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I am a teacher of English for IT. Please, help me! I do not know how to read $s(n), y(n), e(n)$ in English.

We are studying signal processing and the way a filter operates. The sentence is:

The incoming signal $s(n)$ is filtered or weighted in a programmable filter to yield an output $y(n)$ which is then compared against a desired conditioning, or training signal $y(n)$ to yield an error signal, $e(n)$.

Thanks for your help!

Jean-Claude Arbaut
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Юля Николаева
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    $s(n)$ is read "s of n". – littleO Sep 02 '14 at 08:47
  • You can copy and paste your text to any online text to speech program (e.g this) and listen. – achille hui Sep 02 '14 at 08:50
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    @achillehui But doesn't that text to speech program mispronounce $s(n)$? – littleO Sep 02 '14 at 08:53
  • $s,y$ and $e$ are most likely functions of some input $n$. Each pronounced "s of n", "y of n" and "e of n" respectively. – Ethan Splaver Sep 02 '14 at 08:55
  • @littleO It is also common to simply call it "s n". I have heard both many years ago when I'm still in school. In fact, my memory tell me the simplified form "s n" is more common. – achille hui Sep 02 '14 at 08:56
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    @achillehui In my native language such a program would fail miserably as we often read mathematics different from if it were a regular text. In this particular example, we could read $s(n)$ as 's of n' or 's n'. I doubt the software would read 's of n'. More blatant would be something like $x^2$. – Git Gud Sep 02 '14 at 08:56
  • "s n" could be mistaken for $s_n$; "s of n" is better. – Gerry Myerson Sep 02 '14 at 09:26
  • Or even "The signal s(which depends on n), ..." – Paul Sep 02 '14 at 09:41

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I would read it as "s n", but, especially for people who can't see what you're reading, "s of n" is probably best.

Mark Hurd
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