Mathematical Symbols
List of all mathematical symbols and signs - meaning and examples.
Basic math symbols
Geometry symbols
Algebra symbols
Probability & statistics symbols
Set theory symbols
Logic symbols
Calculus & analysis symbols
Number symbols
Greek symbols
Roman numerals
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
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
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 and -2
both minus and plus
± minus - plus
operations
3 ∓ 5 = -2 and 8
* asterisk multiplication 2*3=6
× times sign multiplication 2×3=6
⋅ 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
a b power exponent 23 = 8
a^b caret exponent 2 ^ 3= 8
√a square root √a ⋅ √a = a √9 = ±3
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
3
√a cube root √a ⋅ 3√a ⋅ 3√a = a
3 3
√8 = 2
4
√a fourth root 4
√a ⋅ √a ⋅ 4√a ⋅ 4√a = a
4 4
√16 = ±2
n
√a n-th root (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
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″
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
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
≅ congruent to
size
∆ABC≅ ∆XYZ
~ similarity same shapes, not same size ∆ABC~ ∆XYZ
Δ triangle triangle shape ΔABC≅ ΔBCD
|x-y| distance distance between points x and y | x-y | = 5
π = 3.141592654...
π pi constant c = π⋅ d = 2⋅ π⋅ r
is the ratio between the circumference and diameter of a circle
rad radians radians angle unit 360° = 2π rad
c
radians radians angle unit 360° = 2π c
grad gradians / gons grads angle unit 360° = 400 grad
g
gradians / gons grads angle unit 360° = 400 g
Algebra symbols
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
unknown value to
x x variable
find
when 2x = 4, then x = 2
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
≡ 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, k constant
∞ 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
⌊ x⌋ floor brackets
lower integer
⌊ 4.3⌋ = 4
rounds number to
⌈ x⌉ ceiling brackets
upper integer
⌈ 4.3⌉ = 5
x! exclamation mark factorial 4! = 1*2*3*4 = 24
|x| single vertical bar absolute value | -5 | = 5
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
maps values of x to
f (x) function of x
f(x)
f (x) = 3x+5
function f (x)=3x,g(x)=x-1
(f ∘ g) (f ∘ g) (x) = f (g(x))
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
summation - sum of
∑ sigma all values in range of ∑ xi= x1+x2+...+xn
series
∑∑ sigma double summation
product - product of
∏ capital pi all values in range of ∏ xi=x1∙x2∙...∙xn
series
e constant / Euler's
e number
e = 2.718281828... e = lim (1+1/x)x , x→∞
Euler-Mascheroni
γ constant
γ = 0.5772156649...
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
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
A T 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
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
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
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 function
f (x) dx
(pdf)
cumulative
F(x) distribution F(x) = P(X≤ x)
function (cdf)
mean of population
μ population 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
σ 2 variance
population values
σ2 = 4
standard deviation
standard
std(X) deviation
of random variable std(X) = 2
X
standard deviation
standard
σ X
deviation
value of random σX = 2
variable X
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
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
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
half the population
Md sample median
is below this value
lower / first 25% of population
Q1 quartile are below this value
50% of population
median / second are below this value
Q2 quartile = median of
samples
upper / third 75% of population
Q3 quartile are below this value
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
average / arithmetic
x sample mean
mean
x = (2+5+9) / 3 = 5.333
population samples
s 2 sample variance
variance estimator
s2 = 4
population samples
sample standard
s deviation
standard deviation s = 2
estimator
zx standard score zx = (x-x) / sx
distribution of
X~ distribution of X
random variable X
X ~ N(0,3)
normal gaussian
N(μ,σ2) X ~ N(0,3)
distribution distribution
uniform equal probability in
U(a,b) X ~ U(0,3)
distribution range a,b
exponential
exp(λ) f (x) = λe-λx , x≥0
distribution
gamma f (x) = λ c xc-1e-λx /
gamma(c, λ)
distribution Γ(c), x≥0
chi-square f (x) = xk/2-1e-x/2 /
χ 2(k)
distribution ( 2k/2 Γ(k/2) )
F (k1, k2) F distribution
binomial
Bin(n,p) f (k) = nCk pk(1-p)n-k
distribution
Poisson
Poisson(λ) f (k) = λke-λ / k!
distribution
geometric
Geom(p) f (k) = p(1-p) k
distribution
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
hyper-geometric
HG(N,K,n)
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 5P3 = 5! / (5-3)! = 60
nCk
combination 5C3 = 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 and
A ∩ B intersection A ∩ B = {9,14}
set B
objects that belong to set A or A∪ B=
A ∪ B union
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 not {9,14} ⊂
A⊂B
subset equal to B. {9,14,28}
A ⊄ B not subset set A is not a subset of set B {9,66} ⊄
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
{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}
{9,14,28} ⊅
A ⊅ B not superset set A is not a superset of set 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 B={3,9,14},
members
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 B = {1,2,3},
not to B
A-B = {9,14}
A = {3,9,14},
objects that belong to A and
A-B relative complement B = {1,2,3},
not to B
A-B = {9,14}
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},
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}
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
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
A×B cartesian product
and B
the number of elements of set A={3,9,14},
|A| cardinality
A |A|=3
the number of elements of set A={3,9,14},
#A cardinality
A #A=3
infinite cardinality of natural
aleph-null
numbers set
cardinality of countable ordinal
aleph-one
numbers set
Ø empty set Ø={} C = {Ø}
universal set set of all possible values
natural numbers / whole
0 0 = {0,1,2,3,4,...} 0∈ 0
numbers set (with zero)
natural numbers / whole
1 numbers set (without 1 = {1,2,3,4,5,...} 6∈ 1
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∈
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
= {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)
↔ equivalent if and only if (iff)
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
∀ 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 / Euler's e = lim
e 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
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
derivative by time - Newton's
time derivative
notation
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
z* complex conjugate z = a+bi → z*=a-bi z* = 3 - 2i
Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
z complex conjugate z = a+bi → z = a-bi z = 3 - 2i
∇ nabla / del gradient / divergence operator ∇ f (x,y,z)
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
Numeral symbols
Name European Roman Hindu 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
Name European Roman Hindu Arabic Hebrew
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
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
Name European Roman Hindu Arabic Hebrew
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
