The English Oracle

"Is" vs. "Are" when using the word "Pair" in a mathematical setting

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Track title: Light Drops

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Chapters
00:00 &Quot;Is&Quot; Vs. &Quot;Are&Quot; When Using The Word &Quot;Pair&Quot; In A Mathematical Setting
00:21 Accepted Answer Score 6
00:48 Answer 2 Score 10
01:11 Answer 3 Score 0
01:23 Thank you

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Full question
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Tags
#grammaticalnumber #verbagreement #quantifiers

#avk47



ANSWER 1

Score 10


If the mathematical statement is about the two objects in the pair then "are" is appropriate, however if it is about the pair as a mathematical object of itself then "is" is in place. Thus "The pair of polynomials (f,g) are related by the reciprocity law" but "The pair of polynomials (f,g) is equal to the pair (h,q)".




ACCEPTED ANSWER

Score 6


You should use the singular, because it refers to "Pair" and not to "polynomials". The pair in this case is one, so "is".

If it was "three pairs of polynomials...", for example, then you would have used "are".

Like:

A pair of shoes is in my bedroom. - VS - Two (three, four, five, etc) pairs of shoes are in my bedroom.




ANSWER 3

Score 0


answer is 'is' according to me, because pair represents a collective noun or verb of something, and there is a single pair of polynomials