Mathematical symbols are used to perform various operations. The symbols make it easier to refer Mathematical quantities. It is interesting to note that Mathematics is completely based on numbers and symbols. The math symbols not only refer to different quantities but also represent the relationship between two quantities. All mathematical symbols are mainly used to perform mathematical operations under various concepts.

Math Symbols List

List of all mathematical symbols and signs - meaning and examples.

Basic math symbols

Symbols in Algebra

Algebra often contains math symbols that may have confusing English names. These symbols in mathematics are essential in forming and solving equations, representing unknowns, and expressing relationships.

• x, y, z: often used to represent unknown numbers or variables; in the equation y = 2x + 3, x and y are variables.
• Equals (=): signifies that two expressions are the same; 5 = 5.
• Not equal (≠): shows that two expressions are not the same; 5 ≠ 6.
• Greater than (>): indicates that one number is larger than another; 7 > 3.
• Less than (<): means one number is smaller than another; 2 < 5.
• Greater than or equal to (≥): shows that a number is larger than or equal to another; x ≥ 4.
• Less than or equal to (≤): denotes that a number is smaller than or equal to another; x ≤ 3.
• Ratio (:): a comparison of two quantities; the ratio of 4 to 8 is 1:2.
• Percent (%): one part in a hundred; 50% means half.

Symbols in Geometry

Geometry, with its unique shapes and relationships, has its own set of symbols that can be confusing. These symbols help to describe shapes, angles, and spatial relationships. It is important to know their meanings in English to communicate about math confidently:

• Degree (°): a unit of measure for angles; e.g. 90° is a right angle.
• Perpendicular (⊥): two lines that intersect at a 90° angle; e.g. “AB⊥CD” means line AB is perpendicular to line CD.
• Parallel (∥): two lines that run in the same direction and never meet; e.g. “AB∥CD” means line AB is parallel to line CD.

Numeral symbols

Advanced Math Symbols List

Advanced mathematics introduces symbols that may be completely new to those learning different math symbols in English. Here is a math symbols list used in specialized areas such as calculus, logic, and complex number theory.

• Union (∪): represents the combination of two sets; includes all unique elements from both sets.
• Intersection (∩): denotes the common elements between two sets; includes only the elements found in both sets.
• Element of (∈): used to express that an object is an element of a set; 3 ∈ {1, 2, 3}.
• Squared (²): used to indicate a number raised to the power of 2; 3² = 9.
• Cubed (³): used to indicate a number raised to the power of 3; 2³ = 8.
• Square Root (√): represents the non-negative value that, when multiplied by itself, gives the original number; √9 = 3.
• Sine (sin): a trigonometric function that represents the ratio of the side opposite an angle to the hypotenuse in a right triangle (e.g. y=sin(x)
• Cosine (cos): another trigonometric function representing the ratio of the adjacent side to the hypotenuse in a right triangle. (e.g. y=cos(x)
• Infinity (∞): a concept used to describe something without any bounds; often used in limits.
• Approximately equal to (≈): used to show that two numbers are almost, but not exactly, equal; π ≈ 3.14.
• Function (f(x)): represents a rule that assigns each input exactly one output; f(x) = 2x + 3 is a linear function.
• Derivative (d/dx): signifies the rate at which a function is changing; used in calculus to find slopes of tangents.
• Integral (∫): represents the accumulation of quantities; used in calculus to find areas under curves.
• Implies (⇒): used in logic to denote that one statement implies another; “p⇒q” means "if p then q."
• Equivalent (≡): used in logic to mean that two statements are logically equivalent; p ≡ q means p implies q, and q implies p.
• Prime (ℙ): used to describe numbers that have only two divisors: 1 and itself; 2, 3, 5 are examples of prime numbers.
• Mean (x̄): the average of a set of numbers; found by adding all numbers and dividing by the count. For example, x̄(4;8)=6.
• Standard Deviation (σ): measures the amount of variation or dispersion in a set of values.
• Transpose (T): changes the rows and columns with each other in a matrix; used to reorient data in linear algebra.
• Dot Product (·): represents the sum of the products of the corresponding entries of two sequences of numbers; used in vector multiplication.
• Imaginary Unit (i): the square root of −1; used in complex numbers to define numbers that are not real.
• Congruent (≅): used to describe figures that have the same size and shape; two triangles are congruent if their corresponding sides and angles are equal.
• Pi (π): a mathematical constant representing the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter; approximately 3.14159.
• For all (∀): denotes that a statement holds for all members of a certain set or group; used in logic and set theory.
• There exists (∃): used to specify that there is at least one element that satisfies a particular property; also used in logic and set theory.

Some questions about Mathematical Symbols in English

• What does the symbol "π" represent in mathematics?

  • Answer: The symbol "π" (pi) represents the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, approximately equal to 3.14159.

• What is the meaning of the symbol "Σ"?

  • Answer: The symbol "Σ" (sigma) denotes summation, which is the process of adding a sequence of numbers.

• What does "Δ" represent in mathematics?

  • Answer: The symbol "Δ" (delta) typically represents a change or difference in a quantity, such as the difference between two values.

• What does the symbol "√" signify?

  • Answer: The symbol "√" (square root) represents the principal square root of a number, which is a value that, when multiplied by itself, gives the original number.

• What is the use of the symbol "∞"?

  • Answer: The symbol "∞" (infinity) denotes an unbounded quantity that is larger than any finite number.

• What does "∈" mean in set theory?

  • Answer: The symbol "∈" means "is an element of" and is used to indicate that an element belongs to a set.

• What does the symbol "∅" represent?

  • Answer: The symbol "∅" (empty set) represents a set that contains no elements.

• What does "∪" signify in set theory?

  • Answer: The symbol "∪" (union) represents the combination of two sets, including all elements that are in either set.

• What is the meaning of the symbol "∩"?

  • Answer: The symbol "∩" (intersection) represents the set containing all elements that are common to both sets.

• What does the symbol "⇒" mean in logic?

  • Answer: The symbol "⇒" (implies) indicates that one statement logically leads to or entails another statement.