Math Symbols List

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

Symbol
Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

= equals sign equality 5 = 2+3

5 is equal to 2+3

≠ not equal sign inequality 5≠4

5 is not equal to 4

≈ approximately approximation sin(0.01) ≈ 0.01,

equal x ≈ y means x is
approximately equal to y

> strict greater than 5>4

inequality 5 is greater than 4

< strict less than 4<5

inequality 4 is less than 5

≥ inequality greater than or equal 5 ≥ 4,

to x ≥ y means x is greater than
or equal to y

≤ inequality less than or equal to 4 ≤ 5,

x ≤ y means x is less than or
equal to y

() parentheses calculate expression 2 × (3+5) = 16

inside first

[] brackets calculate expression [(1+2)×(1+5)] = 18

inside first

+ plus sign addition 1+1=2

− minus sign subtraction 2−1=1

± plus - minus both plus and minus 3 ± 5 = 8 or -2

operations

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 Symbol
Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

± minus - plus both minus and plus 3 ∓ 5 = -2 or 8

operations

* asterisk multiplication 2*3=6

× times sign multiplication 2×3=6

⋅ multiplication multiplication 2⋅3=6

dot

÷ 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

. period decimal point, decimal 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√a 3√a
cube root ⋅ 3√a ⋅ 3√a = a 3√8
=2

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

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

% 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

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 Symbol
Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

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

Symbol
Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

∠ angle formed by two rays ∠ABC =

30°

measured ABC =
angle 30°

spherical AOB =
angle 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

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 Symbol
Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

Δ triangle triangle shape ΔABC≅

ΔBCD

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

π pi constant π = 3.141592654... c = π⋅d =

is the ratio between the circumference 2⋅π⋅r
and diameter of a circle

rad radians radians angle unit 360° = 2π

rad
c
radians radians angle unit c360° = 2π

grad gradians / grads angle unit 360° =

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

Symbol
Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

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

x=2

≡ equivalence identical to

≜ equal by equal by definition

definition

:= equal by equal by definition

definition

~ approximately weak approximation 11 ~ 10

equal

≈ approximately approximation sin(0.01) ≈ 0.01

equal

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

to k constant

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 Symbol
Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

∞ lemniscate infinity symbol

≪ much less much less than 1 ≪ 1000000

than

≫ much greater much greater than 1000000 ≫ 1

than

() 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

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

brackets

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

mark

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

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

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

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

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

range of series

∑∑ sigma double summation

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 Symbol
Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

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

range of series

e e constant / e = 2.718281828... e = lim (1+1/x)x ,

Euler's x→∞
number

γ Euler- γ = 0.5772156649...
Mascheroni
constant

φ golden ratio golden ratio constant

π pi constant π = 3.141592654... c = π⋅d = 2⋅π⋅r

is the ratio between the
circumference and diameter of a
circle

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

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Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

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

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

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

function

P(A ⋂ B) probability of probability that of events A P(A⋂B) = 0.5

events and B
intersection

P(A ⋃ B) probability of probability that of events A or P(A⋃B) = 0.5

events union B

P(A | B) conditional probability of event A given P(A | B) = 0.3

probability event B occured
function

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

function (pdf)

F(x) cumulative F(x) = P(X≤ x)

distribution
function (cdf)

μ population mean mean of population values μ = 10

E(X) expectation value expected value of random E(X) = 10

variable X

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

expectation variable X given Y

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

σ2 variance variance of population values σ2 = 4

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

deviation variable X

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 Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

σX standard standard deviation value of σX = 2

deviation random variable X

median middle value of random

variable x

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

variables X and Y

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

variables X and Y

ρX,Y correlation correlation of random ρX,Y = 0.6

variables X and Y

∑ summation summation - sum of all values

in range of series

∑∑ double double summation

summation

Mo mode value that occurs most

frequently in population

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

Md sample median half the population is below

this value

Q1 lower / first 25% of population are below

quartile this value

Q2 median / second 50% of population are below

quartile this value = median of samples

Q3 upper / third 75% of population are below

quartile this value

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

5.333

s2 sample variance population samples variance s2 = 4

estimator

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 Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

s sample standard population samples standard s=2

deviation deviation estimator

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

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

variable X

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

distribution

U(a,b) uniform equal probability in range a,b X ~ U(0,3)

distribution

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

distribution

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

λ) distribution

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

distribution

F (k1, k2) F distribution

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

distribution

Poisson(λ) Poisson f (k) = λke-λ / k!

distribution

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

distribution

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

Bern(p) Bernoulli
distribution

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

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

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Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

n Pk permutation 5 P3 = 5! / (5-3)! = 60

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

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

{} set a collection of elements A=

{3,7,9,14},
B=
{9,14,28}

A∩B intersection objects that belong to set A A∩B=

and set B {9,14}

A∪B union objects that belong to set A A∪B=

or set B {3,7,9,14,28}

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

included in set B. {9,14,28}

A⊂B proper subset / strict A is a subset of B, but A is {9,14} ⊂

subset not equal to B. {9,14,28}

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

{9,14,28}

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

includes set B {9,14,28}

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

superset not equal to A. {9,14}

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

B {9,66}

2A power set all subsets of A

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Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

power set all subsets of A

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

members B={3,9,14},
A=B

Ac complement all the objects that do not

belong to set A

A\B relative complement objects that belong to A and A = {3,9,14},

not to B B = {1,2,3},
A-B = {9,14}

A-B relative complement objects that belong to A and A = {3,9,14},

not to B B = {1,2,3},
A-B = {9,14}

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

but not to their intersection B = {1,2,3},
A∆B=
{1,2,9,14}

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

but not to their intersection B = {1,2,3},
A⊖B=
{1,2,9,14}

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

belongs to ∈A

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

∉A

(a,b) ordered pair collection of 2 elements

A×B cartesian product set of all ordered pairs from

A and B

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

set A |A|=3

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

set A #A=3

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Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

| vertical bar such that A=

{x|3<x<14}

aleph-null infinite cardinality of

natural numbers set

aleph-one cardinality of countable

ordinal numbers set

Ø empty set Ø={} C = {Ø}

universal set set of all possible values

0 natural numbers / whole 0 = {0,1,2,3,4,...} 0∈ 0

numbers set (with zero)

1 natural numbers / whole 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∈

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

-∞<b<∞}

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'

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Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

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

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

limit limit value of a function

ε epsilon represents a very small ε→0

number, near zero

e e constant / Euler's number e = 2.718281828... e = lim

(1+1/x)x ,
x→∞

y' derivative derivative - Lagrange's (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 d(3x3)/dx =

notation 9x2
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Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

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

18x

nth derivative n times derivation

time derivative derivative by time -

Newton's notation

time second derivative derivative of derivative

Dx y derivative derivative - Euler's

notation

D x 2y second derivative derivative of derivative

partial derivative ∂(x2+y2)/∂x =

2x

∫ integral opposite to derivation ∫ f(x)dx

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

2 variables

∫∫∫ triple integral integration of function of ∫∫∫

3 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

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

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

number
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Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

Im(z) imaginary part of a complex z = a+bi → Im(z)=b Im(3 - 2i) = -

number 2

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

of a complex number √13

arg(z) argument of a complex The angle of the radius in arg(3 + 2i) =

number the complex plane 33.7°

∇ nabla / del gradient / divergence ∇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

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

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 Name Western Arabic Roman Eastern Arabic Hebrew

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

one hundred 100 C ١٠٠ ‫ק‬

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

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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

Number Roman numeral

0 not defined

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Number Roman numeral

1 I

2 II

3 III

4 IV

5 V

6 VI

7 VII

8 VIII

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

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Number Roman numeral

70 LXX

80 LXXX

90 XC

100 C

200 CC

300 CCC

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

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