ABSTRACT
In science, mathematics is pervasive. It permeates many disciplines, often underpinning theoretical and descriptive architecture. This chapter provides a comprehensive description of the grammar of algebraic mathematical symbolism used in school and university physics. It focuses on the organisation of mathematical statements-the highest level of the grammar-to show that they are organised through particular systems and structures that are distinct from language. Mathematical symbolism is a semiotic resource that is organised in a substantially different manner to English. Developing a description with axis as a theoretical primitive leads to an architecture of mathematics that is significantly different to that of English (or indeed any other language described in Systemic Functional terms to date). The three broad areas of difference revolve around the predominant types of structure coordinating the architecture, the metafunctional organisation and the levels (rank and nesting) at which choices are made.
