Read the text and complete the summary. Use words from the text.

A Maths studies four areas: quantities, structure, space and (1).......................

B Natural numbers are larger than (2)..........................but (3)...........................can be zero.

C (4).........................was a Greek mathematician who made the famous theorem a²=b²+c² which helps us find the size of a (5)...........................

D Algebra came from (6)...........................countries.

E With (7).........................Euclid helped us understand (8)..........................

F Trigonometry combines space with (9)...........................

G Calculus describes (10)............................

and used in quantum mechanics allows us to study physics and (11)................................

H Statistics predicts results and analyses (12)...........................

 

A Match the words and phrases with their meanings.

Isaac Newton

1 fragile A the tendency of a body to maintain its speed and direction

2 calculus В the natural force of attraction exerted by the Earth on objects on or near its surface

3 impact  C easily broken

4 inertia D branch of mathematics concerned with limits, differentiation and integration of    functions

5 gravity E effect

 

Albert Einstein

1 pacifist                               A arms which can kill many people

2 weapons of mass destruction  B something that prevents

3 notion                                     C somebody who doesn't believe in war

4 multi-­dimensional                  D involving time and space

5 bend                                       E idea

6 obstacle                                  F curve

 

Niels Bohr

1 spectral line        A basically

2 in essence          B in disagreement

3 groundbreaking       C light or dark band of particular wavelength, used for identifying substances

4 contradictory      D revolutionary

5 complementarity      E a principle according to which things cannot be studied as having contradictory properties at the same time

 

b Use the words in the box to replace the words in blue.

Patent

Theorem

Numerals

Symbols

Operations

 integers

1 Mathematicians are interested in natural numbers and numbers which are zero itself or more or less than zero.

2 A legal document to protect an inventor's rights ensures nobody steals the invention.

3 In maths you use systems to combine numbers together in different ways.

4 We use these marks to indicate addition, subtraction, multiplication or division.

5 Statements or rules are used in mathematics.

6 We still use Roman numbers nowadays.

 

C Find ten words or phrases in this word search using the clues.

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Clues

1 principle

2 an angle of 90 degrees

3 a number larger than zero

4 a path round a planet for example

5 obviously separate from others

6 proof

7 to give off energy

8 when for example, the Moon covers the Sun

9 obvious

10the quality of some things of having contradictory properties

 

Before you read

Discuss these questions with your partner.

-» What is algebra?

-» Can you think of any ways that we use it in our everyday lives?

 

A Vocabulary

A. Match these words and phrases with their definitions.

1 linear algebra                     A money gained or lost

2 reunion                               B rewriting

3 matrices                             C linear equations

4 profit and loss                    D coming back together

5 transposing                         E arrangement of mathematical elements

6 operators                            F what goes into something and what comes out

7 input and output                 G signs used in maths