian...?

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

As Zaya mentioned above we use mostly lowercase letters (a, b, c, d, ..., but not A, B, C, D, ...).

Нет-нет, я говорила только о том, какими буквами обозначают стороны фигур (и прямые). Вершины (и вообще точки) обозначают большими, насколько я помню.

Thanks gang, I did a search, but came up empty... The term "Maths" is ,well, just foriegn to me So I missed the earlier thread.

OK, so Grecco-Latin rules the Mathematical World
3.1415 = Pi /пи

теорему Пифагора will haunt me in all languages, but I know how to say it now.

I'll keep my Russian and Mathematics books separate now

Originally Posted by capecoddah

Теорема Пифагора will haunt me in all languages, but I know how to say it now.

Nominative case is "теорема Пифагора".


And as I have already said, in Pythagorean theorem little letters are used:
a

Originally Posted by Zaya

Нет-нет, я говорила только о том, какими буквами обозначают стороны фигур (и прямые). Вершины (и вообще точки) обозначают большими, насколько я помню.

Точно! Я про уравнения думала, а об остальном почему-то забыла.

Originally Posted by Zaya

In English it's

The square on the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares on the other two sides.

isn't it?

I would say

The Square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the two legs.

Assuming that you know it only applies to right triangles. If it wasn't to be assumed so I would add in there after the word hypotenuse

"of a right triangle"

Sorry I'm a bit of a math nerd.

Почти ничего не поняла.

Я, пока не заглянула в Википедию, хотела написать: "Квадрат гипотенузы равен сумме квадратов катетов", без "в прямоугольном треугольнике", потому что гипотенуз и катетов у других треугольников и не бывает. Учебника геометрии под рукой нет.

So you name it 'leg', the word 'cathetus' isn't used, is it? It took some time to find its plural form, 'catheti' (я догадывалась, что там -ti, но решила, что лучше проверить).

Originally Posted by Zaya

So you name it 'leg', the word 'cathetus' isn't used, is it? It took some time to find its plural form, 'catheti' (я догадывалась, что там -ti, но решила, что лучше проверить).

I have never heard it called a "cathetus" but you are correct according to dictionary.reference.com,

\Cath"e*tus\, n.; pl. catheti. (Geom.) One line or radius falling perpendicularly on another; as, the catheti of a right-angled triangle, that is, the two sides that include the right angle.

So you could say cathetus, but you may have to explain yourself.

Originally Posted by Автобус

So you could say cathetus, but you may have to explain yourself.

You use term "hypotenuse", but not "cathetus"? Huh, it's strange. I can understand an urge to simplify things, but why not to call it "long leg" or something to be consistent?

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

Originally Posted by Автобус

So you could say cathetus, but you may have to explain yourself.

You use term "hypotenuse", but not "cathetus"? Huh, it's strange. I can understand an urge to simplify things, but why not to call it "long leg" or something to be consistent?

It does seem pretty weird to use "hypotenuse" and then "legs," and as for the long leg short leg thing, in Trigonometry and Geometry, there is usually ways to classify it. I know in Trig sides are labeled as "a,b,c..." and the angles across from that side are "A,B,C..." In Geometry it gets a little more complicated because in triangle "ABC" you will have sides AB, BC, and AC.

Also since addition and multiplication are reversible, the long leg and short leg don't have to be specified if you are doing the Pythagorean theorem.

Just curious: do you commonly use words median and bisector (bisectrix)?

These subtle differences are really interesting. We often use terms of greek or latin origin in mathemaics, but sometimes (discriptive) terms are used too (like "касательная" for tangent line).

a little more complicated

Да? А мне вот всё равно.))

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

Just curious: do you commonly use words median and bisector (bisectrix)?

Yes, both are used. However, median can sometimes be said as midpoint.

А как будет "прилежащий катет" и "противолежащий катет"?

Originally Posted by Zaya

А как будет "прилежащий катет" и "противолежащий катет"?

Я ставлю на adjacent и opposite.

Originally Posted by Автобус

Yes, both are used. However, median can sometimes be said as midpoint.

So you use this term reffering to the midpoint? In Russian median is a line connecting vertex (of a triangle) and the midpoint of the opposite leg.
(хе, я теперь новое слово знаю - leg, раньше всегда side говорила )