Mathematical symbols

Mathematical notation from different countries

This list gives a sense of some mathematical symbols that may be used in other countries. It is not
intended to make the teacher an ‘expert’ of translation. The child and family are the experts; teachers
are not expected to know the differences in language. Teachers should speak to the child and parents
to identify differences. Another way of achieving this with children who are in the early stages of
learning English, but are advanced learners of mathematics, would be to model the operation with
cubes (e.g. for 12 ÷ 4 = 3, take the 12 cubes and put them into groups of 4 or share the 12 cubes
into 4 piles) and ask the child to record what has taken place, using symbols.
Some
How it is How it is Sample countries
Symbol What it is
read used expression where this
symbol is used
... plus... Latvia,
Lithuania,
... add... Sum of EstoniaRussia,
+ Addition sign 3+5=8
values Ukraine, Poland
The total and other
of... and... countries
... subtract...

... take Subtraction,

away... taking one Latvia,
Subtraction value away Lithuania,
sign from EstoniaRussia,
- The 3 - 5 = -2
another, Ukraine, Poland
difference difference and other
Minus sign
between... between countries
and ... two values

Negative...
... multiplied
by...
Multiplication Product of Poland and
x ... groups 3 x 5 = 15
sign two values other countries
of...

... times...
Argentina and
... multiplied otherSouth
by... American
countries,Latvia,
Multiplication Product of
. ... groups 3 . 5 = 15 Lithuania,
sign two values
of... EstoniaRussia,
Ukraine, Poland
... times... and other
countries
... divided
by...

What is... 3 ÷ 4 =
÷ Division sign Division
shared 0.75
between...?

How many
 groups of...
are there
in...?
... divided
by...

What is...
shared Latvia,
between...? Lithuania,
EstoniaRussia,
/ Slash Division 3 / 4 = 0.75
Ukraine, Poland
How many and other
groups of... countries
are there
in...?

... over...
... divided
by...

What is... Norway,

shared Germany, Italy,
3 : 4 = 0.75 Latvia,
between...? Division
Colon, ratio Lithuania,
:
sign 2 : 4 = 20 : EstoniaRussia,
How many Ratio Ukraine, Poland
40
groups of... and other
are there countries
in...?

... to...
Separating Europe:Latvia,
whole Lithuania,
numbers 7,3 + 3,3 = EstoniaRussia,
, Decimal sign ... point...
from 10,6 Ukraine, Poland
decimal and other
points countries

In Denmark, a division symbol (÷) is used to mark an answer or solution as incorrect instead of a
cross.

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ematical%20symbols%20page/