Linear Algebra Symbols

Last Updated : 27 Feb, 2026

Linear Algebra Symbols are mainly focused on comprehending how various systems of linear equations behave and may be solved. This is performed by storing the equations in matrices and vectors, both of which are mathematical objects that may be handled in several ways.


Table of Linear Algebra Symbols

Linear algebra includes the study of matrices, set theory, determinants, etc. The below table shows the linear algebra symbols and their names, meanings, and examples for each.

SYMBOL

NAME

EXAMPLE

.

dot

a.b

x

cross

a x b

A B

tensor product

A B

[ ]

Square Brackets

x has a place with the closed interval from 3 to 7, including the both endpoints. This is indicated x as ∈ [3,7].

{ }

Curly Brackets or Set Symbol

5 × { 4 + 5 }

Here, the curly brackets indicates that the addition operation inside should be perform before multiply with 5

If set A is a set of first 3 natural numbers, then A = {1, 2, 3 }

( )

Parentheses

(4 + 4) × 3

Here, parentheses indicate that addition operation should be perform before multiplying.

{A}

Set A

If set A is set of even numbers then

{A} = {2, 4, 6, 8…}

Subset

A = {1, 3, a}

B = {a, b, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

A ⊆ B

Proper Subset

A = {1, 2, a}

B = {a, b, c, 2, 4, 5, 1}

A ⊂ B

Not a Subset

A = {1, 2, 3}

B = {a, b, c}

A ⊄ B

Superset

Integeer is superset of Natural Number

Ø

Empty Set

{ } = Ø

P(X)

Power Set

If A = {a, b}

P(A) = {{ }, {a}, {b}, {a, b}}

Union of Set

A = {2, 3, 4}, B = {2, 4, 6}


Then A ⋃ B = {2, 3, 4, 6}

Intersection of Set

A = {2, 3, 4}, B = {2, 4, 6}

Then A ⋂ B = {2, 4}

n(A)

Cardinality of Set

A = {2, 4, 6} then n(A) = 3

Φ

Null Set

Set of Natural Number greater than 2 but less than 3

Set of natural numbers

0, 1, 2, 3, …

Set of integers

-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, …

Set of real numbers

π, e, √2, 3/2, …

Aij

Matrices

A3x2 = \begin{bmatrix} 1& 2\\3 & 4 \\ 5& 6\\ \end{bmatrix}

| A | or det(A)

Determinant

If we have matrix A = \begin{bmatrix} 1& 2\\ 3& 4\\ \end{bmatrix}then |A| = |1 × 4 – 2 ×3| = 4 – 6 = -2

AT

Tanspose of Matrix

If we have matrix A = \begin{bmatrix} 1& 2\\ 3& 4\\ \end{bmatrix} then AT =\begin{bmatrix} 1& 3\\ 2& 4\\ \end{bmatrix}

A-1

Inverse of Matrix

For Matrix A = \begin{bmatrix} 1& 2\\ 3& 4\\ \end{bmatrix}A-1 = \begin{bmatrix} -2& 1\\ 3/2& -1/2\\ \end{bmatrix}

A*

Hermitian Matrix

For matrix A, A = AH where AH is the conjugate transpose of matrix A.

(A*)ij =(AT)ji

rank(A)

matrix rank

rank(A) =3

dim(U)

dimension

rank(U) =3

+

addition

Solve 5 + 5

solution = 10

-

subtraction

Solve 7- 5

solution = 2

* or x

multiplication

Solve 5 x 5

solution = 25

/ or ÷

division

Solve 10 / 5

solution = 2

=

Equal to

5 + 5 = 10 Here ,The equal sign denotes that the sum of 5 and 5 is equal to 10

Not equal to

5 ≠ 3

The not equal to sign indicates that 5 is not equal to 3

<

Less than

12 < 15

Solution : True, Because 12 is less than of 15

>

Greater than

15 > 5

Solution : True, Because 15 s greater than of 5

Less than or equal To

x ≤ 5

Here x is less than or equal to 5

Greater than or Equal To

x ≥ 6

Here x is greater than or equal to 6

Much less than

1 ≪ 100

It means 1 is much less than 100

Much greater than

1 ≫ 100

it means 1 is much greater than 100

Directly Proportional

The total bill increases if you buy more product. Hence, total bill is directly proportional to number of objects

|x|

modulus

It finds the modulus of x

Also check:

Linear Algebra Symbols Solved Examples

Example 1: Find the sum of the two vectors \overrightarrow{\rm A}= 3i + 4j + 5k and \overrightarrow{\rm B}= -i + 2j + k.

Solution:

\overrightarrow{\rm A} + \overrightarrow{\rm B}= (3-1)i + (4 + 2)j + (5 + 1)k = 2i + 6j + 6k

Example 2: Find the sum of the two matrices

\begin{bmatrix} 3 & 3\\ 4 & 6\\ \end{bmatrix} and \begin{bmatrix} 1 &-2 \\ 3 & 4 \end{bmatrix} ?

Solution:

Let the two matrices be P = \begin{bmatrix} 3 & 3\\ 4 & 6\\ \end{bmatrix}

Q = \begin{bmatrix} 1 &-2 \\ 3 & 4 \end{bmatrix}

S = P + Q = \begin{bmatrix} 3 & 3\\ 4 & 6\\ \end{bmatrix} + \begin{bmatrix} 1 &-2 \\ 3 & 4 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 4 & 1\\ 7& 10\\ \end{bmatrix}

Example 3: For the equation 2x – 3 = 2, solve for x.

Solution:

6x – 3 = 2

⇒ 6x = 2 + 3

⇒ 6x = 5

⇒ x = 5 / 6 = 0.83

Example 4: Find the intersection of both A = {2, 3, 4} and B = {2, 4, 6, 9, 11}.

Solution:

A = {2, 3, 4}, B = {2, 4, 6,9,11}

Then A ⋂ B = {2, 4}

Example 5: Given two values A = 5 and B = 20, Find the product of A and B

Solution:

Product of A and B = A × B = 5 × 20 = 100

Example 6: If the set A={3,5,7,9}, then find n(A).

Solution:

n(A) denotes the number of elements in a given set, A={3,5,7,9} then n(A) = 4

Linear Algebra Symbols Practice Questions

Q1. Given two values, A = 5 and B = 20, find the division of A and B.

Q2. Find the union of both A = {2, 3, 4, 5} and B = {2, 4, 6, 9, 11}, A ⋃ B?

Q3. If the set A={3,5,7,9}, then find P(A).

Q4. If the set A={3,5,7,9,13}, then find n(A).

Q5. For the equation 6y – 5 = 20, solve for y.

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