This is a listing of common symbols found within all branches of mathematics.
-
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Symbol
in
HTML
Symbol
in
TeX
Name
Explanation
Examples
Read as
Category
=
equality
is equal to; equals
everywhere
x =
y means
x and
y represent the same thing or value.
1 + 1 = 2
≠
inequation
is not equal to; does not equal
everywhere
x ≠
y means that
x and
y do not represent the same thing or value.
(
As ≠
can be hard to type, the more “keyboard friendly” forms !=, /=
or <>
may be seen. These are avoided in mathematical texts.)
2 + 2 ≠ 5
<
>
strict inequality
is less than, is greater than
order theory
x <
y means
x is less than
y.
x >
y means
x is greater than
y.
3 < 4
5 > 4
proper subgroup
is a proper subgroup of
group theory
H <
G means
H is a proper subgroup of
G.
5
Z <
Z
A
3 <S
3
≪
≫
(very)
strict inequality
is much less than, is much greater than
order theory
x ≪
y means
x is much less than
y.
x ≫
y means
x is much greater than
y.
0.003 ≪ 1000000
asymptotic comparison
of smaller (greater) order than
analytic number theory
f ≪
g means the growth of
f is asymptotically bounded by
g.
(
This is I. M. Vinogradov's notation. Another notation is the Big O notation, which looks like f = O(
g).)
x ≪ e
≤
≥
inequality
is less than or equal to, is greater than or equal to
order theory
x ≤
y means
x is less than or equal to
y.
x ≥
y means
x is greater than or equal to
y.
(
As ≤
and ≥
can be hard to type, the more “keyboard friendly” forms <=
and >=
may be seen. These are avoided in mathematical texts.)
3 ≤ 4 and 5 ≤ 5
5 ≥ 4 and 5 ≥ 5
subgroup
is a subgroup of
group theory
H ≤
G means
H is a subgroup of
G.
Z ≤
Z
A
3 ≤S
3
reduction
is reducible to
computational complexity theory
A ≤
B means the
problem A can be reduced to the problem
B. Subscripts can be added to the ≤ to indicate what kind of reduction.
If
then
≺
Karp reduction
is Karp reducible to; is polynomial-time many-one reducible to
computational complexity theory
L1 ≺
L2 means that the problem
L1 is Karp reducible to
L2.
If
L1 ≺
L2 and
L2 ∈
P, then
L1 ∈
P.
∝
proportionality
is proportional to; varies as
everywhere
y ∝
x means that
y =
kx for some constant
k.
if
y = 2
x, then
y ∝
x
+
addition
plus; add
arithmetic
4 + 6 means the sum of 4 and 6.
2 + 7 = 9
disjoint union
the disjoint union of ... and ...
set theory
A1 +
A2 means the disjoint union of sets
A1 and
A2.
A1 = {3, 4, 5, 6} ∧
A2 = {7, 8, 9, 10} ⇒
A1 +
A2 = {(3,1), (4,1), (5,1), (6,1), (7,2), (8,2), (9,2), (10,2)}
−
subtraction
minus; take; subtract
arithmetic
9 − 4 means the subtraction of 4 from 9.
8 − 3 = 5
negative sign
negative; minus; the opposite of
arithmetic
−3 means the negative of the number 3.
−(−5) = 5
set-theoretic complement
minus; without
set theory
A −
B means the set that contains all the elements of
A that are not in
B.
(∖
can also be used for set-theoretic complement as described below.)
{1,2,4} − {1,3,4} = {2}
×
multiplication
times; multiplied by
arithmetic
3 × 4 means the multiplication of 3 by 4.
7 × 8 = 56
Cartesian product
the Cartesian product of ... and ...; the direct product of ... and ...
set theory
X×
Y means the set of all
ordered pairs with the first element of each pair selected from X and the second element selected from Y.
{1,2} × {3,4} = {(1,3),(1,4),(2,3),(2,4)}
cross product
cross
vector algebra
u ×
v means the cross product of
vectors u and
v
(1,2,5) × (3,4,−1) =
(−22, 16, − 2)
group of units
the group of units of
ring theory
R consists of the set of units of the ring
R, along with the operation of multiplication.
This may also be written R*
as described below, or U(
R).
·
multiplication
times; multiplied by
arithmetic
3 · 4 means the multiplication of 3 by 4.
7 · 8 = 56
dot product
dot
vector algebra
u ·
v means the dot product of
vectors u and
v
(1,2,5) · (3,4,−1) = 6
÷
⁄
division (
Obelus)
divided by; over
arithmetic
6 ÷ 3 or 6 ⁄ 3 means the division of 6 by 3.
2 ÷ 4 = .5
12 ⁄ 4 = 3
quotient group
mod
group theory
G /
H means the quotient of group
G modulo its subgroup
H.
{0,
a, 2
a,
b,
b+
a,
b+2
a} / {0,
b} = {{0,
b}, {
a,
b+
a}, {2
a,
b+2
a}}
quotient set
mod
set theory
A/~ means the set of all ~
equivalence classes in
A.
If we define ~ by x ~ y ⇔ x − y ∈ ℤ, then
ℝ/~ = {
x +
n :
n ∈ ℤ : x ∈ (0,1]}
±
plus-minus
plus or minus
arithmetic
6 ± 3 means both 6 + 3 and 6 − 3.
The equation
x = 5 ± √4, has two solutions,
x = 7 and
x = 3.
plus-minus
plus or minus
measurement
10 ± 2 or equivalently 10 ± 20% means the range from 10 − 2 to 10 + 2.
If
a = 100 ± 1
mm, then
a ≥ 99 mm and
a ≤ 101 mm.
∓
minus-plus
minus or plus
arithmetic
6 ± (3 ∓ 5) means both 6 + (3 − 5) and 6 − (3 + 5).
cos(
x ±
y) = cos(
x) cos(
y) ∓ sin(
x) sin(
y).
√
square root
the (principal) square root of
real numbers
means the positive number whose square is
x.
complex square root
the (complex) square root of
complex numbers
if is represented in
polar coordinates with , then .
|…|
absolute value or
modulus
absolute value of; modulus of
numbers
|
x| means the distance along the
real line (or across the
complex plane) between
x and
zero.
|3| = 3
|–5| = |5| = 5
|
i | = 1
| 3 + 4
i | = 5
Euclidean distance
Euclidean distance between; Euclidean norm of
geometry
|
x –
y| means the Euclidean distance between
x and
y.
For
x = (1,1), and
y = (4,5),
|
x –
y| = √([1–4] + [1–5]) = 5
determinant
determinant of
matrix theory
|
A| means the determinant of the matrix
A
cardinality
cardinality of; size of; order of
set theory
|
X| means the cardinality of the set
X.
(#
or ♯
may be used instead as described below.)
|{3, 5, 7, 9}| = 4.
||…||
norm
norm of; length of
linear algebra
||
x || means the
norm of the element
x of a
normed vector space.
||
x +
y || ≤ ||
x || + ||
y ||
nearest integer function
nearest integer to
numbers
||
x|| means the nearest integer to
x, with half-integers being
rounded to even.
(
This may also be written [
x], ⌊
x⌉, nint(
x)
or Round(
x).)
||1|| = 1, ||1.5|| = 2, ||−2.5|| = 2, ||3.49|| = 3
∣
∤
divisor,
divides
divides
number theory
a|
b means
a divides
b.
a∤
b means
a does not divide
b.
(
This symbol can be difficult to type, and its negation is rare, so a regular but slightly shorter vertical bar |
character can be used.)
Since 15 = 3×5, it is true that 3|15 and 5|15.
conditional probability
given
probability
P(
A|
B) means the probability of the event
a occurring given that
b occurs.
If
P(
A)=0.4 and
P(
B)=0.5,
P(
A|
B)=((0.4)(0.5))/(0.5)=0.4
restriction
restriction of … to …; restricted to
set theory
f|
A means the function
f restricted to the set
A, that is, it is the function with
domain A ∩ dom(
f) that agrees with
f.
The function
f :
R →
R defined by
f(
x) =
x is not injective, but
f|
R is injective.
||
parallel
is parallel to
geometry
x ||
y means
x is parallel to
y.
If
l ||
m and
m ⊥
n then
l ⊥
n.
incomparability
is incomparable to
order theory
x ||
y means
x is incomparable to
y.
{1,2} || {2,3} under set containment.
exact
divisibility
exactly divides
number theory
p ||
n means
p exactly divides
n (i.e.
p divides
n but
p does not).
2 || 360.
#
♯
cardinality
cardinality of; size of; order of
set theory
#
X means the cardinality of the set
X.
(|…|
may be used instead as described above.)
#{4, 6, 8} = 3
connected sum
connected sum of; knot sum of; knot composition of
topology,
knot theory
A#
B is the connected sum of the manifolds
A and
B. If
A and
B are knots, then this denotes the knot sum, which has a slightly stronger condition.
A#
S is
homeomorphic to
A, for any manifold
A, and the sphere
S.
ℵ
aleph number
aleph
set theory
ℵ
α represents an infinite cardinality (specifically, the
α-th one, where
α is an ordinal).
|ℕ| = ℵ
0, which is called aleph-null.
:
such that
such that; so that
everywhere
: means “such that”, and is used in proofs and the
set-builder notation (
described below).
∃
n ∈ ℕ:
n is even.
field extension
extends; over
field theory
K :
F means the field
K extends the field
F.
This may also be written as K ≥
F.
ℝ : ℚ
inner product of matrices
inner product of
linear algebra
A :
B means the Frobenius inner product of the matrices
A and
B.
The general inner product is denoted by ⟨
u,
v⟩, ⟨
u |
v⟩
or (
u |
v),
as described below. For spatial vectors, the dot product notation, x·
y is common. See also
Bra-ket notation.
!
factorial
factorial
combinatorics
n! means the product 1 × 2 × ... ×
n.
4! = 1 × 2 × 3 × 4 = 24
logical negation
not
propositional logic
The statement !
A is true if and only if
A is false.
A slash placed through another operator is the same as "!" placed in front.
(
The symbol !
is primarily from computer science. It is avoided in mathematical texts, where the notation ¬
A is preferred.)
!(!
A) ⇔
A
x ≠
y ⇔ !(
x =
y)
~
probability distribution
has distribution
statistics
X ~ D, means the
random variable X has the probability distribution
D.
X ~
N(0,1), the
standard normal distribution
row equivalence
is row equivalent to
matrix theory
A~
B means that
B can be generated by using a series of
elementary row operations on
A
same
order of magnitude
roughly similar;
poorly approximates
approximation theory
m ~
n means the quantities
m and
n have the same
order of magnitude, or general size.
(
Note that ~
is used for an approximation that is poor, otherwise use ≈ .)
2 ~ 5
8 × 9 ~ 100
but π ≈ 10
asymptotically equivalent
is asymptotically equivalent to
asymptotic analysis
f ~
g means .
x ~ x+1
equivalence relation
are in the same equivalence class
everywhere
a ~
b means (and equivalently ).
1 ~ 5 mod 4
≈
approximately equal
is approximately equal to
everywhere
x ≈
y means
x is approximately equal to
y.
π ≈ 3.14159
isomorphism
is isomorphic to
group theory
G ≈
H means that group
G is isomorphic (structurally identical) to group
H.
(≅
can also be used for isomorphic, as described below.)
Q / {1, −1} ≈
V,
where
Q is the
quaternion group and
V is the
Klein four-group.
≀
wreath product
wreath product of … by …
group theory
A ≀
H means the wreath product of the group
A by the group
H.
This may also be written A wr H.
is isomorphic to the
automorphism group of the
complete bipartite graph on (
n,
n) vertices.
◅
▻
normal subgroup
is a normal subgroup of
group theory
N ◅
G means that
N is a normal subgroup of group
G.
Z(
G) ◅
G
ideal
is an ideal of
ring theory
I ◅
R means that
I is an ideal of ring
R.
(2) ◅
Z
antijoin
the antijoin of
relational algebra
R ▻
S means the antijoin of the relations
R and
S, the tuples in
R for which there is not a tuple in
S that is equal on their common attribute names.
R S =
R -
R S
⋉
⋊
semidirect product
the semidirect product of
group theory
N ⋊
φ H is the semidirect product of
N (a normal subgroup) and
H (a subgroup), with respect to φ. Also, if
G =
N ⋊
φ H, then
G is said to split over
N.
(⋊
may also be written the other way round, as ⋉,
or as ×.)
semijoin
the semijoin of
relational algebra
R ⋉
S is the semijoin of the relations
R and
S, the set of all tuples in
R for which there is a tuple in
S that is equal on their common attribute names.
R S = Π
a1,..,an(
R S)
⋈
natural join
the natural join of
relational algebra
R ⋈
S is the natural join of the relations
R and
S, the set of all combinations of tuples in
R and
S that are equal on their common attribute names.
∴
therefore
therefore; so; hence
everywhere
Sometimes used in proofs before
logical consequences.
All humans are mortal. Socrates is a human. ∴ Socrates is mortal.
∵
because
because; since
everywhere
Sometimes used in proofs before reasoning.
3331 is
prime ∵ it has no positive integer factors other than itself and one.
■
□
∎
▮
‣
end of proof
QED;
tombstone; Halmos symbol
everywhere
Used to mark the end of a proof.
(
May also be written Q.E.D.)
⇒
→
⊃
material implication
implies; if … then
propositional logic,
Heyting algebra
A ⇒
B means if
A is true then
B is also true; if
A is false then nothing is said about
B.
(→
may mean the same as ⇒
, or it may have the meaning for functions given below.)
(⊃
may mean the same as ⇒
, or it may have the meaning for superset given below.)
x = 2 ⇒
x = 4 is true, but
x = 4 ⇒
x = 2 is in general false (since
x could be −2).
⇔
↔
material equivalence
if and only if;
iff
propositional logic
A ⇔
B means
A is true if
B is true and
A is false if
B is false.
x + 5 =
y +2 ⇔
x + 3 =
y
¬
˜
logical negation
not
propositional logic
The statement ¬
A is true if and only if
A is false.
A slash placed through another operator is the same as "¬" placed in front.
(
The symbol ~
has many other uses, so ¬
or the slash notation is preferred. Computer scientists will often use !
but this is avoided in mathematical texts.)
¬(¬
A) ⇔
A
x ≠
y ⇔ ¬(
x =
y)
∧
logical conjunction or
meet in a
lattice
and; min; meet
propositional logic,
lattice theory
The statement
A ∧
B is true if
A and
B are both true; else it is false.
For functions
A(x) and
B(x),
A(x) ∧
B(x) is used to mean min(A(x), B(x)).
n < 4 ∧
n >2 ⇔
n = 3 when
n is a
natural number.
wedge product
wedge product; exterior product
linear algebra
u ∧
v means the wedge product of
vectors u and
v. This generalizes the cross product to higher dimensions.
(
For vectors in R, ×
can also be used.)
∨
logical disjunction or
join in a
lattice
or; max; join
propositional logic,
lattice theory
The statement
A ∨
B is true if
A or
B (or both) are true; if both are false, the statement is false.
For functions
A(x) and
B(x),
A(x) ∨
B(x) is used to mean max(A(x), B(x)).
n ≥ 4 ∨
n ≤ 2 ⇔
n ≠ 3 when
n is a
natural number.
⊕
⊻
exclusive or
xor
propositional logic,
Boolean algebra
The statement
A ⊕
B is true when either A or B, but not both, are true.
A ⊻
B means the same.
(¬
A) ⊕
A is always true,
A ⊕
A is always false.
direct sum
direct sum of
abstract algebra
The direct sum is a special way of combining several modules into one general module.
(
The symbol ⊕,
or the coproduct symbol ∐,
is used; ⊻
is only for logic.)
Most commonly, for vector spaces
U,
V, and
W, the following consequence is used:
U =
V ⊕
W ⇔ (
U =
V +
W) ∧ (
V ∩
W = {0})
∀
universal quantification
for all; for any; for each
predicate logic
∀
x:
P(
x) means
P(
x) is true for all
x.
∀
n ∈ ℕ:
n ≥
n.
∃
existential quantification
there exists; there is; there are
predicate logic
∃
x:
P(
x) means there is at least one
x such that
P(
x) is true.
∃
n ∈ ℕ:
n is even.
∃!
uniqueness quantification
there exists exactly one
predicate logic
∃!
x:
P(
x) means there is exactly one
x such that
P(
x) is true.
∃!
n ∈ ℕ:
n + 5 = 2
n.
:=
≡
:⇔
≜
≝
≐
definition
is defined as; equal by definition
everywhere
x :=
y or
x ≡
y means
x is defined to be another name for
y, under certain assumptions taken in context.
(
Some writers use ≡
to mean congruence).
P :⇔
Q means
P is defined to be logically equivalent to
Q.
≅
congruence
is congruent to
geometry
△ABC ≅ △DEF means triangle ABC is congruent to (has the same measurements as) triangle DEF.
isomorphic
is isomorphic to
abstract algebra
G ≅
H means that group
G is isomorphic (structurally identical) to group
H.
(≈
can also be used for isomorphic, as described above.)
.
≡
congruence relation
... is congruent to ... modulo ...
modular arithmetic
a ≡
b (mod
n) means
a −
b is divisible by
n
5 ≡ 2 (mod 3)
{ , }
set brackets
the set of …
set theory
{
a,
b,
c} means the set consisting of
a,
b, and
c.
ℕ = { 1, 2, 3, …}
{ : }
{ | }
set builder notation
the set of … such that
set theory
{
x :
P(
x)} means the set of all
x for which
P(
x) is true. {
x |
P(
x)} is the same as {
x :
P(
x)}.
{
n ∈ ℕ :
n < 20} = { 1, 2, 3, 4}
∅
{ }
empty set
the empty set
set theory
∅ means the set with no elements. { } means the same.
{
n ∈ ℕ : 1 <
n < 4} = ∅
∈
∉
set membership
is an element of; is not an element of
everywhere,
set theory
a ∈
S means
a is an element of the set
S;
a ∉
S means
a is not an element of
S.
(1/2) ∈ ℕ
2 ∉ ℕ
⊆
⊂
subset
is a subset of
set theory
(subset)
A ⊆
B means every element of
A is also an element of
B.
(proper subset)
A ⊂
B means
A ⊆
B but
A ≠
B.
(
Some writers use the symbol ⊂
as if it were the same as ⊆.)
(
A ∩
B) ⊆
A
ℕ ⊂ ⊂ ℝ
⊇
⊃
superset
is a superset of
set theory
A ⊇
B means every element of
B is also an element of
A.
A ⊃
B means
A ⊇
B but
A ≠
B.
(
Some writers use the symbol ⊃
as if it were the same as ⊇
.)
(
A ∪
B) ⊇
B
ℝ ⊃ ℚ
∪
set-theoretic union
the union of … or …; union
set theory
A ∪
B means the set of those elements which are either in
A, or in
B, or in both.
A ⊆
B ⇔ (
A ∪
B) =
B
∩
set-theoretic intersection
intersected with; intersect
set theory
A ∩
B means the set that contains all those elements that
A and
B have in common.
{
x ∈ ℝ :
x = 1} ∩ ℕ = {1}
∆
symmetric difference
symmetric difference
set theory
A ∆ B means the set of elements in exactly one of
A or
B.
(
Not to be confused with delta, Δ,
described below.)
{1,5,6,8} ∆ {2,5,8} = {1,2,6}
∖
set-theoretic complement
minus; without
set theory
A ∖
B means the set that contains all those elements of
A that are not in
B.
(−
can also be used for set-theoretic complement as described above.)
{1,2,3,4} ∖ {3,4,5,6} = {1,2}
→
function arrow
from … to
set theory,
type theory
f:
X →
Y means the function
f maps the set
X into the set
Y.
Let
f: ℤ → ℕ∪{0} be defined by
f(
x) :=
x.
↦
function arrow
maps to
set theory
f:
a ↦
b means the function
f maps the element
a to the element
b.
Let
f:
x ↦
x+1 (the successor function).
∘
function composition
composed with
set theory
f∘
g is the function, such that (
f∘
g)(
x) =
f(
g(
x)).
if
f(
x) := 2
x, and
g(
x) :=
x + 3, then (
f∘
g)(
x) = 2(
x + 3).
ℕ
N
natural numbers
N; the (set of) natural numbers
numbers
N means either { 0, 1, 2, 3, ...} or { 1, 2, 3, ...}.
The choice depends on the area of mathematics being studied; e.g. number theorists prefer the latter; analysts, set theorists and computer scientists prefer the former. To avoid confusion, always check an author's definition of N.
Set theorists often use the notation ω
to denote the set of natural numbers (including zero), along with the standard ordering relation ≤.
ℕ = {|
a| :
a ∈ ℤ}
ℤ
Z
integers
Z; the (set of) integers
numbers
ℤ means {..., −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, ...}.
ℤ or ℤ means {1, 2, 3, ...} . ℤ means {0, 1, 2, 3, ...} .
ℤ = {
p, −
p :
p ∈ ℕ ∪ {0}}
ℤ
n
ℤ
p
Zn
Zp
integers mod n
Z
n; the (set of) integers modulo
n
numbers
ℤ
n means {[0], [1], [2], ...[
n−1]} with addition and multiplication modulo
n.
Note that any letter may be used instead of n,
such as p.
To avoid confusion with p-adic numbers, use ℤ/
pℤ
or ℤ/(
p)
instead.
ℤ
3 = {[0], [1], [2]}
p-adic integers
the (set of)
p-adic integers
numbers
Note that any letter may be used instead of p,
such as n or l.
ℙ
P
projective space
P; the projective space, the projective line, the projective plane
topology
ℙ means a space with a point at infinity.
,
probability
the probability of
probability theory
ℙ(
X) means the probability of the event
X occurring.
This may also be written as P(
X)
or Pr(
X).
If a fair coin is flipped, ℙ(Heads) = ℙ(Tails) = 0.5.
ℚ
Q
rational numbers
Q; the (set of) rational numbers; the rationals
numbers
ℚ means {
p/
q :
p ∈ ℤ,
q ∈ ℕ}.
3.14000... ∈ ℚ
π ∉ ℚ
ℝ
R
real numbers
R; the (set of) real numbers; the reals
numbers
ℝ means the set of real numbers.
π ∈ ℝ
√(−1) ∉ ℝ
ℂ
C
complex numbers
C; the (set of) complex numbers
numbers
ℂ means {
a +
b i :
a,
b ∈ ℝ}.
i = √(−1) ∈ ℂ
𝕂
K
real or
complex numbers
K
linear algebra
K means both
R and
C: a statement containing
K is true if either
R or
C is substituted for the
K.
O
O
Big O notation
big-oh of
Computational complexity theory
The
Big O notation describes the
limiting behavior of a
function, when the argument tends towards a particular value or
infinity.
If f(x) = 6x − 2x + 5 and g(x) = x , then
∞
infinity
infinity
numbers
∞ is an element of the
extended number line that is greater than all real numbers; it often occurs in
limits.
⌊…⌋
floor
floor; greatest integer; entier
numbers
⌊
x⌋ means the floor of
x, i.e. the largest integer less than or equal to
x.
(
This may also be written [
x], floor(
x)
or int(
x).)
⌊4⌋ = 4, ⌊2.1⌋ = 2, ⌊2.9⌋ = 2, ⌊−2.6⌋ = −3
⌈…⌉
ceiling
ceiling
numbers
⌈
x⌉ means the ceiling of
x, i.e. the smallest integer greater than or equal to
x.
(
This may also be written ceil(
x)
or ceiling(
x).)
⌈4⌉ = 4, ⌈2.1⌉ = 3, ⌈2.9⌉ = 3, ⌈−2.6⌉ = −2
⌊…⌉
nearest integer function
nearest integer to
numbers
⌊
x⌉ means the nearest integer to
x, with half-integers being
rounded to even.
(
This may also be written [
x], ||
x||, nint(
x)
or Round(
x).)
⌊2⌉ = 2, ⌊2.5⌉ = 2, ⌊3.5⌉ = 4, ⌊4.5⌉ = 4, ⌊7.2⌉ = 7, ⌊8.9⌉ = 9
[ : ]
degree of a field extension
the degree of
field theory
[
K :
F] means the degree of the extension
K :
F.
[ℚ(√2) : ℚ] = 2
[ℂ : ℝ] = 2
[ℝ : ℚ] = ∞
[ ]
[ , ]
[ , , ]
equivalence class
the equivalence class of
abstract algebra
[
a] means the equivalence class of
a, i.e. {
x :
x ~
a}, where ~ is an
equivalence relation.
[
a]
R means the same, but with
R as the equivalence relation.
Let
a ~
b be true
iff a ≡
b (
mod 5).
Then [2] = {…, −8, −3, 2, 7, …}.
floor
floor; greatest integer; entier
numbers
[
x] means the floor of
x, i.e. the largest integer less than or equal to
x.
(
This may also be written ⌊
x⌋, floor(
x)
or int(
x).
Not to be confused with the nearest integer function, as described below.)
[3] = 3, [3.5] = 3, [3.99] = 3, [−3.7] = −4
nearest integer function
nearest integer to
numbers
[
x] means the nearest integer to
x, with half-integers being
rounded to even.
(
This may also be written ⌊
x⌉, ||
x||, nint(
x)
or Round(
x).
Not to be confused with the floor function, as described above.)
[2] = 2, [2.5] = 2, [3.5] = 4, [4.5] = 4
Iverson bracket
1 if true, 0 otherwise
propositional logic
[
S] maps a true statement
S to 1 and a false statement
S to 0.
[0=5]=0, [7>0]=1, [2 ∈ {2,3,4}]=0, [5 ∈ {2,3,4}]=0
image
image of … under …
everywhere
f[
X] means {
f(
x) :
x ∈
X }, the image of the function
f under the set
X ⊆
dom(
f).
(
This may also be written as f(
X)
if there is no risk of confusing the image of f under X with the function application f of X.
Another notation is Im
f,
the image of f under its domain.)
closed interval
closed interval
order theory
.
[0,1]
commutator
the commutator of
group theory,
ring theory
[
g,
h] =
ghgh (or
ghgh), if
g,
h ∈
G (a
group).
[
a,
b] =
ab −
ba, if
a,
b ∈
R (a
ring or
commutative algebra).
x =
x[
x,
y] (group theory).
[
AB,
C] =
A[
B,
C] + [
A,
C]
B (ring theory).
triple scalar product
the triple scalar product of
vector calculus
[
a,
b,
c] =
a ×
b ·
c, the
scalar product of
a × b with
c.
[
a,
b,
c] = [
b,
c,
a] = [
c,
a,
b].
( )
( , )
function application
of
set theory
f(
x) means the value of the function
f at the element
x.
If
f(
x) :=
x, then
f(3) = 3 = 9.
image
image of … under …
everywhere
f(
X) means {
f(
x) :
x ∈
X }, the image of the function
f under the set
X ⊆
dom(
f).
(
This may also be written as f[
X]
if there is a risk of confusing the image of f under X with the function application f of X.
Another notation is Im
f,
the image of f under its domain.)
precedence grouping
parentheses
everywhere
Perform the operations inside the parentheses first.
(8/4)/2 = 2/2 = 1, but 8/(4/2) = 8/2 = 4.
tuple
tuple;
n-tuple; ordered pair/triple/etc; row vector; sequence
everywhere
An ordered list (or sequence, or horizontal vector, or row vector) of values.
(Note that the notation (a,b) is ambiguous: it could be an ordered pair or an open interval. Set theorists and computer scientists often use angle brackets ⟨ ⟩ instead of parentheses.)
(
a,
b) is an ordered pair (or 2-tuple).
(a, b, c) is an ordered triple (or 3-tuple).
( ) is the empty tuple (or 0-tuple).
highest common factor
highest common factor; greatest common divisor; hcf; gcd
number theory
(
a,
b) means the highest common factor of
a and
b.
(
This may also be written hcf(
a,
b)
or gcd(
a,
b).)
(3, 7) = 1 (they are coprime); (15, 25) = 5.
( , )
] , [
open interval
open interval
order theory
.
(Note that the notation (a,b) is ambiguous: it could be an ordered pair or an open interval. The notation ]a,b[ can be used instead.)
(4,18)
( , ]
] , ]
left-open interval
half-open interval; left-open interval
order theory
.
(−1, 7] and (−∞, −1]
[ , )
[ , [
right-open interval
half-open interval; right-open interval
order theory
.
[4, 18) and [1, +∞)
⟨⟩
⟨,⟩
inner product
inner product of
linear algebra
⟨
u,
v⟩ means the inner product of
u and
v, where
u and
v are members of an
inner product space.
Note that the notation ⟨
u,
v⟩
may be ambiguous: it could mean the inner product or the linear span.
There are many variants of the notation, such as ⟨
u |
v⟩
and (
u |
v),
which are described below. For spatial vectors, the dot product notation, x·
y is common. For matrices, the colon notation A :
B may be used. As ⟨
and ⟩
can be hard to type, the more “keyboard friendly” forms <
and >
are sometimes seen. These are avoided in mathematical texts.
The
standard inner product between two vectors
x = (2, 3) and
y = (−1, 5) is:
⟨x, y⟩ = 2 × −1 + 3 × 5 = 13
linear span
(linear) span of;
linear hull of
linear algebra
⟨
S⟩ means the span of
S ⊆
V. That is, it is the intersection of all subspaces of
V which contain
S.
⟨
u1,
u2, …⟩is shorthand for ⟨{
u1,
u2, …}⟩.
Note that the notation ⟨u, v⟩ may be ambiguous: it could mean the inner product or the linear span.
The span of S may also be written as Sp(S).
.
subgroup
generated by a set
the subgroup generated by
group theory
means the smallest subgroup of
G (where
S ⊆
G, a group) containing every element of
S.
is shorthand for .
In
S3, and .
tuple
tuple;
n-tuple; ordered pair/triple/etc; row vector; sequence
everywhere
An ordered list (or sequence, or horizontal vector, or row vector) of values.
(The notation (a,b) is often used as well.)
is an ordered pair (or 2-tuple).
is an ordered triple (or 3-tuple).
is the empty tuple (or 0-tuple).
⟨|⟩
(|)
inner product
inner product of
linear algebra
⟨
u |
v⟩ means the inner product of
u and
v, where
u and
v are members of an
inner product space. (
u |
v) means the same.
Another variant of the notation is ⟨
u,
v⟩
which is described above. For spatial vectors, the dot product notation, x·
y is common. For matrices, the colon notation A :
B may be used. As ⟨
and ⟩
can be hard to type, the more “keyboard friendly” forms <
and >
are sometimes seen. These are avoided in mathematical texts.
|⟩
ket vector
the ket …; the vector …
Dirac notation
|
φ⟩ means the vector with label
φ, which is in a
Hilbert space.
A
qubit's state can be represented as
α|0⟩+
β|1⟩, where
α and
β are complex numbers s.t. |
α| + |
β| = 1.
⟨|
bra vector
the bra …; the dual of …
Dirac notation
⟨
φ| means the dual of the vector |
φ⟩, a
linear functional which maps a ket |
ψ⟩ onto the inner product ⟨
φ|
ψ⟩.
∑
summation
sum over … from … to … of
arithmetic
means
a1 +
a2 + … +
an.
= 1 + 2 + 3 + 4
-
- = 1 + 4 + 9 + 16 = 30
∏
product
product over … from … to … of
arithmetic
means
a1a2···
an.
= (1+2)(2+2)(3+2)(4+2)
-
- = 3 × 4 × 5 × 6 = 360
Cartesian product
the Cartesian product of; the direct product of
set theory
means the set of all
(n+1)-tuples
-
- (y0, …, yn).
∐
coproduct
coproduct over … from … to … of
category theory
A general construction which subsumes the
disjoint union of sets and
of topological spaces, the
free product of groups, and the
direct sum of modules and vector spaces. The coproduct of a family of objects is essentially the "least specific" object to which each object in the family admits a
morphism.
′
derivative
… prime
derivative of
calculus
f ′(
x) means the derivative of the function
f at the point
x, i.e., the
slope of the
tangent to
f at
x.
The dot notation indicates a time derivative. That is .
If
f(
x) :=
x, then
f ′(
x) = 2
x
∫
indefinite integral or
antiderivative
indefinite integral of
the antiderivative of
calculus
∫
f(
x) d
x means a function whose derivative is
f.
∫
x d
x =
x/3 +
C
definite integral
integral from … to … of … with respect to
calculus
∫
a f(
x) d
x means the signed
area between the
x-axis and the
graph of the
function f between
x =
a and
x =
b.
∫
a x d
x =
b/3 −
a/3;
line integral
line/path/curve integral of … along …
calculus
∫
C f d
s means the integral of
f along the curve
C, , where
r is a parametrization of
C.
(
If the curve is closed, the symbol ∮
may be used instead, as described below.)
∮
contour integral or closed
line integral
contour integral of
calculus
Similar to the integral, but used to denote a single integration over a closed curve or loop. It is sometimes used in physics texts involving equations regarding
Gauss's Law, and while these formulas involve a closed
surface integral, the representations describe only the first integration of the volume over the enclosing surface. Instances where the latter requires simultaneous double integration, the symbol ∯ would be more appropriate. A third related symbol is the closed
volume integral, denoted by the symbol ∰.
The contour integral can also frequently be found with a subscript capital letter C, ∮C, denoting that a closed loop integral is, in fact, around a contour C, or sometimes dually appropriately, a circle C. In representations of Gauss's Law, a subscript capital S, ∮S, is used to denote that the integration is over a closed surface.
If
C is a
Jordan curve about 0, then .
∇
gradient
del,
nabla,
gradient of
vector calculus
∇
f (x
1, …, x
n) is the vector of partial derivatives (
∂f /
∂x1, …,
∂f /
∂xn).
If
f (
x,
y,
z) := 3
xy +
z², then ∇
f = (3
y, 3
x, 2
z)
divergence
del dot, divergence of
vector calculus
If , then .
curl
curl of
vector calculus
If , then .
∂
partial derivative
partial, d
calculus
∂
f/∂
xi means the partial derivative of
f with respect to
xi, where
f is a function on (
x1, …,
xn).
If
f(
x,
y) :=
xy, then ∂
f/∂
x = 2
xy
boundary
boundary of
topology
∂
M means the boundary of
M
∂{
x : ||
x|| ≤ 2} = {
x : ||
x|| = 2}
degree of a polynomial
degree of
algebra
∂
f means the degree of the polynomial
f.
(
This may also be written deg
f.)
∂(
x − 1) = 2
Δ
delta
delta; change in
calculus
Δ
x means a (non-infinitesimal) change in
x.
(
If the change becomes infinitesimal, δ
and even d
are used instead. Not to be confused with the symmetric difference, written ∆,
above.)
is the gradient of a straight line
δ
Dirac delta function
Dirac delta of
hyperfunction
δ(x)
Kronecker delta
Kronecker delta of
hyperfunction
δ
ij
π
π
projection
Projection of
Relational algebra
restricts
R to the {
a1,...,
an}
attribute set.
π
Age,Weight(
Person)
σ
σ
selection
Selection of
Relational algebra
The selection σ
aθb(
R) selects all those
tuples in
R for which θ holds between the
a and the
b attribute. The selection σ
aθv(
R) selects all those tuples in
R for which θ holds between the
a attribute and the value
v.
σ
Age = Weight(
Person)
<:
<·
cover
is covered by
order theory
x <•
y means that
x is covered by
y.
{1, 8} <• {1, 3, 8} among the subsets of {1, 2, …, 10} ordered by containment.
subtype
is a subtype of
type theory
T1 <:
T2 means that
T1 is a subtype of
T2.
If
S <:
T and
T <:
U then
S <:
U (
transitivity).
conjugate transpose
conjugate transpose; Hermitian adjoint/conjugate/transpose; adjoint
matrix operations
A means the transpose of the complex conjugate of
A.
This may also be written A,
A,
A,
A or A.
If
A = (
aij) then
A = (
aji).
transpose
transpose
matrix operations
A means
A, but with its rows swapped for columns.
This may also be written A or A.
If
A = (
aij) then
A = (
aji).
⊤
top element
the top element
lattice theory
⊤ means the largest element of a lattice.
∀
x :
x ∨ ⊤ = ⊤
top type
the top type; top
type theory
⊤ means the top or universal type; every type in the
type system of interest is a subtype of top.
∀ types
T,
T <: ⊤
⊥
perpendicular
is perpendicular to
geometry
x ⊥
y means
x is perpendicular to
y; or more generally
x is
orthogonal to
y.
If
l ⊥
m and
m ⊥
n in the plane then
l ||
n.
orthogonal complement
orthogonal/perpendicular complement of; perp
linear algebra
W means the orthogonal complement of
W (where
W is a subspace of the
inner product space V), the set of all vectors in
V orthogonal to every vector in
W.
Within , .
coprime
is coprime to
number theory
x ⊥
y means
x has no factor in common with
y.
34 ⊥ 55.
bottom element
the bottom element
lattice theory
⊥ means the smallest element of a lattice.
∀
x :
x ∧ ⊥ = ⊥
bottom type
the bottom type; bot
type theory
⊥ means the bottom type (a.k.a. the zero type or empty type); bottom is the subtype of every type in the
type system.
∀ types
T, ⊥ <:
T
comparability
is comparable to
order theory
x ⊥
y means that
x is comparable to
y.
{
e,
π} ⊥ {1, 2,
e, 3,
π} under set containment.
⊧
entailment
entails
model theory
A ⊧
B means the sentence
A entails the sentence
B, that is in every model in which
A is true,
B is also true.
A ⊧
A ∨ ¬
A
⊢
inference
infers; is derived from
propositional logic,
predicate logic
x ⊢
y means
y is derivable from
x.
A →
B ⊢ ¬
B → ¬
A.
⊗
tensor product,
tensor product of modules
tensor product of
linear algebra
means the tensor product of
V and
U. means the tensor product of modules
V and
U over the
ring R.
{1, 2, 3, 4} ⊗ {1, 1, 2} =
{{1, 2, 3, 4}, {1, 2, 3, 4}, {2, 4, 6, 8}}
*
convolution
convolution, convolved with
functional analysis
f *
g means the convolution of
f and
g.
.
complex conjugate
conjugate
complex numbers
z* means the complex conjugate of
z.
(
can also be used for the conjugate of z, as described below.)
.
group of units
the group of units of
ring theory
R* consists of the set of units of the ring
R, along with the operation of multiplication.
This may also be written R as described above, or U(
R).
x
mean
overbar, … bar
statistics
(often read as “x bar”) is the
mean (average value of
xi).
.
complex conjugate
conjugate
complex numbers
means the complex conjugate of
z.
(
z*
can also be used for the conjugate of z, as described above.)
.
algebraic closure
algebraic closure of
field theory
is the algebraic closure of the field
F.
The field of
algebraic numbers is sometimes denoted as because it is the algebraic closure of the
rational numbers .
topological closure
(topological) closure of
topology
is the topological closure of the set
S.
This may also be denoted as cl(
S)
or Cl(
S).
In the space of the real numbers, (the rational numbers are
dense in the real numbers).