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How do you read "Порядок определителя равен $2n$"? Is it "двум эн" or is it "два эн"?

And in a sum, do you read $c = a_5 + a_6$ as "це равно а пятому плюс а шестому"? Or does the plus sign interfere with the declension in some way?

Martin Sleziak
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user204305
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    This is not a question about mathematics but about language... – 5xum Jan 05 '15 at 07:23
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    @5xum How does this differ from this question? http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/916827/how-to-read-this-in-english – user204305 Jan 05 '15 at 07:25
  • Or this question: http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/6370/how-can-i-read-this-mathematical-sentence-aloud-in-english Or this one? http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/660976/how-can-i-mathematically-read-this-map-fa-longrightarrow-b – user204305 Jan 05 '15 at 07:27
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    It doesn't. Those questions should also be closed in my oppinion. – 5xum Jan 05 '15 at 07:28
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    This is a question that math people are more likely to know the answer to. Particularly the second part, as people outside of mathematics have less experience with indices. – user204305 Jan 05 '15 at 07:29
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    Look, if I am alone in my thinking, your question will be answered. I won't change my mind, but my close vote alone is not enough, so if you are right, you have nothing to worry about. – 5xum Jan 05 '15 at 07:31
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    It's funny that so many people on this site seem to take it for granted that a question can never be both about mathematics and about something else. Here's an argument. Do you think it is a question about mathematics if I ask: "How do you read $\iint_\Omega f(x,y) , dx , dy$"? Or is that also a language question only? – user204305 Jan 05 '15 at 07:36
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    Obviously, it can be about both, but this one is not about mathematics as described in the help centre. Under which of the five categories do you think it belongs? (Understanding mathematical concepts and theorems, Hints on mathematical problems, History and development of mathematics , Solving mathematical puzzles, Software that mathematicians use)? – 5xum Jan 05 '15 at 07:42
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    I don't think that list is meant to be exclusive. Otherwise, why is there a terminology tag? – user204305 Jan 05 '15 at 07:44
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    well, in Ukrainian it read as "два ен" and "це дорівнює a п'ять плюс а шість" – Leox Jan 05 '15 at 07:46
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    Okay. In Russian you have the option of using either the number (два) or the adjective (второe), I think. For example, $a_k$ can be "а катое". Is that not right in Ukrainian? – user204305 Jan 05 '15 at 07:49
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    As rule the index read as a number not as a adjective – Leox Jan 05 '15 at 07:55
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    В принципе, пурист сказал бы «цэ равно сумме а-пятого и а-шестого». Но часто говорят «цэ равно а-пять плюс а-шесть» (что, разумеется, является некоторым жаргонизмом). – Grigory M Jan 05 '15 at 10:14
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    @GrigoryM That means that in this case, you would simply avoid using "а пятое", right? (I mean, if you're not a purist.) What about $2n$? – user204305 Jan 05 '15 at 10:16
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    In this case too a purist would insist that only one variant is correct («двум эн») but in practice both variants are frequently used. – Grigory M Jan 05 '15 at 10:18
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    See related Meta discussion here: http://meta.math.stackexchange.com/questions/19103/questions-about-how-to-read-mathematical-notation – user204305 Jan 05 '15 at 12:10
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    @GrigoryM Would you post this as an answer? – user204305 Jan 06 '15 at 00:54
  • Dear user204305, I'm glad if my comments help — but it wouldn't be appropriate for me to post an answer to a question I consider offtopic. – Grigory M Jan 06 '15 at 15:10

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Since Grigory M won't be posting an answer, I will post the answer I've received here, for future reference.

For the question about $2n$, it seems that the multiplying numeral $2$ can either be left invariable as "два" or put in the dative as "двум," with the latter option considered more correct by some people who have an opinion on the matter.

For $c = a_5 + a_6$, there are two options. Either retain the indices as adjectives by saying "це равно сумме а пятого и а шестого" ("$c$ is equal to the sum of $a$ the fifth and $a$ the sixth"), or, less elegantly, convert the indices to undeclined numerals as in "це равно а пять плюс а шесть" ("$c$ is equal to $a$ five plus $a$ six.") The reading "це равно а пятому плюс а шестому" ("$c$ is equal to $a$ the fifth [dat.] plus $a$ the sixth [dat.]") proposed in the OP is apparently not possible.

user204305
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