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
17/19
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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