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 | | a^b | 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 |