That is exactly it, a long text is much harder to understand than a one liner, we see that time and time again in problem solving if you write the same problem as a long text many fewer students manage to solve it than if you write it as a one liner.

There is an inherent complexity in a lot of mathematics. The compact notation makes it much easier (or even possible) to understand what is going on.

Compare something like

equals(integral(divide(exponentiate(negate(divide(square(var),2))),sqrt(multiply(2,constant_pi))),var,negate(infinity),infinity),1)

vs

$$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty}\frac{e^{-x^2/2}}{\sqrt{2\pi}}dx = 1$$

(imagine the actual generated mathematical formula here :-/ )

it is infinitely easier to grok what is going on using symbolic notation after a minimal amount of learning.