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Useful Mathematical Symbols: Symbol What It Is How It Is Read How It Is Used Sample Expression
Useful Mathematical Symbols: Symbol What It Is How It Is Read How It Is Used Sample Expression
Sum of a few
Addition sign ... plus ... values 2+6=8
+
Logical OR symbol ... or ... Logical ¬(A + B) = ¬A * ¬B
disjunction
Product of two
Multiplication sign ... times ... values 2 x 6 = 12
*
Logical AND symbol ... and ... Logical ¬(A * B) = ¬A + ¬B
conjunction
Product of two
x Multiplication sign ... times ... 4x2=8
values
Product of two
· Multiplication sign ... times ... 4·2=8
values
Sum of many or
The summation of
summation sign infinitely many
...
values
+c
The surface
Surface integral sign integration
integral of ... F(x,y,z) dx dy
Difference of two
Subtraction sign ... minus ...
- values, 2 - 6 = -4
Minus sign Negative...
negative number
Expression of
± Plus/minus sign ... plus or minus ... range, 540 kbps ± 10%
error, or tolerance
Scalar (dot)
Dot product sign ... dot ... product A B= B A
of two vectors
Vector (cross)
x Cross product sign ... cross ... product A x B = - (B x A)
of two vectors
Product of three
up to
Product sign The product of ...
infinitely many
values
... to the power of
^ Carat exponent 2 ^ 4 = 16
...
Sutra: International Journal of Mathematical Science Education, 33
Vol. 2, No. 1, 2009
Product of all
positive
! Exclamation ... factoriall 3! = 6
integers up to a
certain value
Algebraic
surd ... root of ...
expressions z= (x + y)
2:4 = 20:40
Division or ratio ,
symbol following ∃x : x > 4 and x < 5
... is to ...
Colon, logical quantifier
: ... such that ...
ratio sign or
... it is true that ... ∀x : x < 0 or x > -1
used in defining a
set
S = {x : x < 3}
Infinite
... infinity
summations
lemniscate ... increases ∀x : x <
Infinite sequence
without limit
Limit
Denotes a
...quantity...
quantity, list, (x + y) + z
...list...
set of (a1, a 2, a3, a4)
( ) Parentheses ...set of
coordinates, or (x,y,z)
coordinates...
an (3,5)
...open interval
open interval
... the quantity ... Denotes a w + [(x + y) + z]
[ ] Square brackets ... the closed quantity or a
[2,4]
interval ... closed interval
Indicates two
-(-6) = 6
= Equal sign ... equals ... values 2
2z + 4z - 6 = 0
are the same
Indicates two
... is proportional to variables
Proportionality sign x y
... change in direct
proportion
Indicates two
objects are
~ Similarity sign ... is similar to ... ABC ~ DEF
geometrically
similar
Indicates two
Approximate ... is approximately values are
x+y z
equal sign equal to ... close to each
other
Indicates two
Inequality sign ... is not equal to ... values
are different x y
Indicates value
on left 2<4
< Inequality sign ... is less than ...
is smaller than x<y
value on right
Indicates value
... is less than or
on left
equal to ...
Inequality sign is smaller than or x y
... is at most equal
equal to
to ...
value on right
Indicates value
on left 4>1
> Inequality sign ... is greater than ...
is larger than x>y
value on right
Indicates value
on left
... is greater than
Inequality sign is larger than or x y
or equal to ...
equal to
value on right
Distance of value
from
The absolute value
| | absolute value sign of ...
origin in number | -5 | = 5
line,
plane, or space
Indicates a small
increment sign, the change in ... change, m= y/ x
Triangle symbol triangle ... Denotes vertices ABC = DEF
of triangle
Perpendicularity ... is perpendicular
Geometry L M
symbol to ...
// Parallel symbol ... is parallel to ... Geometry L // M
Logical
x = y and y = z
... therefore ... statements or
Three dots
... it follows that ... mathematical x=z
proofs
Element-of ... is an element of
Sets a A
symbol a set ...
... is not an
Not-element-of
element of Sets b A
symbol
a set ...
Greek theta
... theta ... Angular variable = 90º
(lowercase)
Greek phi
... phi ... Angular variable = 45º
(lowercase)
wavelength
Ratio
Greek lambda = 70 cm
... lambda ... Eigenvalue
(lowercase) = 3:1
Lebesgue
measure
Greek mu
µ micro- (10 -6) prefix multiplier C = 0.001 µF
(lowercase)
Greek pi
... pi ... General science 3.14159
(lowercase)
Volume of an
Greek omega object
... omega ... R2 = 330
(uppercase) Ohms
(resistance)
Transfinite ordinal
Greek omega = 36,000 rad/s
... omega ... Angular velocity
(lowercase) = 1/60 s
Period
36 Sutra: International Journal of Mathematical Science Education,
Vol. 2, No. 1, 2009
=
Enhanced or bold Q The set of rational Number theory
,Q {a/b | a and b are
numbers Set theory
in }