Basic math symbols

Symbo
Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
l

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
≈ approximation x ≈ y means x is approximately
equal
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 2 × (3+5) = 16
first

calculate expression inside

[] brackets [(1+2)×(1+5)] = 18
first

+ plus sign addition 1+1=2

− minus sign subtraction 2−1=1

both plus and minus

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

both minus and plus

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

* asterisk multiplication 2*3=6

1
Symbo
Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
l

× times sign multiplication 2×3=6

⋅ multiplication dot multiplication 2⋅3=6

division sign /
÷ division 6÷2=3
obelus

/ division slash division 6/2=3

— horizontal line division / fraction

mod modulo remainder calculation 7 mod 2 = 1

decimal point, decimal

. period 2.56 = 2+56/100
separator

ab power exponent 23 = 8

a^b caret exponent 2 ^ 3  = 8

√a square root √a  ⋅  √a    = a √9 = ±3

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

4 4
√a fourth root √a  ⋅  4√a    ⋅  4√a    ⋅  4√a    = a 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

2
Symbo
Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
l

∠ 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″

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

≅ congruent to equivalence of geometric shapes and 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 is the ratio between the circumference and diameter of c = π⋅d = 2⋅π⋅r
a circle

3
Symbo
Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
l

rad radians radians angle unit 360° = 2π rad

c
radians radians angle unit 360° = 2π c

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

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

Algebra symbols

Symbo
Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
l

x x variable unknown value to find when 2x = 4, then x = 2

≡ equivalence identical to  

≜ equal by definition equal by definition  

:= equal by definition equal by definition  

approximately
~ weak approximation 11 ~ 10
equal

approximately
≈ approximation sin(0.01) ≈ 0.01
equal

∝ 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

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

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

{} braces set  

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

4
Symbo
Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
l

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

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

| x | vertical bars absolute value | -5 | = 5

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

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

(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 all values in

∑ sigma ∑  xi= x1+x2+...+xn
range of series

∑∑ sigma double summation

product - product of all values in

∏ capital pi ∏  xi=x1∙x2∙...∙xn
range of series

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

Euler-Mascheroni
γ γ = 0.5772156649...  
constant

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

5
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  

AT 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

P(A) probability function probability of event A P(A) = 0.5

probability of events probability that of events A

P(A ⋂ B) P(A⋂B) = 0.5
intersection and B

probability of events probability that of events A

P(A ⋃ B) P(A⋃B) = 0.5
union or B

conditional probability of event A

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

6
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

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

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

μ population mean mean of population values μ = 10

expected value of random

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

conditional expected value of random

E(X | Y) E(X | Y=2) = 5
expectation variable X given Y

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

variance of population
σ2 variance σ2  = 4
values

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

standard deviation value of

σX standard deviation σX    =  2
random variable X

middle value of random

median
variable x

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

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

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

summation - sum of all

∑ summation
values in range of series

∑∑ double summation double summation

7
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

value that occurs most

Mo mode  
frequently in population

MR mid-range MR = (xmax+xmin)/2  

half the population is

Md sample median  
below this value

25% of population are

Q1 lower / first quartile  
below this value

50% of population are

median / second
Q2 below this value = median  
quartile
of samples

upper / third 75% of population are

Q3  
quartile below this value

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

population samples
s  2 sample variance s  2 = 4
variance estimator

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

zx standard score zx = (x-x) /  sx  

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

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

equal probability in range

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

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

gamma(c,
gamma distribution f  (x)  = λ c xc-1e-λx / Γ(c), x≥0  
λ)

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

8
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

distribution )

F  (k1, k2) F distribution    

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

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

geometric
Geom(p) f  (k)  =  p(1-p)  k  
distribution

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

n k P permutation P   =  5! / (5-3)! = 60
5 3

n k C

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

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 set

A∩B intersection A ∩ B = {9,14}
B

A∪B=
A∪B union objects that belong to set A or set B
{3,7,9,14,28}

9
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

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

A⊆B subset
in set B. {9,14,28}

A is a subset of B, but A is not equal {9,14} ⊂

A⊂B proper subset / strict subset
to B. {9,14,28}

{9,66} ⊄
A⊄B not subset set A is not a subset of set B
{9,14,28}

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

A⊇B superset
set B {9,14,28}

A is a superset of B, but B is not {9,14,28} ⊃

A⊃B proper superset / strict superset
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},
A=B equality both sets have the same members B={3,9,14},
A=B

all the objects that do not belong to

Ac complement  
set A

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

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

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

A⊖B symmetric difference objects that belong to A or B but A = {3,9,14},

not to their intersection B = {1,2,3},
A⊖B=

10
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

{1,2,9,14}

element of,
a∈A set membership A={3,9,14}, 3 ∈ A
belongs to

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

(a,b) ordered pair collection of 2 elements  

set of all ordered pairs from A and

A×B cartesian product  
B

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

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

| vertical bar such that A={x|3<x<14}

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

 = {z  |  z=a+bi, -∞<a<∞,     

complex numbers set 6+2i ∈ 
-∞<b<∞}

Logic symbols
11
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)  

∀ for all    

∃ there exists    

∄ there does not exists    

∴ therefore    

∵ because / since    

Calculus & analysis symbols

12
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

limit limit value of a function  

13
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

represents a very small

ε epsilon ε  →  0
number, near zero

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

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

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  

derivative by time - Newton's

time derivative  
notation

time second derivative derivative of 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 ∫∫ f(x,y)dxdy
variables

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

∮ closed contour / line integral    

14
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

∯ 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

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

Re(z) real part of a complex number z = a+bi → Re(z)=a Re(3 - 2i) = 3

imaginary part of a complex

Im(z) z = a+bi → Im(z)=b Im(3 - 2i) = -2
number

absolute value/magnitude of a
| z | |z| = |a+bi| = √(a2+b2) |3 - 2i| = √13
complex number

The angle of the radius in the

arg(z) argument of a complex number arg(3 + 2i) = 33.7°
complex plane

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

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

15
Name Western Arabic Roman Eastern 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

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

16
 Name Western Arabic Roman Eastern Arabic Hebrew

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

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

17
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

Roman numerals

Number Roman numeral

0 not defined

1 I

2 II

3 III

4 IV

5 V

6 VI

7 VII

8 VIII

18
Number Roman numeral

9 IX

10 X

11 XI

12 XII

13 XIII

14 XIV

15 XV

16 XVI

17 XVII

18 XVIII

19 XIX

20 XX

30 XXX

40 XL

50 L

60 LX

70 LXX

80 LXXX

90 XC

100 C

200 CC

300 CCC

19
Number Roman numeral

400 CD

500 D

600 DC

700 DCC

800 DCCC

900 CM

1000 M

5000 V

10000 X

50000 L

100000 C

500000 D

1000000 M

20