MATHEMATICAL SYMBOLS

Symbol Meaning Topic Example

: Ratio; Is to Basic a:b = a/b

√ Square root Basic √9 = 3

∈ Belongs To Set Theory/Membership A={3,9,14}, 3 ∈ A

∠ Angle Geometry ∠ABC = 30°

⊥ Perpendicular Geometry AC ⊥ BC

∀ For all Logic

⇔ Is Equivalent To Logic

x x variable, unknown value to find Algebra when 2x = 4, then x = 2

≡ equivalence, identical to Algebra

≈ approximately equal, approximation Algebra sin(0.01) ≈ 0.01

∝ proportional to Algebra y ∝ x when y = kx, k constant

∞ lemniscate, infinity Algebra

≪ much less than Algebra 1 ≪ 1000000

≫ much greater than Algebra 1000000 ≫ 1

() parentheses Algebra 2 * (3+5) = 16

[] brackets, calculate expression inside first Algebra [(1+2)*(1+5)] = 18

{} braces, set Algebra

floor brackets, rounds number to lower

⌊x⌋ integer
Algebra ⌊4.3⌋ = 4
ceiling brackets, rounds number to upper
⌈x⌉ integer
Algebra ⌈4.3⌉ = 5

| x | absolute value Algebra | -5 | = 5

f (x) function of x, maps values of x to f(x) Algebra f (x) = 3x+5

(a,b) open interval, (a,b) = {x | a < x < b} Algebra x∈ (2,6)

[a,b] closed interval, [a,b] = {x | a ≤ x ≤ b} Algebra x ∈ [2,6]

∆ delta, change / difference Algebra ∆t = t - t

1  0

∆ discriminant Algebra Δ = b2 - 4ac

sigma, summation - sum of all values in

∑ range of series
Algebra ∑ xi= x1+x2+...+xn
e constant / Euler's number, e =
e 2.718281828… Algebra e = lim (1+1/x)x , x→∞
Euler-Mascheroni constant, γ =
γ 0.5772156649… Algebra

φ golden ratio (constant) Algebra