32 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

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

x Multiplication sign ... times ... Product of two

4 x 2 =8
values

· Multiplication sign ... times ... Product of two

4 ·2 = 8
values
Sum of many or
summation sign The summation of
infinitely many
...
values

Integral sign The integral of ... integration x 2 dx = x3/3

+c

double integral The double integral

integration
sign of ... f(x,y) dx dy

The triple integral f(x,y,z) dx dy

Triple integral sign of ... integration
dz
The line integral of
Line integral sign integration F dx
...
The surface
Surface integral sign integration
integral of ... F(x,y,z) dx dy

Subtraction sign Difference of two

... 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 AB=BA
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

^ Carat ... to the power of

...
exponent 2 ^ 4 = 16
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Product of all
positive
! Exclamation ... factoriall 3! = 6
integers up to a
certain value
Algebraic
surd ... root of ... z= (x + y)
expressions
square root The square root of Algebraic
symbol ... expressions 4  2
... and so on up to
... Extension of
... Continuation sign S = {1, 2, 3, ...}
... and so on sequence
indefinitely
... divided by ...
/ Slash Division 3/4 = 0.75
... over ...
÷ Division sign ... divided by ... Division 3 ÷ 4 = 0.75
% Percent symbol ... percent ... Proportion 0.032 = 3.2

Per mil symbol ... per mil ... Proportion 0.032 = 32

2:4 = 20:40
Division or ratio,
... is to ... symbol following x : x > 4 and x < 5
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}

Symbol following x | x > 4 and x < 5

... such that ... logical quantifier

| Vertical line or x | x < 0 or x > -1
...it is true that ...
used in defining a
set S = {x | x < 3}

:: Double colon ... averaged with ... arithmetic mean 3 :: 11 = 7

Infinite
... infinity
summations
lemniscate ... increases x : x <
Infinite sequence
without limit
Limit
Denotes a
...quantity... (x + y) + z
quantity, list,
...list... (a1, a2, a3, a4)
set of
( ) 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
... the half-open Denotes a
( ] Hybrid brackets (2,4]
interval ... half-open interval
... the half-open Denotes a
[ ) Hybrid brackets [2,4)
interval ... half-open interval

... the quantity ... Denotes a

{ } Curly brackets E = {2, 4, 6, 8, ...}
... the set ... quantity or a set
34 Sutra: International Journal of Mathematical Science Education,
Vol. 2, No. 1, 2009

Indicates two
-(-6) = 6
= Equal sign ... equals ... values
2z2 + 4z - 6 = 0
are the same
Indicates two
... is proportional to variables
Proportionality sign ...
x y
change in direct
proportion
Indicates two
~ Similarity sign ... is similar to ... objects are
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 at most equal is smaller than or x y
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
... is greater than on left
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 origin in number | -5 | = 5
of ...
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

angle symbol Angle ... Geometry ABC = DEF

For some ... Logical
Existential quantifier x : x > 4 and x < 5
There exists a(n) ... statements

For all ... Logical x : x < 0 or x > -1

Universal quantifier
For every ... statements
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¬ Logical negation not ... Logical

¬(¬A) A
symbol statements

logical implication ... implies ... Logical

A B
symbol If ... then ... statements

logical ... is logically

Logical
equivalence equivalent to ... A B
statements
symbol ... if and only if ..

Logical
... therefore ... x = y and y = z
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 ...

Subset symbol ... is a subset of ... Sets A B

Proper subset ... is a proper Sets A B

symbol subset of ...

Union symbol ... union ... Sets A B=B A

... intersect ...

Intersection symbol ... intersected with Sets AB=B A
...
The null set
Null symbol Sets ={}
The empty set
Hebrew aleph Aleph ... Transfinite
1+ 0= 1
(uppercase) cardinal
Angular measure = 45º
º Degree symbol ... degree(s)
Temperature T = +20 ºC

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
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Vol. 2, No. 1, 2009

Enhanced or bold N The set of natural Number theory

,N = {0, 1, 2, 3, ...}
numbers Set theory
Number theory = {0, 1, -1, 2, -2,
,Z Enhanced or bold Z The set of integers
Set theory 3, -3, ...}

The set of rational =

Enhanced or bold Q Number theory
,Q {a/b | a and b are
numbers Set theory
in }

Enhanced or bold R The set of real Number theory What is the

,R
numbers Set theory cardinality of ?