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Mathematics Symbols

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Symbols in Mathematics

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

  1. 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  


  1. 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 


  1. Evaluate 3! And 5! without using a calculator.

Solution:

6! =  \[6\times5\times4\times3\times2\times1\] = 720

5! =  \[5\times4\times3\times2\times1\] = 120

FAQs on Mathematics Symbols

1. What are the symbols in Mathematics?

In Mathematics, symbols are the shortest cut way to represent the information or data that we have. This helps to convert text-based learning to equation or expression based learning. For example, writing the sentence adding 2 to 3 gives 5 repeatedly becomes complicated. This occupies more space and also takes more time to write. To overcome this problem, we can use Mathematical symbols. Hence, instead of writing adding 2 to 3 gives 5 repeatedly, we can write 2 + 3 = 5.

2. What are the basic symbols of arithmetic operation?

The basic symbols of arithmetic operations are addition ( + ), subtraction (-), multiplication (\[\times\]), and division (\[\div\]).

3. How many mathematics symbols are there in total?

There are more than 1000 mathematics symbols. Some of the basic mathematics symbols are  = , + , - , \[\div,\theta,\pi\]  and so on, whereas some the complex Mathematics symbols are \[\lim_{x\rightarrow 1} ,\lim_{x\rightarrow 1}\] inf, etc.