maths -- translation help

TenaciousBadger · 10-22-2010, 08:43 AM

As a non-native speaker of English I help my friends with translating various articles that they publish abroad in English journals.
My current foray is in the world of Maths and I have a big request from English native speakers or, even better, English native speakers that are teachers of Maths or Economics.

It's nothing major, I just am not sure about a silly thing: the definite article

.

Let me extrapolate: do you say....

system (1) ---or--- the system (1)
figure (1) ---or--- the figure (1)
equation x=a+b ---or--- the equation x=a+b?

A context would be:

---This paper studies (the???) equation x=a+b----

Since I'm not a native speaker, my instinct is to go for the variant without the definite article but then I'm sure.

I'd be grateful for any help and nudge in the right direction.

TGS · 10-22-2010, 09:38 AM

The example you give as context would need the definite article - This paper studies the equation. However, if referring to a figure in a paper, that wouldn't need an article at all - As figure 1, below, demonstrates... - because "figure 1", in this context is the name of something. Does this help?

TenaciousBadger · 10-22-2010, 09:59 AM

yep. thanks.

now i come across the structure all over the article.

eg: "as seen in (the??) equation x=a+b" or "(the??) equation x=a+b becomes...."

what's worse, i'm still not sure about things like "system (1)" or "the system (1)" in similar contexts.

thanks!

TGS · 10-22-2010, 10:15 AM

From what I can understand of what the context is, "system 1" wouldn't need an article.
If in doubt, leave it out! Seriously, whilst an article that doesn't need to be there will stick out like a sore thumb, (as we native English speakers might say!), a missing article is easily glossed over, particularly in the context of academic or technical writing.

TenaciousBadger · 10-22-2010, 01:49 PM

i think i'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel (and the funny thing is i used to know these things but now it's all muddled up).
i'd say "the equation x=a+b" but "equation (1)" etc.
i wish i'd find some serious guidelines somewhere. i've poked around scribd and some academic papers there and those i've perused say "the equation x=a+b". things are easier when there's a prepositional object.

thanks TGS! i'll follow your advice

HarryT · 10-23-2010, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TenaciousBadger

i think i'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel (and the funny thing is i used to know these things but now it's all muddled up).
i'd say "the equation x=a+b" but "equation (1)" etc.

Yes, exactly right.

10-22-2010, 08:43 AM	#1
TenaciousBadger Mrawr? Posts: 1,109 Karma: 15039064 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: kindle 3 wifi	maths -- translation help As a non-native speaker of English I help my friends with translating various articles that they publish abroad in English journals. My current foray is in the world of Maths and I have a big request from English native speakers or, even better, English native speakers that are teachers of Maths or Economics. It's nothing major, I just am not sure about a silly thing: the definite article . Let me extrapolate: do you say.... system (1) ---or--- the system (1) figure (1) ---or--- the figure (1) equation x=a+b ---or--- the equation x=a+b? A context would be: ---This paper studies (the???) equation x=a+b---- Since I'm not a native speaker, my instinct is to go for the variant without the definite article but then I'm sure. I'd be grateful for any help and nudge in the right direction.

10-22-2010, 01:49 PM	#5
TenaciousBadger Mrawr? Posts: 1,109 Karma: 15039064 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: kindle 3 wifi	i think i'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel (and the funny thing is i used to know these things but now it's all muddled up). i'd say "the equation x=a+b" but "equation (1)" etc. i wish i'd find some serious guidelines somewhere. i've poked around scribd and some academic papers there and those i've perused say "the equation x=a+b". things are easier when there's a prepositional object. thanks TGS! i'll follow your advice Last edited by TenaciousBadger; 10-24-2010 at 04:01 AM.

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10-22-2010, 09:38 AM	#2
TGS Country Member Posts: 9,058 Karma: 7676767 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Denmark Device: Liseuse: Irex DR800. PRS 505 in the house, and the missus has an iPad.	The example you give as context would need the definite article - This paper studies the equation. However, if referring to a figure in a paper, that wouldn't need an article at all - As figure 1, below, demonstrates... - because "figure 1", in this context is the name of something. Does this help?

10-22-2010, 09:59 AM	#3
TenaciousBadger Mrawr? Posts: 1,109 Karma: 15039064 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: kindle 3 wifi	yep. thanks. now i come across the structure all over the article. eg: "as seen in (the??) equation x=a+b" or "(the??) equation x=a+b becomes...." what's worse, i'm still not sure about things like "system (1)" or "the system (1)" in similar contexts. thanks!

10-22-2010, 10:15 AM	#4
TGS Country Member Posts: 9,058 Karma: 7676767 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Denmark Device: Liseuse: Irex DR800. PRS 505 in the house, and the missus has an iPad.	From what I can understand of what the context is, "system 1" wouldn't need an article. If in doubt, leave it out! Seriously, whilst an article that doesn't need to be there will stick out like a sore thumb, (as we native English speakers might say!), a missing article is easily glossed over, particularly in the context of academic or technical writing.

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