Basic Math Symbols

Refer to these basic math symbols whenever needed. Print a copy so that you can carry it with you.

 

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning / definition Example
= equals sign equality 5 = 2+3
not equal sign inequality 5 ≠ 4
> strict inequality greater than 5 > 4
< strict inequality less than 4 < 5
inequality greater than or equal to 5 ≥ 4
inequality less than or equal to 4 ≤ 5
( ) parentheses calculate expression inside first 2 × (3+5) = 16
[ ] brackets calculate expression inside first [(1+2)*(1+5)] = 18
+ plus sign addition 1 + 1 = 2
minus sign subtraction 2 − 1 = 1
± plus – minus both plus and minus operations 3 ± 5 = 8 and -2
minus – plus both minus and 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
. period decimal point, decimal 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
3a cube root 3a – 3√a  – 3√a  = a 3√8 = 2
4a fourth root 4 a< – 4√ a  – 4√ a  – 4√ a  = a 4√ 16 = ±32
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