Mathematical symbols 

are used to perform various operations. The symbols make it easier to refer
the Maths quantities. It is interesting to note that Mathematics is completely based on numbers and
symbols. The math symbols not only refer to different quantities but also represent the relationship
between two quantities. The mathematical symbols are mainly used to perform mathematical
operations under various concepts. As we know, the concept of maths is purely dependent on
numbers and symbols. 
There are many symbols in Maths which has some predefined values. To simplify the expressions,
we can use those kinds of values instead of those symbols. Some of the examples are the pi
(π) symbol which holds the value 22/7 or 3.17, and e-symbol in Maths which holds the value e=
2.718281828….This symbol is known as e-constant or Euler’s constant. The table provided below
has a list of all the common symbols in Maths with meaning and examples.
There are so many mathematical symbols which are very important to students. To understand this
in an easier way, the list of mathematical symbols are noted here with definition and examples.
There are numerous signs and symbols, ranging from simple addition concept sign to the complex
integration concept sign. Here, the list of mathematical symbols is provided in a tabular form, and
those notations are categorized according to the concept-wise. 

Basic Maths Symbols Names With Meaning and Examples

The basic symbols help us to work with mathematical concepts in a theoretical manner. In simpler
words, without symbols, we cannot do maths. The mathematical signs and symbols are considered
as the representative of the value. The basic symbols in maths are used to express the
mathematical thoughts. The relationship between the sign and the value refers to the fundamental
need of mathematics. With the help of symbols, certain concepts and ideas are clearly explained.
Here, is a list of commonly used symbols in the stream of mathematics.

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning or Definition Example

≠ not equal sign inequality 10 ≠ 6

= equals sign equality 3=1+2

< strict inequality less than 7 < 10

> strict inequality greater than 6>2

≤ inequality less than or equal to x ≤ y, means, y = x or y > x, but not vice-

versa.

≥ inequality greater than or equal to a ≥ b, means, a = b or a > b, but vice-versa

does not hold true.

[] brackets calculate expression inside [ 2×5] + 7 = 17

first

() parentheses calculate expression inside 3 × (3 + 7) = 30

first

− minus sign subtraction 5−2=3

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning or Definition Example

+ plus sign addition 4+5=9

∓ minus – plus both minus and plus 1 ∓ 4 = -3 and 5

operations

± plus – minus both plus and minus 5 ± 3 = 8 and 2

operations

× times sign multiplication 4 × 3 = 12

* asterisk multiplication 2*3=6

÷ division sign / division 15 ÷ 5 = 3

obelus

∙ multiplication dot multiplication 2∙3=6

– horizontal line division / fraction 8/2 = 4

/ division slash division 6⁄2=3

mod modulo remainder calculation 7 mod 3 = 1

ab power exponent 24 = 16

. period decimal point, decimal 4.36 = 4 +36/100

separator

√a square root √a · √a = a √9 = ±3

a^b caret exponent 2^3=8

4
√a fourth root √a ·4√a · 4√a · 4√a = a
4 4
√16= ± 2
3
√a cube root √a ·3√a · 3√a = a
3 3
√343 = 7

% percent 1% = 1/100 10% × 30 = 3

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

ppm per-million 1 ppm = 1/1000000 10ppm × 30 = 0.0003

‰ per-mille 1‰ = 1/1000 = 0.1% 10‰ × 30 = 0.3

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

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning or Definition Example

ppb per-billion 1 ppb = 1/1000000000 10 ppb × 30 = 3×10-7

Maths Logic symbols With Meaning

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning or Definition Example

^ caret / circumflex and x^y

· and and x·y

+ plus or x+y

& ampersand and x&y

| vertical line or x|y

∨ reversed caret or x∨y

x bar not – negation x

x’ single-quote not – negation x’

! Exclamation mark not – negation !x

¬ not not – negation ¬x

~ tilde negation ~x

⊕ circled plus / oplus exclusive or – xor x⊕y

⇔ equivalent if and only if (iff)

⇒ implies n/a n/a

∀ for all n/a n/a

↔ equivalent if and only if (iff) n/a

∄ there does not exist n/a n/a

∃ there exists n/a n/a

∵ because / since n/a n/a

∴ therefore n/a n/a

Geometry symbols
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

∠ 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

triangle triangle shape ΔABC≅ ΔBCD
Δ
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

|x-
distance distance between points x and y | x-y | = 5
y|
π = 3.141592654... c = π⋅d =
π pi constant
is the ratio between the circumference and 2⋅π⋅r
diameter of a circle

rad radians radians angle unit 360° = 2π rad

c
radians radians angle unit 360° = 2π c

gradians / 360° = 400

grad grads angle unit
gons grad

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

Algebra symbols
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

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
~ equal
weak approximation 11 ~ 10

approximately
≈ equal
approximation sin(0.01) ≈ 0.01

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

∝
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

k constant

∞ lemniscate infinity symbol  

≪ much less than much less than 1 ≪ 1000000

much greater
≫ than
much greater than 1000000 ≫ 1

calculate expression inside

() parentheses
first
2 * (3+5) = 16

calculate expression inside

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

{} braces set  

rounds number to lower

⌊x⌋ floor brackets
integer ⌊4.3⌋ = 4

rounds number to upper

⌈x⌉ ceiling brackets
integer
⌈4.3⌉ = 5

exclamation
x! 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  (x)=3x,g(x)=x-1 ⇒(f ∘ g)

(f ∘ g) composition (f ∘ g) (x) = f  (g(x))
(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]

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

∆ delta change / difference ∆t = t1 -  t0

∆ discriminant Δ = b2 - 4ac  

summation - sum of all

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

∑∑ sigma double summation

product - product of all

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

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

Euler-
γ Mascheroni 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

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    
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

[] brackets matrix of numbers  

() parentheses matrix of numbers