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Sutra: International Journal of Mathematical Science Education, Vol. 2, No. 1, 2009

Useful Mathematical Symbols

Symbol What it is How it is read How it is used Sample expression

Addition sign Logical OR symbol

... plus ... ... or ...

Sum of a few values Logical disjunction Product of two values Logical conjunction Product of two values Product of two values Sum of many or infinitely many values

2+6=8 (A + B) = A * B

Multiplication sign Logical AND symbol

... times ... ... and ...

2 x 6 = 12 (A * B) = A + B

Multiplication sign Multiplication sign

... times ... ... times ... The summation of ...

4x2=8 42=8

summation sign

Integral sign

The integral of ...

integration

x dx = x /3 +c

double integral sign

Triple integral sign

The double integral of ... The triple integral of ... The line integral of ... The surface integral of ... ... minus ... Negative...

integration

f(x ,y) dx dy f(x,y,z) dx dy dz F dx F(x,y ,z) dx dy 2 - 6 = -4

integration

Line integral sign Surface integral sign Subtraction sign Minus sign

integration integration Difference of two values, negative number Expression of range, error, or tolerance Scalar (dot) product of two vectors Vector (cross) product of two vectors Product of three up to infinitely many values

Plus/minus sign

... plus or minus ...

540 kbps 10%

Dot product sign

... dot ...

A B= B A

Cross product sign

... cross ...

A x B = - (B x A )

Product sign

The product of ...

Carat

... to the power of ...

exponent

2 ^ 4 = 16

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Exclamation

... factoriall

Product of all positive integers up to a certain value Algebraic expressions Algebraic expressions Extension of sequence z=

3! = 6

surd square root symbol

... Continuation sign

... root of ... The square root of ... ... and so on up to ... ... and so on indefinitely ... divided by ... ... over ... ... divided by ... ... percent ... ... per mil ...

(x + y )

4 = 2
S = {1, 2, 3, ...}

/ %

Slash Division sign Percent symbol Per mil symbol

Division Division Proportion Proportion

3/4 = 0.75 3 4 = 0.75 0.032 = 3.2 0.032 = 32 2:4 = 20:40

Colon, ratio sign

... is to ... ... such that ... ... it is true that ...

Division or ratio , symbol following logical quantifier or used in defining a set

x : x > 4 and x < 5 x : x < 0 or x > -1 S = {x : x < 3}

Vertical line

... such that ... ...it is true that ...

Symbol following logical quantifier or used in defining a set

x | x > 4 and x < 5 x | x < 0 or x > -1 S = {x | x < 3} 3 :: 11 = 7 x : x <

::

Double colon

... averaged with ... arithmetic mean ... infinity ... increases without limit ...quantity... ...list... ...set of coordinates... ...open interval ... the quantity ... ... the closed interval ... ... the half-open interval ... ... the half-open interval ... ... the quantity ... ... the set ... Infinite summations Infinite sequence Limit Denotes a quantity, list, set of coordinates, or an open interval Denotes a quantity or a closed interval Denotes a half-open interval Denotes a half-open interval Denotes a quantity or a set

lemniscate

( )

Parentheses

(x + y ) + z (a1, a 2, a3, a4) ( x ,y ,z ) (3,5)

[ ]

Square brackets

w + [( x + y) + z] [2,4] (2,4] [2,4)

( ] [ )

Hybrid brackets Hybrid brackets

{ }

Curly brackets

E = {2, 4, 6, 8, ...}

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Equal sign

... equals ...

Indicates two values are the same Indicates two variables change in direct proportion Indicates two objects are geometrically similar Indicates two values are close to each other Indicates two values are different Indicates value on left is smaller than value on right Indicates value on left is smaller than or equal to value on right Indicates value on left is larger than value on right Indicates value on left is larger than or equal to value on right Distance of value from origin in number line, plane, or space Indicates a small change, Denotes vertices of triangle Geometry Geometry Geometry Logical statements Logical statements

-(-6) = 6 2 2z + 4 z - 6 = 0

Proportionality sign

... is proportional to ...

Similarity sign

... is similar to ...

ABC ~ DEF

Approximate equal sign

... is approximately equal to ...

x+y

Inequality sign

... is not equal to ...

<

Inequality sign

... is less than ...

2<4 x<y

Inequality sign

... is less than or equal to ... ... is at most equal to ...

x y

>

Inequality sign

... is greater than ...

4>1 x>y

Inequality sign

... is greater than or equal to ...

x y

| |

absolute value sign

The absolute value of ...

| -5 | = 5

increment sign,
Triangle symbol Perpendicularity symbol // Parallel symbol

the change in ... triangle ... ... is perpendicular to ... ... is parallel to ... Angle ... For some ... There exists a(n) ... For all ... For every ...

m= y/ x ABC = DEF

L // M ABC =

angle symbol
Existential quantifier

DEF

x : x > 4 and x < 5 x : x < 0 or x > -1

Universal quantifier

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Logical negation symbol

not ... ... implies ... If ... then ... ... is logically equivalent to ... ... if and only if .. ... therefore ... ... it follows that ... ... is an element of a set ... ... is not an element of a set ... ... is a subset of ... ... is a proper subset of ... ... union ... ... intersect ... ... intersected with ... The null set The empty set Aleph ... ... degree(s) ... theta ... ... phi ...

Logical statements Logical statements Logical statements Logical statements or mathematical proofs Sets

(A) A B

logical implication
symbol

logical equivalence
symbol

x = y and y = z x=z a A

Three dots

Element-of symbol Not-element-of symbol Subset symbol Proper subset symbol Union symbol Intersection symbol

Sets Sets Sets Sets Sets

b A A A B B

A B=B A A B=B A

Null symbol Hebrew aleph (uppercase) Degree symbol Greek theta (lowercase) Greek phi (lowercase)

Sets Transfinite cardinal Angular measure Temperature Angular variable Angular variable
1

={} +
0

= 45 T = +20 C = 90 = 45

wavelength
Greek lambda (lowercase) ... lambda ... Ratio Eigenvalue Lebesgue measure = 70 cm = 3:1

Greek mu (lowercase) Greek pi (lowercase) Greek omega (uppercase)

micro- (10 -6) ... pi ...

prefix multiplier
General science Volume of an object Ohms (resistance) Transfinite ordinal Angular velocity Period

C = 0.001 F 3.14159

... omega ...

R2 = 330

Greek omega (lowercase)

... omega ...

= 36,000 rad/s = 1/60 s

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,N ,Z

Enhanced or bold N Enhanced or bold Z

The set of natural numbers The set of integers The set of rational numbers The set of real numbers

Number theory Set theory Number theory Set theory Number theory Set theory Number theory Set theory

= {0, 1, 2, 3, ...} = {0, 1, -1, 2, -2, 3, -3, ...} = {a/b | a and b are in } What is the cardinality of ?

,Q

Enhanced or bold Q

,R

Enhanced or bold R