Mathematical Symbols

List of all mathematical symbols and signs - meaning and examples.

 Basic math symbols
 Geometry symbols
 Algebra symbols
 Probability & statistics symbols
 Set theory symbols
 Logic symbols
 Calculus & analysis symbols
 Number symbols
 Greek symbols
 Roman numerals

Basic math symbols

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

5 = 2+3
= equals sign equality
5 is equal to 2+3

5≠4
≠ not equal sign inequality
5 is not equal to 4

sin(0.01) ≈ 0.01,
approximately
≈ equal
approximation x ≈ y means x is
approximately equal to y

5>4
> strict inequality greater than
5 is greater than 4

4<5
< strict inequality less than
4 is less than 5

5 ≥ 4,
≥ inequality greater than or equal to x ≥ y means x is greater
than or equal to y

4 ≤ 5,
≤ inequality less than or equal to x ≤ y means x is less than
or equal to y

calculate expression inside

() parentheses
first
2 × (3+5) = 16
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

calculate expression inside

[] brackets
first
[(1+2)×(1+5)] = 18

+ plus sign addition 1+1=2

− minus sign subtraction 2−1=1

both plus and minus

± plus - minus
operations
3 ± 5 = 8 and -2

both minus and plus

± minus - plus
operations
3 ∓ 5 = -2 and 8

* asterisk multiplication 2*3=6

× times sign multiplication 2×3=6

⋅ multiplication dot multiplication 2⋅ 3=6

division sign /
÷ obelus
division 6÷2=3

/ division slash division 6/2=3

— horizontal line division / fraction

mod modulo remainder calculation 7 mod 2 = 1

decimal point, decimal

. period
separator
2.56 = 2+56/100

a b power exponent 23 = 8

a^b caret exponent 2 ^ 3= 8

√a square root √a ⋅ √a = a √9 = ±3
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

3
√a cube root √a ⋅ 3√a ⋅ 3√a = a
3 3
√8 = 2

4
√a fourth root 4
√a ⋅ √a ⋅ 4√a ⋅ 4√a = a
4 4
√16 = ±2

n
√a n-th root (radical) for n=3, n√8 = 2

% percent 1% = 1/100 10% × 30 = 3

‰ per-mille 1‰ = 1/1000 = 0.1% 10‰ × 30 = 0.3

ppm per-million 1ppm = 1/1000000 10ppm × 30 = 0.0003

ppb per-billion 1ppb = 1/1000000000 10ppb × 30 = 3×10-7

ppt per-trillion 1ppt = 10-12 10ppt × 30 = 3×10-10

Geometry symbols
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

∠ angle formed by two rays ∠ ABC = 30°

measured
ABC = 30°
angle

spherical angle AOB = 30°

∟ right angle = 90° α = 90°

° degree 1 turn = 360° α = 60°

deg degree 1 turn = 360deg α = 60deg

′ prime arcminute, 1° = 60′ α = 60°59′

″ double prime arcsecond, 1′ = 60″ α = 60°59′59″

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

line infinite line

AB line segment line from point A to point B

ray line that start from point A

arc arc from point A to point B = 60°

⊥ perpendicular perpendicular lines (90° angle) AC ⊥ BC

∥ parallel parallel lines AB ∥ CD

equivalence of geometric shapes and

≅ congruent to
size
∆ABC≅ ∆XYZ

~ similarity same shapes, not same size ∆ABC~ ∆XYZ

Δ triangle triangle shape ΔABC≅ ΔBCD

|x-y| distance distance between points x and y | x-y | = 5

π = 3.141592654...
π pi constant c = π⋅ d = 2⋅ π⋅ r
is the ratio between the circumference and diameter of a circle

rad radians radians angle unit 360° = 2π rad

c
radians radians angle unit 360° = 2π c

grad gradians / gons grads angle unit 360° = 400 grad

g
gradians / gons grads angle unit 360° = 400 g

Algebra symbols
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

unknown value to
x x variable
find
when 2x = 4, then x = 2
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

≡ equivalence identical to

≜ equal by definition equal by definition

:= equal by definition equal by definition

approximately
~ equal
weak approximation 11 ~ 10

approximately
≈ equal
approximation sin(0.01) ≈ 0.01

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

∞ lemniscate infinity symbol

≪ much less than much less than 1 ≪ 1000000

≫ much greater than much greater than 1000000 ≫ 1

calculate expression
() parentheses
inside first
2 * (3+5) = 16

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

{} braces set

rounds number to
⌊ x⌋ floor brackets
lower integer
⌊ 4.3⌋ = 4

rounds number to
⌈ x⌉ ceiling brackets
upper integer
⌈ 4.3⌉ = 5

x! exclamation mark factorial 4! = 1*2*3*4 = 24

|x| single vertical bar absolute value | -5 | = 5

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

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

function f (x)=3x,g(x)=x-1
(f ∘ g) (f ∘ g) (x) = f (g(x))
composition ⇒(f ∘ g)(x)=3(x-1)

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

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

∆ delta change / difference ∆t = t1 - t0

∆ discriminant Δ = b2 - 4ac

summation - sum of
∑ sigma all values in range of ∑ xi= x1+x2+...+xn
series

∑∑ sigma double summation

product - product of
∏ capital pi all values in range of ∏ xi=x1∙x2∙...∙xn
series

e constant / Euler's
e number
e = 2.718281828... e = lim (1+1/x)x , x→∞

Euler-Mascheroni
γ constant
γ = 0.5772156649...

φ golden ratio golden ratio constant

π = 3.141592654...
π pi constant is the ratio between the
c = π⋅ d = 2⋅ π⋅ r
circumference and diameter of a
circle

Linear Algebra Symbols

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

· dot scalar product a·b

× cross vector product a×b

A⊗B tensor product tensor product of A and B A ⊗B

inner product

[] brackets matrix of numbers

() parentheses matrix of numbers

|A| determinant determinant of matrix A

det(A) determinant determinant of matrix A

|| x || double vertical bars norm

A T transpose matrix transpose (AT)ij = (A)ji

A† Hermitian matrix matrix conjugate transpose (A†)ij = (A)ji

A * Hermitian matrix matrix conjugate transpose (A*)ij = (A)ji

A -1 inverse matrix A A-1 = I

rank(A) matrix rank rank of matrix A rank(A) = 3

dim(U) dimension dimension of matrix A dim(U) = 3

Probability and statistics symbols

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

probability probability of event

P(A) function A
P(A) = 0.5
 Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

probability of
probability that of
P(A ∩ B) events
events A and B
P(A∩B) = 0.5
intersection

probability of probability that of

P(A ∪ B) events union events A or B
P(A∪B) = 0.5

conditional probability of event

P(A | B) probability A given event B P(A | B) = 0.3
function occured

probability
P(a ≤ x ≤ b) = ∫
f (x) density function
f (x) dx
(pdf)

cumulative
F(x) distribution F(x) = P(X≤ x)
function (cdf)

mean of population
μ population mean
values
μ = 10

expectation expected value of

E(X) value random variable X
E(X) = 10

expected value of
conditional
E(X | Y) expectation
random variable X E(X | Y=2) = 5
given Y

variance of random
var(X) variance
variable X
var(X) = 4

variance of
σ 2 variance
population values
σ2 = 4

standard deviation
standard
std(X) deviation
of random variable std(X) = 2
X

standard deviation
standard
σ X
deviation
value of random σX = 2
variable X
 Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

middle value of
median
random variable x

covariance of
cov(X,Y) covariance random variables X cov(X,Y) = 4
and Y

correlation of
corr(X,Y) correlation random variables X corr(X,Y) = 0.6
and Y

correlation of
ρX,Y correlation random variables X ρX,Y = 0.6
and Y

summation - sum of
∑ summation all values in range
of series

double
∑∑ summation
double summation

value that occurs

Mo mode most frequently in
population

MR mid-range MR = (xmax+xmin)/2

half the population

Md sample median
is below this value

lower / first 25% of population

Q1 quartile are below this value

50% of population
median / second are below this value
Q2 quartile = median of
samples

upper / third 75% of population

Q3 quartile are below this value
 Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

average / arithmetic
x sample mean
mean
x = (2+5+9) / 3 = 5.333

population samples
s 2 sample variance
variance estimator
s2 = 4

population samples
sample standard
s deviation
standard deviation s = 2
estimator

zx standard score zx = (x-x) / sx

distribution of
X~ distribution of X
random variable X
X ~ N(0,3)

normal gaussian
N(μ,σ2) X ~ N(0,3)
distribution distribution

uniform equal probability in

U(a,b) X ~ U(0,3)
distribution range a,b

exponential
exp(λ) f (x) = λe-λx , x≥0
distribution

gamma f (x) = λ c xc-1e-λx /

gamma(c, λ)
distribution Γ(c), x≥0

chi-square f (x) = xk/2-1e-x/2 /

χ 2(k)
distribution ( 2k/2 Γ(k/2) )

F (k1, k2) F distribution

binomial
Bin(n,p) f (k) = nCk pk(1-p)n-k
distribution

Poisson
Poisson(λ) f (k) = λke-λ / k!
distribution

geometric
Geom(p) f (k) = p(1-p) k
distribution
 Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

hyper-geometric
HG(N,K,n)
distribution

Bernoulli
Bern(p)
distribution

Combinatorics Symbols
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

n! factorial n! = 1⋅ 2⋅ 3⋅ ...⋅ n 5! = 1⋅ 2⋅ 3⋅ 4⋅ 5 = 120

nPk permutation 5P3 = 5! / (5-3)! = 60

nCk

combination 5C3 = 5!/[3!(5-3)!]=10

Set theory symbols

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

A = {3,7,9,14},
{} set a collection of elements
B = {9,14,28}

objects that belong to set A and

A ∩ B intersection A ∩ B = {9,14}
set B

objects that belong to set A or A∪ B=

A ∪ B union
set B {3,7,9,14,28}

A is a subset of B. set A is {9,14,28} ⊆

A ⊆ B subset
included in set B. {9,14,28}

proper subset / strict A is a subset of B, but A is not {9,14} ⊂

A⊂B
subset equal to B. {9,14,28}

A ⊄ B not subset set A is not a subset of set B {9,66} ⊄

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

{9,14,28}

A is a superset of B. set A {9,14,28} ⊇

A ⊇ B superset
includes set B {9,14,28}

proper superset / strict A is a superset of B, but B is {9,14,28} ⊃

A⊃B
superset not equal to A. {9,14}

{9,14,28} ⊅
A ⊅ B not superset set A is not a superset of set B
{9,66}

2A power set all subsets of A

power set all subsets of A

A={3,9,14},
both sets have the same
A = B equality B={3,9,14},
members
A=B

all the objects that do not

Ac complement
belong to set A

A = {3,9,14},
objects that belong to A and
A\B relative complement B = {1,2,3},
not to B
A-B = {9,14}

A = {3,9,14},
objects that belong to A and
A-B relative complement B = {1,2,3},
not to B
A-B = {9,14}

A = {3,9,14},
objects that belong to A or B B = {1,2,3},
A ∆ B symmetric difference
but not to their intersection A∆B=
{1,2,9,14}

A = {3,9,14},
objects that belong to A or B B = {1,2,3},
A ⊖ B symmetric difference
but not to their intersection A ⊖B =
{1,2,9,14}
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

element of, A={3,9,14}, 3

a∈ A belongs to
set membership
∈ A

A={3,9,14}, 1
x∉ A not element of no set membership
∉A

(a,b) ordered pair collection of 2 elements

set of all ordered pairs from A

A×B cartesian product
and B

the number of elements of set A={3,9,14},

|A| cardinality
A |A|=3

the number of elements of set A={3,9,14},

#A cardinality
A #A=3

infinite cardinality of natural

aleph-null
numbers set

cardinality of countable ordinal

aleph-one
numbers set

Ø empty set Ø={} C = {Ø}

universal set set of all possible values

natural numbers / whole

0 0 = {0,1,2,3,4,...} 0∈ 0
numbers set (with zero)

natural numbers / whole

1 numbers set (without 1 = {1,2,3,4,5,...} 6∈ 1
zero)

integer numbers set = {...-3,-2,-1,0,1,2,3,...} -6 ∈

rational numbers set = {x | x=a/b, a,b∈ } 2/6 ∈

real numbers set = {x | -∞ < x <∞} 6.343434∈

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

= {z | z=a+bi,
complex numbers set 6+2i ∈
-∞<a<∞, -∞<b<∞}

Logic symbols
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

⋅ and and x⋅ y

^ caret / circumflex and x^y

& ampersand and x&y

+ plus or x+y

∨ reversed caret or x∨ y

| vertical line or x|y

x' single quote not - negation x'

x bar not - negation x

¬ not not - negation ¬x

! exclamation mark not - negation !x

⊕ circled plus / oplus exclusive or - xor x ⊕y

~ tilde negation ~x

⇒ implies

⇔ equivalent if and only if (iff)

↔ equivalent if and only if (iff)

 Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

∀ for all

∃ there exists

∄ there does not exists

∴ therefore

∵ because / since

Calculus & analysis symbols

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

limit limit value of a function

represents a very small

ε epsilon
number, near zero
ε→0

e constant / Euler's e = lim

e number
e = 2.718281828...
(1+1/x)x, x→∞

derivative - Lagrange's
y' derivative
notation
(3x3)' = 9x2

y '' second derivative derivative of derivative (3x3)'' = 18x

y(n) nth derivative n times derivation (3x3)(3) = 18

derivative derivative - Leibniz's notation d(3x3)/dx = 9x2

second derivative derivative of derivative d2(3x3)/dx2 = 18x

nth derivative n times derivation

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

derivative by time - Newton's

time derivative
notation

time second
derivative of derivative
derivative

Dx y derivative derivative - Euler's notation

Dx2y second derivative derivative of derivative

partial derivative ∂(x2+y2)/∂x = 2x

∫ integral opposite to derivation ∫ f(x)dx

integration of function of 2
∫∫ double integral
variables
∫∫ f(x,y)dxdy

integration of function of 3
∫∫∫ triple integral
variables
∫∫∫ f(x,y,z)dxdydz

closed contour /
∮ line integral

closed surface
∯ integral

closed volume
∰ integral

[a,b] closed interval [a,b] = {x | a ≤ x ≤ b}

(a,b) open interval (a,b) = {x | a < x < b}

i imaginary unit i ≡ √-1 z = 3 + 2i

z* complex conjugate z = a+bi → z*=a-bi z* = 3 - 2i

 Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

z complex conjugate z = a+bi → z = a-bi z = 3 - 2i

∇ nabla / del gradient / divergence operator ∇ f (x,y,z)

vector

unit vector

x*y convolution y(t) = x(t) * h(t)

Laplace transform F(s) = {f (t)}

Fourier transform X(ω) = {f (t)}

δ delta function

∞ lemniscate infinity symbol

Numeral symbols
Name European Roman Hindu Arabic Hebrew

zero 0 ٠

one 1 I ١ ‫א‬

two 2 II ٢ ‫ב‬

three 3 III ٣ ‫ג‬

four 4 IV ٤ ‫ד‬

five 5 V ٥ ‫ה‬

six 6 VI ٦ ‫ו‬

seven 7 VII ٧ ‫ז‬

 Name European Roman Hindu Arabic Hebrew

eight 8 VIII ٨ ‫ח‬

nine 9 IX ٩ ‫ט‬

ten 10 X ١٠ ‫י‬

eleven 11 XI ١١ ‫יא‬

twelve 12 XII ١٢ ‫יב‬

thirteen 13 XIII ١٣ ‫יג‬

fourteen 14 XIV ١٤ ‫יד‬

fifteen 15 XV ١٥ ‫טו‬

sixteen 16 XVI ١٦ ‫טז‬

seventeen 17 XVII ١٧ ‫יז‬

eighteen 18 XVIII ١٨ ‫יח‬

nineteen 19 XIX ١٩ ‫יט‬

twenty 20 XX ٢٠ ‫כ‬

thirty 30 XXX ٣٠ ‫ל‬

forty 40 XL ٤٠ ‫מ‬

fifty 50 L ٥٠ ‫נ‬

sixty 60 LX ٦٠ ‫ס‬

seventy 70 LXX ٧٠ ‫ע‬

eighty 80 LXXX ٨٠ ‫פ‬

ninety 90 XC ٩٠ ‫צ‬
 Name European Roman Hindu Arabic Hebrew

one hundred 100 C ١٠٠ ‫ק‬

Greek alphabet letters

Upper Case Lower Case Greek Letter English Letter Name
Letter Letter Name Equivalent Pronounce

Α α Alpha a al-fa

Β β Beta b be-ta

Γ γ Gamma g ga-ma

Δ δ Delta d del-ta

Ε ε Epsilon e ep-si-lon

Ζ ζ Zeta z ze-ta

Η η Eta h eh-ta

Θ θ Theta th te-ta

Ι ι Iota i io-ta

Κ κ Kappa k ka-pa

Λ λ Lambda l lam-da

Μ μ Mu m m-yoo

Ν ν Nu n noo

Ξ ξ Xi x x-ee
Ο ο Omicron o o-mee-c-ron

Π π Pi p pa-yee

Ρ ρ Rho r row

Σ σ Sigma s sig-ma

Τ τ Tau t ta-oo

Υ υ Upsilon u oo-psi-lon

Φ φ Phi ph f-ee

Χ χ Chi ch kh-ee

Ψ ψ Psi ps p-see

Ω ω Omega o o-me-ga