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 |
| 3√a | cube root | 3√a – 3√a – 3√a = a | 3√8 = 2 |
| 4√a | 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 |