Mathematical Symbols
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Symbols are images that represent something. In general, symbols are known within
the context where they are found. In mathematics, symbols often represent
operations or relationships between numbers or values.
In this week's post we are going to write about mathematical symbols. There are
many, but let's look at the most important ones.
Addition
+
It is the symbol for addition. It represents the addition of one number over another.
Example: 5 + 4. We have 5 units and we add 4.
Subtraction
–
It is the symbol for subtraction. It represents the subtraction of one number from
another.
Example: 6 – 3. We have 6 units and we remove 3.
It is also used to write a negative integer.
Example: -5
Multiplication
×
It is the symbol for multiplication. It represents the number of times you add a
number.
Example: 3 × 4 = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3
For multiplication you can also use the symbols:
One point 3 4
An asterisk 3 * 4
Division
÷
It is the symbol of division. It represents the total amount divided into equal parts.
Example: 24 ÷ 6. 24 units are divided into 6 equal parts.
For division, the symbols can also be written:
Two points 24:6
Fraction bar: 24 / 6
Equal
=
It is the equal symbol. It represents the balance between two expressions and is one
of the most important symbols in mathematics.
Example: 5 + 6 = 11. Both the expression on the right of the equal sign and the one
on the left are equal.
Parentheses, brackets and braces
(),[],{}
Parentheses, brackets, and braces are used to group operations when several
appear in the same expression and we want to specify the order in which they are
resolved.
Example: 10 ÷ ( 5 – 3 ). In this case, the first operation we must solve is the one
inside the parentheses. Then we solve the division.
Percentage
%
It is the percentage symbol. Represents the given quantity out of a total of 100.
Example: 26%. There are 26 units out of a total of 100.
Greater than and Less than
>,<
These are the greater than and less than symbols. They are used to compare
quantities.
Example: 6 > 2. In this case it is indicated that 6 is greater than 2
Example: 9 < 15. In this case it indicates that 9 is less than 15.
https://laboratoriomatematicas.uniandes.edu.co/semarquitec/simbolosmat.htm
Arithmetic
Symbol Name It reads like Category
addition further arithmetic
4 + 6 = 10 means that if 6 is added to four, the sum, or result, is
+ 10.
43 + 65 = 108; 2 + 7 = 9
subtraction less arithmetic
−-
9 − 4 = 5 means that if 4 is subtracted from 9, the result will be
5. The 'minus' symbol is also used to denote that a number is
negative. For example, 5 + (−3) = 2 means that if 'five' and
'minus three' are added, the result is 'two'.
87 − 36 = 51
multiplication by arithmetic
× It means that if you count seven times six, the result
· will be 42.
*
division between arithmetic
÷ It means that if you make six uniform pieces of forty-two,
/ each piece will be size seven.
24 / 6 = 4
summation sum over ... from ... to ... of arithmetic
∑k=1n ak means: a1 + a2 + ... + an
∑
∑k=14 k2 = 12 + 22 + 32 + 42 = 1 + 4 + 9 + 16 = 30
product about... from ... to ...
product arithmetic
of
∏ ∏k=1n ak means: a1a2···an
∏k=14 (k + 2) = (1 + 2)(2 + 2)(3 + 2)(4 + 2) = 3 × 4 × 5 × 6 = 360
Set theory
Symbol Name It reads like Category
set delimiters the set of ... set theory
{a,b,c} means: the set consisting of a, b, and c
{,}
N = {0,1,2,...}
the set of elements ... such
set builder notation set theory
that ...
{:} {x : P(x)} means: the set of all x for which P(x) is true. {x | P(x)}
{|} is the same as {x : P(x)}.
{n ∈ N : n2 < 20} = {0,1,2,3,4}
empty set empty set set theory
{} means: the set that has no elements; ∅ is the same thing.
{n ∈ N : 1 < n2 < 4} = {}
{}
in; is in; is an element of; is
set membership set theory
a member of; belongs to
∈∉
a ∈ S means: a is an element of the set S; a ∉ S means: a is
not an element of the set S
(1/2)−1 ∈ N; 2−1 ∉ N
subset is a subset of set theory
⊆
A ⊆ B means: every element of A is also an element of BA
⊂
⊂ B means: A ⊆ B but A ≠ B
A ∩ B ⊆ A; Q ⊂ R
set-theoretical union the union of ... and ...; union set theory
∪
A ∪ B means: the set that contains all the elements of A and
also all those of B, but no others.
A⊆B⇔A∪B=B
set-theoretical the intersection of ... and ...;
set theory
intersection intersection
A ∩ B means: the set that contains all those elements that A
∩ and B have in common.
{x ∈ R : x2 = 1} ∩ N = {1}
set-theoretical
less; without set theory
complement
A \ B means: the set containing all those elements of A that are
\ not found in B
{1,2,3,4} \ {3,4,5,6} = {1,2}
Numbers
Symbol Name It reads like Category
natural numbers N numbers
N stands for: {0,1,2,3,...}, but see the article natural numbers for
N a different convention.
{|a| : a ∈ Z} = N
integers Z numbers
Z means: {...,−3,−2,−1,0,1,2,3,...}
Z
{a : |a| ∈ N} = Z
rational numbers Q numbers
Q means: {p/q : p,q ∈ Z, q ≠ 0}
3.14 ∈ Q; π ∉ Q
Q
real numbers R numbers
R means: {limn→∞ an : ∀ n ∈ N: an ∈ Q, the limit exists}
π ∈ R; √(−1) ∉ R
R
complex
C C numbers
numbers
C means: {a + bi : a,b ∈ R}
i = √(−1) ∈ C
the square root of; the principal
square root real numbers
square root of
√ √x means: the positive number whose square is x
√(x2) = |x|
infinite infinite numbers
∞ is an element of the extended real number line larger than all
∞ real numbers; it frequently occurs in limits
limx→0 1 /|x| = ∞
absolute value absolute value of numbers
|x| means: the distance on the real line (or in the complex plane)
|| between x and zero
