Table of Mathematical Symbols

Table of mathematical symbols - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Página 1 de 13
Table of mathematical symbols

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the HTML codes of mathematical symbols see mathematical HTML.

Note: This article contains special characters.
The following table lists many specialized symbols commonly used in mathematics.
Basic mathematical symbols

Name
Symbol Read as Explanation Examples
Category
equality
x = y means x and y
is equal to;
= equals
represent the same
thing or value.
1+1=2
everywhere
≠ inequation x ≠ y means that x and y

do not represent the
same thing or value.
is not equal to;
1≠2
<> does not equal (The symbols != and <>
are primarily from
computer science. They
are avoided in
!= everywhere mathematical texts.)
< strict inequality

x < y means x is less
than y.
> is less than, is x > y means x is greater

than y. 3<4
greater than, is
5 > 4.
much less than,
x ≪ y means x is much
≪ is much greater
than less than y.
0.003 ≪ 1000000
x ≫ y means x is much
greater than y.
≫ order theory
inequality x ≤ y means x is less

than or equal to y.
≤
x ≥ y means x is
<= is less than or greater than or equal to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_of_mathematical_symbols 16/05/2007
equal to, is y.
greater than or
equal to (The symbols <= and
≥ >= are primarily from
3 ≤ 4 and 5 ≤ 5
5 ≥ 4 and 5 ≥ 5
computer science. They
>= order theory are avoided in
mathematical texts.)
proportionality
∝ is proportional y ∝ x means that y = kx

to; varies as for some constant k.
if y = 2x, then y ∝ x
everywhere
addition
4 + 6 means the sum of
plus 2+7=9
4 and 6.
arithmetic
+ disjoint union
the disjoint
A1 + A2 means the A1 = {1, 2, 3, 4} ∧ A2 = {2, 4, 5, 7} ⇒
union of ... disjoint union of sets A1 A + A = {(1,1), (2,1), (3,1), (4,1), (2,2),
1 2
and ... and A2. (4,2), (5,2), (7,2)}
set theory
subtraction
9 − 4 means the
minus 8−3=5
subtraction of 4 from 9.
arithmetic
negative sign
−3 means the negative
negative ; minus −(−5) = 5
− arithmetic
of the number 3.
set-theoretic A − B means the set

complement that contains all the
{1,2,4} − {1,3,4} = {2}
minus; without elements of A that are
set theory not in B.
multiplication 3 × 4 means the
times multiplication of 3 by 7 × 8 = 56
arithmetic 4.
Cartesian
product X×Y means the set of
the Cartesian all ordered pairs with
product of ... the first element of each
× and ...; the direct pair selected from X
{1,2} × {3,4} = {(1,3),(1,4),(2,3),(2,4)}
product of ... and the second element
and ... selected from Y.
set theory
cross product u × v means the cross
(1,2,5) × (3,4,−1) =
cross product of vectors u
(−22, 16, − 2)
vector algebra and v
multiplication 3 · 4 means the

times multiplication of 3 by 7 · 8 = 56
arithmetic 4.
· dot product u · v means the dot
dot product of vectors u (1,2,5) · (3,4,−1) = 6
vector algebra and v
÷ division
2 ÷ 4 = .5
6 ÷ 3 or 6 ⁄ 3 means the
divided by
division of 6 by 3.
12 ⁄ 4 = 3
⁄ arithmetic
plus-minus
6 ± 3 means both 6 + 3 The equation x = 5 ± √4, has two
plus or minus
and 6 - 3. solutions, x = 7 and x = 3.
arithmetic
± plus-minus 10 ± 2 or eqivalently 10 If a = 100 ± 1 mm, then a is ≥ 99 mm
plus or minus ± 20% means the range
and ≤ 101 mm.
measurement from 10 − 2 to 10 + 2.
minus-plus 6 ± (3 5) means both
∓ minus or plus 6 + (3 - 5) and 6 - (3 + cos(x ± y) = cos(x) cos(y) sin(x) sin(y).
arithmetic 5).
square root
the principal √x means the positive
square root of; number whose square is √4 = 2
square root x.
real numbers
√
complex square
root
if z = r exp(iφ) is
the complex represented in polar
square root of … coordinates with -π < φ
√(-1) = i
≤ π, then √z = √r exp
square root
(i φ/2).
complex
numbers
absolute value or |3| = 3
modulus |x| means the distance
along the real line (or |–5| = |5|
absolute value across the complex
(modulus) of plane) between x and |i|=1
zero.
|…| numbers | 3 + 4i | = 5
Euclidean
distance
Euclidean
distance |x – y| means the For x = (1,1), and y = (4,5),
between; Euclidean distance |x – y| = √([1–4]2 + [1–5]2) = 5

Euclidean norm between x and y.
of
Geometry
Determinant |A| means the
determinant of determinant of the
Matrix theory matrix A
divides A single vertical bar is
used to denote Since 15 = 3×5, it is true that 3|15 and
| divides
divisibility. 5|15.
Number Theory a|b means a divides b.
factorial
n ! is the product 1 ×
! factorial
2× ... × n.
4! = 1 × 2 × 3 × 4 = 24
combinatorics
transpose
transpose
T matrix
Swap rows for columns Aij = (AT)ji
operations
probability X ~ D, means the
distribution random variable X has X ~ N(0,1), the standard normal
has distribution the probability distribution
statistics distribution D.
~ Row equivalence A~B means that B can
is row equivalent be generated by using a
to series of elementary
Matrix theory row operations on A
A ⇒ B means if A is
material true then B is also true;
⇒ implication if A is false then
nothing is said about B.
implies; if … → may mean the same
→ then as ⇒, or it may have the x = 2 ⇒ x2 = 4 is true, but x2 = 4 ⇒ x =

meaning for functions 2 is in general false (since x could be −2).
given below.
propositional ⊃ may mean the same

⊃ logic, Heyting
algebra
as ⇒, or it may have the
meaning for superset
given below.
material
⇔ equivalence A ⇔ B means A is true
if B is true and A is x + 5 = y +2 ⇔ x + 3 = y
if and only if; iff
false if B is false.
propositional
↔ logic
The statement ¬A is
logical negation true if and only if A is
false.
¬ not
A slash placed through
another operator is the ¬(¬A) ⇔ A
same as "¬" placed in
front. x ≠ y ⇔ ¬(x = y)
˜ propositional (The symbol ~ has
logic many other uses, so ¬
or the slash notation is
preferred.)
logical The statement A ∧ B is
conjunction or true if A and B are both
meet in a lattice true; else it is false.
∧ and; min
For functions A(x) and
n < 4 ∧ n >2 ⇔ n = 3 when n is a
natural number.
propositional B(x), A(x) ∧ B(x) is
logic, lattice used to mean min(A(x),
theory B(x)).
logical The statement A ∨ B is

disjunction or true if A or B (or both)
join in a lattice are true; if both are
false, the statement is
∨ or; max
false. n ≥ 4 ∨ n ≤ 2 ⇔ n ≠ 3 when n is a
natural number.
For functions A(x) and
propositional B(x), A(x) ∨ B(x) is
logic, lattice
theory used to mean max(A
(x), B(x)).
exclusive or The statement A ⊕ B is
xor true when either A or (¬A) ⊕ A is always true, A ⊕ A is
propositional B, but not both, are always false.
logic, Boolean true. A B means the
algebra same.
⊕ The direct sum is a
direct sum special way of Most commonly, for vector spaces U, V,
combining several one and W, the following consequence is
modules into one used:
direct sum of
general module (the U = V ⊕ W ⇔ (U = V + W) ∧ (V ∩ W =
symbol ⊕ is used, is
only for logic). ∅)
Abstract algebra
universal
quantification
∀n∈ : n 2 ≥ n.
for all; for any; ∀ x: P(x) means P(x) is
∀
for each true for all x.
predicate logic
existential
∃ x: P(x) means there is
∃
quantification
there exists at least one x such that ∃ n ∈ : n is even.
P(x) is true.
predicate logic
uniqueness
quantification ∃! x: P(x) means there
∃! there exists
exactly one
is exactly one x such ∃! n ∈ : n + 5 = 2n.
that P(x) is true.
predicate logic
x := y or x ≡ y means x
:= definition is defined to be another
name for y
≡
cosh x := (1/2)(exp x + exp (−x))
(Some writers use ≡ to
is defined as
mean congruence). A xor B :⇔ (A ∨ B) ∧ ¬(A ∧ B)
P :⇔ Q means P is
everywhere defined to be logically
:⇔ equivalent to Q.
congruence △ABC △DEF means

triangle ABC is
is congruent to congruent to (has the
same measurements as)
geometry triangle DEF.
congruence
relation
≡ ... is congruent a ≡ b (mod n) means a

to ... modulo ... − b is divisible by n
5 ≡ 11 (mod 3)
modular
arithmetic
set brackets {a,b,c} means the set
{,} the set of … consisting of a, b, and = { 1, 2, 3, …}
set theory c.
set builder
{:} notation {x : P(x)} means the set
of all x for which P(x)
the set of … {n ∈ : n2 < 20} = { 1, 2, 3, 4}
is true. {x | P(x)} is the
such that
same as {x : P(x)}.
{|} set theory
∅
empty set
∅ means the set with
no elements. { } means {n ∈ : 1 < n2 < 4} = ∅
the empty set the same.
{} set theory
∈
set membership
is an element of; a ∈ S means a is an (1/2)−1 ∈
is not an element element of the set S; a ∉
of S means a is not an
2−1 ∉
∉ everywhere, set element of S.
theory
(subset) A ⊆ B means
subset every element of A is
⊆
also element of B.
(A ∩ B) ⊆ A
(proper subset) A ⊂ B
is a subset of ⊂
means A ⊆ B but A ≠ B.
⊂ (Some writers use the ⊂

set theory symbol ⊂ as if it were
the same as ⊆.)
A ⊇ B means every
superset element of B is also
⊇
element of A.
A ⊃ B means A ⊇ B but (A ∪ B) ⊇ B
is a superset of
A ≠ B.
⊃
⊃ (Some writers use the
set theory symbol ⊃ as if it were
the same as ⊇.)
(exclusive) A ∪ B
set-theoretic means the set that
union contains all the
elements from A, or all
the elements from B,
but not both.
"A or B, but not both."
∪ the union of …
and
A ⊆ B ⇔ (A ∪ B) = B (inclusive)
(inclusive) A ∪ B means
union the set that contains all
the elements from A, or
all the elements from B,
or all the elements from
set theory both A and B.
"A or B or both".
set-theoretic
intersection A ∩ B means the set
{x ∈ : x2 = 1} ∩ = {1}
that contains all those
intersected with; elements that A and B
∩
intersect have in common.
set theory
symmetric
difference A∆B means the set of
∆ symmetric
difference
elements in exactly one {1,5,6,8} ∆ {2,5,8} = {1,2,6}
of A or B.
set theory
set-theoretic A B means the set
complement that contains all those
{1,2,3,4} {3,4,5,6} = {1,2}
minus; without elements of A that are
set theory not in B.
function
application f(x) means the value of
of
the function f at the If f(x) := x2, then f(3) = 32 = 9.
element x.
set theory
() precedence
grouping Perform the operations
inside the parentheses (8/4)/2 = 2/2 = 1, but 8/(4/2) = 8/2 = 4.
parentheses
first.
everywhere
function arrow
f: X → Y means the
from … to
f:X→Y function f maps the set
set theory,type X into the set Y.
Let f: → be defined by f(x) := x2.
theory
function
composition fog is the function, such if f(x) := 2x, and g(x) := x + 3, then (fog)
o composed with that (fog)(x) = f(g(x)). (x) = 2(x + 3).
set theory
natural numbers
N means { 1, 2, 3, ...},
but see the article on
N = {|a| : a ∈ , a ≠ 0}
natural numbers for a
different convention.
N numbers
integers
means {..., −3, −2,
−1, 0, 1, 2, 3, ...} and
Z + means {1, 2, 3, = {p, -p : p ∈ } ∪ {0}
...} = .
Z numbers
rational numbers
means {p/q : p ∈ , 3.14000... ∈
Q
q ∈ }.
π
Q numbers
real numbers
π∈
R means the set of real
numbers.
√(−1)
R numbers
complex
numbers means {a + b i :
i = √(−1) ∈
C a,b ∈ }.
numbers
arbitrary C can be any number,
constant most likely unknown;
C C
usually occurs when
if f(x) = 6x² + 4x, then F(x) = 2x³ + 2x² +
C, where F'(x) = f(x)
calculating
integral calculus antiderivatives.
real or complex
numbers because
K means the statement
holds substituting K for
K R and also for C.
K and
linear algebra
.
infinity ∞ is an element of the
∞
extended number line
infinity limx 0 1/|x| = ∞
that is greater than all →
real numbers; it often
numbers occurs in limits.
norm
norm of || x || is the norm of the
||…|| length of
element x of a normed
vector space.
|| x + y || ≤ || x || + || y ||
linear algebra
summation
∑ sum over …
from … to … of
means a1 + a2 +
= 1 2 + 2 2 + 3 2 + 42
… + an.
arithmetic = 1 + 4 + 9 + 16 = 30
product
product over … = (1+2)(2+2)(3+2)(4+2)

means
from … to … of
∏ a a ···a .
arithmetic 1 2 n = 3 × 4 × 5 × 6 = 360
Cartesian
product
the Cartesian
product of; the
direct product of means the set of
all (n+1)-tuples
set theory
(y0, …, yn).
coproduct
coproduct over
… from … to …
of
category theory
derivative f ′(x) is the derivative of

the function f at the
′ … prime
point x, i.e., the slope of
the tangent to f at x.
The dot notation If f(x) := x2, then f ′(x) = 2x

derivative of indicates a time
• derivative. That is
calculus .
indefinite
integral or
antiderivative
indefinite ∫ f(x) dx means a
integral of function whose ∫x2 dx = x3/3 + C
derivative is f.
the antiderivative
∫ of
calculus
definite integral ∫ab f(x) dx means the
integral from … signed area between the
to … of … with x-axis and the graph of ∫0b x2 dx = b3/3;
respect to the function f between
calculus x = a and x = b.
gradient ∇f (x1, …, xn) is the
∇ If f (x,y,z) := 3xy + z², then ∇f = (3y, 3x,

del, nabla, vector of partial
gradient of derivatives ( ∂ ∂ 1
f / x , …, 2z)
calculus ∂f / ∂xn).
partial With f (x1, …, xn),
differential ∂f/∂x is the derivative
i
2
∂ partial, d of f with respect to xi, If f(x,y) := x y, then ∂f/∂x = 2xy
with all other variables
calculus kept constant.
boundary
boundary of ∂M means the boundary

∂{x : ||x|| ≤ 2} = {x : ||x|| = 2}
topology of M
perpendicular x ⊥ y means x is
is perpendicular perpendicular to y; or
If l ⊥ m and m ⊥ n then l || n.
to more generally x is
⊥
geometry orthogonal to y.
bottom element
the bottom x = ⊥ means x is the
∀x : x ∧ ⊥ = ⊥
element smallest element.
lattice theory
parallel
x || y means x is parallel
|| is parallel to If l || m and m ⊥ n then l ⊥ n.
to y.
geometry
entailment A B means the
sentence A entails the
entails sentence B, that is A A ∨ ¬A
every model in which A
model theory is true, B is also true.
inference
infers or is
derived from x y means y is
A→B ¬B → ¬A
propositional derived from x.
logic, predicate
logic
normal subgroup
N G means that N is
is a normal
a normal subgroup of Z(G) G
subgroup of
group G.
group theory
quotient group G/H means the quotient
{0, a, 2a, b, b+a, b+2a} / {0, b} = {{0,
mod of group G modulo its
b}, {a, b+a}, {2a, b+2a}}
group theory subgroup H.
/ quotient set A/~ means the set of all If we define ~ by x~y ⇔ x-y∈Z, then
mod ~ equivalence classes in
A. R/~ = {{x+n : n∈Z} : x ∈ (0,1]}
set theory
isomorphism G ≈ H means that Q / {1, −1} ≈ V,
is isomorphic to group G is isomorphic where Q is the quaternion group and V is
group theory to group H the Klein four-group.
≈ approximately
equal x ≈ y means x is
is approximately approximately equal to π ≈ 3.14159
equal to y
everywhere
same order of
magnitude m ~ n, means the
roughly similar quantities m and n have 2 ~ 5
the general size.
poorly
~ approximates (Note that ~ is used for
8 × 9 ~ 100
Approximation an approximation that but π2 ≈ 10

theory is poor, otherwise use
≈ .)
〈,〉
inner product
〈x,y〉 means the
(|) inner product of x and y The standard inner product between two
as defined in an inner vectors x = (2, 3) and y = (−1, 5) is:
product space. 〈x, y〉 = 2×−1 + 3×5 = 13
inner product of
<,> For spatial vectors, the A:B =
∑ AijBij
dot product notation,
x·y is common. i,j
For matricies, the colon
· notation may be used.
vector algebra
:
tensor product
V U means the tensor {1, 2, 3, 4} {1,1,2} =
tensor product of
product of V and U. {{1, 2, 3, 4}, {1, 2, 3, 4}, {2, 4, 6, 8}}
linear algebra
convolution f * g means the
* convolution convolution of f and g.
mean
is the mean (average
overbar value of xi). .
statistics
delta equal to means equal by

definition. When is
used, equality is not
equal by true generally, but
.
definition rather equality is true
under certain
assumptions that are
everywhere taken in context.
See also
Mathematical alphanumeric symbols
Table of logic symbols

Physical constants
Variables commonly used in physics
ISO 31-11
External links
Jeff Miller: Earliest Uses of Various Mathematical Symbols
(http://members.aol.com/jeff570/mathsym.html)
TCAEP - Institute of Physics (http://www.tcaep.co.uk/science/symbols/maths.htm)
GIF and PNG Images for Math Symbols (http://us.metamath.org/symbols/symbols.html)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_of_mathematical_symbols"
Categories: Mathematical notation | Mathematics-related lists | Symbols | Mathematical symbols
This page was last modified 12:48, 10 May 2007.

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Table of mathematical symbols - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Página 1 de 13

Table of mathematical symbols

For the HTML codes of mathematical symbols see mathematical HTML.

Basic mathematical symbols

≠ inequation x ≠ y means that x and y

< strict inequality

> is less than, is x > y means x is greater

inequality x ≤ y means x is less

∝ is proportional y ∝ x means that y = kx

set-theoretic A − B means the set

multiplication 3 · 4 means the

between; Euclidean distance |x – y| = √([1–4]2 + [1–5]2) = 5

implies; if … → may mean the same

→ then as ⇒, or it may have the x = 2 ⇒ x2 = 4 is true, but x2 = 4 ⇒ x =

propositional ⊃ may mean the same

logical The statement A ∨ B is

congruence △ABC △DEF means

≡ ... is congruent a ≡ b (mod n) means a

⊂ (Some writers use the ⊂

product over … = (1+2)(2+2)(3+2)(4+2)

derivative f ′(x) is the derivative of

The dot notation If f(x) := x2, then f ′(x) = 2x

∇ If f (x,y,z) := 3xy + z², then ∇f = (3y, 3x,

boundary of ∂M means the boundary

Approximation an approximation that but π2 ≈ 10

delta equal to means equal by

Table of logic symbols

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_of_mathematical_symbols"

Categories: Mathematical notation | Mathematics-related lists | Symbols | Mathematical symbols

This page was last modified 12:48, 10 May 2007.

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