Basic math symbols

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

5 = 2+3
= equals sign equality
5 is equal to 2+3
5≠4
≠ not equal sign inequality
5 is not equal to 4
sin(0.01) ≈ 0.01,
approximately
≈ equal
approximation x ≈ y means x is
approximately equal to y
5>4
> strict inequality greater than
5 is greater than 4
4<5
< strict inequality less than
4 is less than 5
5 ≥ 4,
≥ inequality greater than or equal to x ≥ y means x is greater
than or equal to y
4 ≤ 5,
≤ inequality less than or equal to x ≤ y means x is less than
or equal to y
calculate expression inside
() parentheses
first
2 × (3+5) = 16

calculate expression inside

[] brackets
first
[(1+2)×(1+5)] = 18

+ plus sign addition 1+1=2

− minus sign subtraction 2−1=1

both plus and minus

± plus - minus
operations
3 ± 5 = 8 or -2

both minus and plus

± minus - plus
operations 3 ∓ 5 = -2 or 8

* asterisk multiplication 2*3=6

× times sign multiplication 2×3=6

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

multiplication
⋅ dot
multiplication 2⋅3=6

division sign /
÷ obelus
division 6÷2=3

/ division slash division 6/2=3

— horizontal line division / fraction

mod modulo remainder calculation 7 mod 2 = 1

decimal point, decimal
. period
separator 2.56 = 2+56/100

ab power exponent 23 = 8

a^b caret exponent 2 ^ 3= 8

√a square root √a ⋅ √a = a √9 = ±3
3
√a cube root 3
√a ⋅ 3√a ⋅ 3√a = a 3
√8 = 2
4
√a fourth root 4
√a ⋅ √a ⋅ √a ⋅ √a = a
4 4 4 4
√16 = ±2
n-th root
n
√a (radical) for n=3, n√8 = 2

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

Geometry symbols
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

∠ angle formed by two rays ∠ABC = 30°

measured
ABC = 30°
angle
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

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

equivalence of geometric shapes and ∆ABC≅

≅ congruent to
size ∆XYZ
∆ABC~
~ similarity same shapes, not same size
∆XYZ
ΔABC≅
Δ triangle triangle shape
ΔBCD

|x-y| distance distance between points x and y | x-y | = 5

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
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

gradians / 360° = 400

grad gons
grads angle unit
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

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

∞ lemniscate infinity symbol

≪ much less than much less than 1 ≪ 1000000

much greater
≫ than
much greater than 1000000 ≫ 1
calculate expression
() parentheses
inside first
2 * (3+5) = 16
calculate expression
[] brackets
inside first [(1+2)*(1+5)] = 18

{} braces set

rounds number to lower

⌊x⌋ floor brackets
integer ⌊4.3⌋ = 4
rounds number to
⌈x⌉ ceiling brackets
upper integer
⌈4.3⌉ = 5
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

exclamation
x! mark
factorial 4! = 1*2*3*4 = 24
single vertical
|x| bar
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) composition (f ∘ g) (x) = f (g(x))
⇒(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
summation - sum of all
∑ sigma values in range of ∑ xi= x1+x2+...+xn
series

∑∑ sigma double summation

product - product of all

∏ capital pi values in range of ∏ xi=x1∙x2∙...∙xn
series
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
circumference and
c = π⋅d = 2⋅π⋅r
diameter of a circle

Linear Algebra Symbols

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

· dot scalar product a·b

 Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

× 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
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

Probability and statistics symbols

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

probability probability of event

P(A) function A P(A) = 0.5

probability of
probability that of
P(A ⋂ B) events
events A and B P(A⋂B) = 0.5
intersection

probability of probability that of

P(A ⋃ B) events union events A or B P(A⋃B) = 0.5
 Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

conditional probability of event

P(A | B) probability A given event B P(A | B) = 0.3
function occured

probability
P(a ≤ x ≤ b) = ∫
f (x) density
f (x) dx
function (pdf)

cumulative
F(x) distribution F(x) = P(X≤ x)
function (cdf)

population mean of population

μ mean values μ = 10

expectation expected value of

E(X) value random variable X E(X) = 10

expected value of
conditional
E(X | Y) expectation
random variable X E(X | Y=2) = 5
given Y

variance of random
var(X) variance
variable X var(X) = 4

variance of
σ2 variance
population values
σ2 = 4

standard deviation
standard
std(X) deviation
of random variable std(X) = 2
X

standard deviation
standard
σX deviation
value of random σX = 2
variable X

middle value of
median
random variable x

covariance of
cov(X,Y) covariance random variables X cov(X,Y) = 4
and Y

correlation of
corr(X,Y) correlation random variables X corr(X,Y) = 0.6
and Y

correlation of
ρX,Y correlation random variables X ρX,Y = 0.6
and Y
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

summation - sum of
∑ summation all values in range of
series

double
∑∑ summation
double summation

value that occurs

Mo mode most frequently in
population

MR mid-range MR = (xmax+xmin)/2
sample half the population is
Md median below this value

lower / first 25% of population

Q1 quartile are below this value

50% of population
median /
are below this value
Q2 second
= median of
quartile
samples

upper / third 75% of population

Q3 quartile are below this value

average / arithmetic
x sample mean
mean x = (2+5+9) / 3 = 5.333

sample population samples

s2 variance variance estimator s2 = 4

sample population samples

s standard standard deviation s=2
deviation estimator

zx standard score zx = (x-x) / sx

distribution of distribution of
X~ X random variable X X ~ N(0,3)

normal
N(μ,σ2) distribution
gaussian distribution X ~ N(0,3)

uniform equal probability in

U(a,b) distribution range a,b X ~ U(0,3)
 Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

exponential
exp(λ) distribution f (x) = λe-λx , x≥0

gamma(c, gamma f (x) = λ c xc-1e-λx /

λ) distribution Γ(c), x≥0

chi-square f (x) = xk/2-1e-x/2 /

χ (k)
2
distribution ( 2k/2 Γ(k/2) )
F (k1, k2) F distribution

binomial f (k) = nCk pk(1-

Bin(n,p) distribution p)n-k
Poisson
Poisson(λ) distribution f (k) = λke-λ / k!

geometric
Geom(p) distribution f (k) = p(1-p) k

hyper-
HG(N,K,n) geometric
distribution

Bernoulli
Bern(p) distribution

Combinatorics Symbols
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

n! factorial n! = 1⋅2⋅3⋅...⋅n 5! = 1⋅2⋅3⋅4⋅5 = 120

nPk permutation 5 P3 = 5! / (5-3)! = 60

nCk

combination 5 C3 = 5!/[3!(5-3)!]=10

Set theory symbols

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

A = {3,7,9,14},
{} set a collection of elements
B = {9,14,28}
objects that belong to set A
A ∩ B intersection and set B A ∩ B = {9,14}

objects that belong to set A A∪B=

A ∪ B union or set B {3,7,9,14,28}

A is a subset of B. set A is {9,14,28} ⊆

A ⊆ B subset included in set B. {9,14,28}

proper subset / strict A is a subset of B, but A is {9,14} ⊂

A ⊂ B subset not equal to B. {9,14,28}
{9,66} ⊄
A ⊄ B not subset set A is not a subset of set B
{9,14,28}

A is a superset of B. set A {9,14,28} ⊇

A ⊇ B superset includes set B {9,14,28}

proper superset / strict A is a superset of B, but B is {9,14,28} ⊃

A ⊃ B superset not equal to A. {9,14}

set A is not a superset of set {9,14,28} ⊅

A ⊅ B not superset B {9,66}
2A power set all subsets of A

power set all subsets of A

A={3,9,14},
both sets have the same
A = B equality members
B={3,9,14},
A=B
all the objects that do not
Ac complement
belong to set A

A = {3,9,14},
objects that belong to A and
A \ B relative complement not to B
B = {1,2,3},
A-B = {9,14}
A = {3,9,14},
objects that belong to A and
A - B relative complement not to B
B = {1,2,3},
A-B = {9,14}
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

A = {3,9,14},
objects that belong to A or B B = {1,2,3},
A ∆ B symmetric difference but not to their intersection A∆B=
{1,2,9,14}
A = {3,9,14},
A⊖ objects that belong to A or B B = {1,2,3},
symmetric difference
B but not to their intersection A⊖B=
{1,2,9,14}

element of, A={3,9,14}, 3

a∈A belongs to
set membership
∈A
A={3,9,14}, 1
x∉A not element of no set membership
∉A

(a,b) ordered pair collection of 2 elements

set of all ordered pairs from

A×B cartesian product
A and B

the number of elements of A={3,9,14},

|A| cardinality
set A |A|=3

the number of elements of A={3,9,14},

#A cardinality
set A #A=3
infinite cardinality of natural
aleph-null
numbers set

cardinality of countable
aleph-one
ordinal numbers set

Ø empty set Ø={} C = {Ø}

universal set set of all possible values

natural numbers / whole

0
numbers set (with zero) 0 = {0,1,2,3,4,...} 0∈ 0

natural numbers / whole

1 numbers set (without 1 = {1,2,3,4,5,...} 6∈ 1
zero)
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

= {...-3,-2,-
integer numbers set -6 ∈
1,0,1,2,3,...}

rational numbers set = {x | x=a/b, a,b∈ } 2/6 ∈

real numbers set = {x | -∞ < x <∞} 6.343434∈

= {z | z=a+bi, -
complex numbers set 6+2i ∈
∞<a<∞, -∞<b<∞}

Logic symbols
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'

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)

 Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

↔ equivalent if and only if (iff)

∀ for all

∃ there exists

∄ there does not exists

∴ therefore

∵ because / since

Calculus & analysis symbols

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

limit limit value of a function

represents a very small

ε epsilon
number, near zero ε→0

e constant / e = lim
e Euler's number e = 2.718281828...
(1+1/x)x, x→∞
derivative - Lagrange's
y' derivative
notation (3x3)' = 9x2

y '' second derivative derivative of derivative (3x3)'' = 18x

y(n) nth derivative n times derivation (3x3)(3) = 18

derivative derivative - Leibniz's notation d(3x3)/dx = 9x2

second derivative derivative of derivative d2(3x3)/dx2 = 18x

nth derivative n times derivation

derivative by time - Newton's

time derivative
notation
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

time second
derivative of derivative
derivative

Dx y derivative derivative - Euler's notation

Dx2y second derivative derivative of derivative

partial derivative ∂(x2+y2)/∂x = 2x

∫ integral opposite to derivation ∫ f(x)dx

integration of function of 2
∫∫ double integral
variables
∫∫ f(x,y)dxdy

integration of function of 3
∫∫∫ triple integral
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

complex
z* conjugate
z = a+bi → z*=a-bi z* = 3 - 2i

complex
z conjugate
z = a+bi → z = a-bi z = 3 - 2i

gradient / divergence
∇ nabla / del
operator ∇f (x,y,z)

vector

unit vector
 Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example

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

Numeral symbols
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

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
 Name Western Arabic Roman Eastern Arabic Hebrew

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

Greek alphabet letters

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

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

Roman numerals
Number Roman numeral

0 not defined
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
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