The symbols in Mathematics are frequently used to define a figure or combination of figures that are used to represent the Mathematical objects, an action on Mathematical objects, a relation between Mathematical objects, or for arranging the other symbols that appear in the formula. As formulas are entirely formed with symbols of different types, many symbols are required for representing all Mathematics.
Also, there are many Mathematical symbols that have some predefined values. To simplify the expressions, we can use these values rather than the symbols. Some of the examples are pi(\[\pi\]) symbols which hold the value of 3.14, and e symbols which hold the value e = 2.718281828. This symbol is known as Euler's constant or e-constant.
Here, we will represent the list of symbols used in Mathematics in a tabular format that are important for the students to solve Mathematics questions.
Basic Symbols in Mathematics
Here is the list of the basic symbols in Mathematics that are commonly used.
Symbols | Meaning | Mathematics Symbols Examples |
+ | Add | 6 + 4 = 10 |
- | Subtract | 7 - 3 = 4 |
= | Equals To | 2 + 2 = 4 |
\[\equiv\] | Identically equals to | The identity \[(\alpha+\beta)^{2}=\alpha^{2}+\beta^{2}+ 2\alpha\] |
\[\approx\] | Approximately equals to | \[\pi \approx\]3.14 |
\[\div\] | Division | 12 \[\div\] 2 = 6 |
< | Greater Than | 11 > 9 |
> | Lesser Than | 9 < 19 |
\[\times\] | Multiplication | 6 \[\times\] 4 = 24 |
\[\neq\] | Not Equals To | 6 + 1\[\neq\]8 |
\[\geq\] | Greater Than or Equals To | a + b\[\geq\]c |
\[\leq\] | Lesser Than or Equals To | a + b\[\leq\]c |
% | Percentage | 60% = \[\frac{60}{100}\] |
. | Decimal Point | \[\frac{1}{3}\]= 0.333 |
- | Vinculum
Both numerator and denominator are separated by vinculum | \[\frac{4}{5}\] |
\[\sqrt{}\] | Square Root | \[\sqrt{9}\] = 3 |
\[\sqrt[3]{y}\] | Cube Root of y | \[\sqrt[3]{64}\] = 4 |
\[\sqrt[n]{y}\] | Nth root of y | \[\sqrt[4]{81}\] = 3 |
() | Parenthesis | 9 + ( 8 - 2) = 9 + 6 = 15 |
{ } | Flower Bracket | 14 \[\div\]{ 3 \[\times\] ( 2 + (4 - 2)) + 2}
14 \[\div\] {3 \[\times\] (2 + 2)} + 2}
14 \[\div\] {3\[\times\] 4 + 2}
14\[\div\] {14}
= 1 |
\[\left [ \right ]\] | Square Bracket | 7 \[\times\] \[\left [3 + ( 5 - 2)\right ]\] + 2
7 \[\times\] \[\left [3 + 3 + 2\right ]\]
7 \[\times\] 6 + 2
44 |
\[\epsilon\] | Belongs To | 0 \[\epsilon\] whole number |
\[\notin\] | Not belongs to | \[\frac{1}{3}\notin\] natural number |
∴ | Therefore | \[\alpha\]+ 1 = 2 ∴ \[\alpha\]= 1 |
∵ | Because | \[\frac{1}{3}\]0.33 = 1 ( ∵\[\frac{1}{3}\]= 0.33) |
\[\infty\] | Infinity | Infinity means countless
\[\frac{1}{4}\]when expressed in decimal form,
is endless 0.4444 |
! | Factorial | 6! = 6\[\times\] 5\[\times\]4\[\times\]3\[\times\]2\[\times\]1 |
Mathematics Logic Symbols
The table below represents the Mathematics logic symbols that are frequently used to express logical representations.
Symbols | Meaning | Mathematics Logic Symbols Examples |
∃ | There exist at least one element | ∃ y : P(y) ∃ y: F(y)
There exist at least one element of p(y), y,
such that F(y) is true |
∃! | There exist at least one and only element | ∃! Y: F(y)
It implies that there is exactly one y
Such that F(y) is true |
\[\forall\] | For all | \[\forall\] n > 1; n² > 1 |
\[\vee\] | Logical or | The statement X\[\vee\]Y is true
If X or Y is true
If Both are false
The statement is false |
\[\wedge\] | Logical And | The statement X\[\wedge\]Y is true
If X and Y are both true
Else it is False |
\[\Rightarrow\] | Implies | y = 2
\[\Rightarrow\] y² = 4 |
⇔ | If and only if | Example: a + \[\theta\] = b + \[\theta\] ⇔ a = b |
¬ | Logical Not | Statement K is true
If ¬ is false
a \[\neq\]b⇔ ¬ (a= b) |
| Or : | Such that | {y | y > 0} = {0 ,1,2,3..} |
y' | Not - negation | y' |
\[\overline{y}\] | Not - negation | \[\overline{y}\] |
! | Not - negation | !y |
Algebra Symbols
The table below represents the list of algebra symbols with names and examples:
Algebraic Symbols | Name | Examples |
p,q | Variables | p = 5 , q = 2 |
+ | Add | 3x + 4x = 7x |
- | Subtract | 4x - 2x = 2x |
. | Product | 3x.4x = 12x |
− | Division | \[\frac{2x}{3x}\] |
\[\equiv\] | Identically equals to | \[(x+\alpha)^{2}=x^{2}+\alpha^{2}+2x\alpha\] |
\[\neq\] | Not equals to | a + 4 = b + 3 \[\Rightarrow\] a\[\equiv\]b |
= | Equals to | x = 5 |
\[\propto\] | Proportional To | a \[\propto\] b \[\Leftrightarrow\] a = kb |
F(y) | Function maps values of y to f(y) | f(y) = y + 4 |
\[\gg\] | Much Greater Than | 1 > 1000000 |
\[\ll\] | Much Less than | 1 < 1000000 |
\[\left [ \right ]\] | Brackets | \[\left [(3 + 4)*(1+ 6)\right ]\] = 49 |
( ) | Parenthesis | 4 * ( 7 + 5) = 48 |
\[\approx\] | Approximately Equals | sin(0.01) \[\approx\] 0.01 |
\[\sim\] | Approximately Equals | 7 \[\sim\] 8 |
Combiantric Symbols
The table below represents the combiantric symbols that are frequently used.
Combiantric Symbols | Meaning | Examples |
n! | n Factorial | n! = n \[ \times ( n - 1) \times(n - 2) \times( n - 3)\times….\times3\times 1\] |
\[nC_{r}\]
Or
\[\binom{n}{r}\] | Combination | \[\frac{n!}{r!(n-r)!}\]
\[6C_{3}=\frac{6!}{4!(6!-4!)}\] = 20 |
\[nP_{r}\] | Permutation | \[nP_{r}= (n) \times(n - 1)\times(n - 2)\times...\times ( n - r -1)\times\](n - r -2)
\[7P_{r}= 7 \times 6 \times5 \times4 \times3\] = 2520 |
Greek Symbols
The table below represents greek symbols along with their meaning and examples.
Greek Symbols | Meaning | Examples |
\[\alpha\] | Alpha | Used to represent angles, coefficients. |
\[\beta\] | Beta | Used to represent angles, coefficients. |
\[\gamma\] | Gamma | Used to represent angles, coefficients. |
\[\Delta\] | Delta | Discriminant Symbol |
\[\lambda\] | Lambda | Represents constant |
\[\pi\] | Pi | \[\pi = 3.14 or \frac{22}{7}\] |
\[\epsilon\] | Epsilon | Used to denote Universal set |
\[\Theta\] | Theta | Denotes angles |
\[\rho\] | Rho | Statistical Constant |
\[\Sigma\] | Sigma | Denotes the sum |
\[\phi\] | Phi | Diameter symbol |
\[\iota\] | Iota | Used to denote imaginary numbers |
Roman Numeral Symbols
The table below represents roman numeral symbols and their meanings.
Roman Numerals | Meaning | Examples |
I | Value in numbers = 1 | I = 1 |
V | Value in numbers = 5 | VIII = (5 + 1 + 1) = 6, VIII = (5 + 1 + 1) = 8 |
X | Value in numbers = 10 | XI = (10 + 1) |
L | Value in numbers = 50 | LI = ( 50 + 1) |
C | Value in numbers = 100 | CC = ( 100 +100) |
D | Value in numbers = 500 | DCI = ( 500 + 100 + 1) = 601 |
M | Value in numbers = 1000 | MM = ( 1000 + 1000) = 2000 |
R or \[\mathbb{R}\] | Real number | \[\frac{1}{5},\frac{1}{6},0.7,\sqrt{5},\sqrt{6}\]
|
N or \[\mathbb{N}\] | Natural number | 1,2,3,4,,5,...100 |
Z or \[\mathbb{Z}\] | Integers | 1, 2, 3 ,6,-7,-9 |
Q or \[\mathbb{Q}\] | Rational Numbers | \[-\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{4}\],0.5 |
P or P | Irrational numbers | \[\sqrt{2},\sqrt{3},\sqrt{4}\], |
C or C | Complex numbers | 6 + 2i |
Geometric Symbols
The table below represents geometric symbols along with their names and meaning.
Geometric Symbols | Meaning | Examples |
\[\angle\] | Angle | \[\angle\]XYZ |
\[\triangle\] | Triangle symbol | \[\triangle\]XYZ |
\[\cong\] | Congruent to | \[\triangle XYZ\cong \triangle ABC\] |
\[\sim\] | Similar to | \[\triangle XYZ\sim \triangle ABC\]
|
\[\perp\] | Is perpendicular with | AB \[\perp\] XY |
\[\parallel\] | Is parallel with | AB \[\parallel\] XY |
\[^{\circ}\] | Degree | \[70^{\circ}\] |
\[\bar{XY}\] | Line segment XY | A line starting from point X to point Y |
\[\vec{XY}\] | Ray XY | A line starting from point R extends through Y |
\[\overline{XY}\] | Line XY | An infinite line passing through points X and Y |
\[^{c}\] | Radian symbols | \[360^{\circ}=2\pi^{c}\]
|
|A- B| | Distance between points A and B | | A- B| = 6 |
\[\sphericalangle\] | Spherical angle | XOY = 30° |
´ | 1° = 60´ | \[\alpha\] = 60º59′ |
´´ | 1’ = 60´´ | \[\alpha\] = 60º59’59” |
Venn Diagram and Set Theory Symbols
The table below represents the Venn diagram and set theory symbols meaning and examples
Symbols | Meaning | Examples |
\[\cup\] | Union | X = { 2, 3, 4}
Y = { 4, 5, 6}
X \[\cup\]Y = {2, 3,4, 5, 6} |
\[\cap\] | Intersection | X = { 2, 3, 4}
Y = { 4, 5, 6}
X \[\cap\]Y = {4} |
\[\varnothing\] | Empty Set | A set with no elements: \[\varnothing\] = { } |
\[\epsilon\] | Is a element of | 3\[\epsilon\mathbb{N}\] |
\[\notin\] | Is not an element of | 0\[\notin\mathbb{N}\] |
\[\subset\] | Is a subset of | \[\mathbb{N}\subset\]| |
\[\supset\] | Is a superset of | R\[\supset\]W |
P(X) | The power set of P | P {(1,2)} = { {}, {1}, {2}, {1,2}} |
X = Y | Equality
(Same element in set X and set Y) | X = {4,5}; Y = { 4,5}
\[\Rightarrow\]X = Y
|
|X| | Cardinality is the number of element in set X | |{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}| = 5 |
Mathematics Symbols Examples With Solutions
Evaluate 6 \[\div\] 2 − (3 − 5)
Solution
The expressions given in the bracket will be evaluated first:
6 \[\div\] 2 − (3 − 5) = 6 \[\div\] 2 − (−2)
The division will be performed before subtraction as it has higher priority and so this is carried out next giving
6 \[\div\] 2 − (−2) = 3 − (−2)
Subtraction of a negative number is equivalent to the addition of a positive number.
Accordingly, 3 − (−2) = 3 + 2 = 5
What down explicitly what does \[\sum_{x=1}^{4}\] x³ means?
Solutions:
We must let x range from 1 to 4.
\[\sum_{x=1}^{4}\] x³ = 1³ + 2³ + 3³ + 4³
Evaluate 3! And 5! without using a calculator.
Solution:
6! = \[6\times5\times4\times3\times2\times1\] = 720
5! = \[5\times4\times3\times2\times1\] = 120