Symbol What it is How it is read How it is used Sample expression
Addition sign
Logical OR
symbol
... plus ...
... or ...
Sum of a few values
Logical disjunction
3 + 5 = 8
¬(A + B) = ¬A * ¬B
Multiplication sign
Logical AND
symbol
... times ...
... and ...
Product of two values
Logical conjunction
3 x 5 = 15
¬(A * B) = ¬A + ¬B
Multiplication
sign
... times ... Product of two values 3 x 5 = 15
Multiplication
sign
... times ... Product of two values 3 · 5 = 15
summation sign The summation
of ...
Sum of many or
infinitely many values
Integral sign The integral of ... integration
double
integral sign
The double
integral of ...
integration
Triple
integral sign
The triple
integral of ...
integration
Line
integral sign
The line
integral of ...
integration
Surface
integral sign
The surface
integral of ...
integration
Subtraction
Minus sign
... minus ...
Negative...
Difference of two values,
negative number
3 - 5 = -5
Plus/minus
sign
... plus or minus ... Expression of range,
error, or tolerance
500 kbps ± 10%
dot product
sign
... dot ... Scalar (dot) product
of two vectors
A B = B A
Cross
product
sign
... cross ... Vector (cross) product
of two vectors
A x B = - (B x A)
Product sign The product of ... Product of three up to
infinitely many values
Carat ... to the power of ... exponent 2 ^ 5 = 32
Exclamation ... factorial Product of all positive
integers up to a
certain value
5! = 120
surd ... root of ... Algebraic expressions
square root
symbol
The square root of ... Algebraic expressions
Continuation
sign
... and so on up to ...
... and so on
indefinitely
Extension of sequence S = {1, 2, 3, ...}
Solidus ... divided by ...
... over ...
Division 3/4 = 0.75
Division sign ... divided by ... Division 3 ÷ 4 = 0.75
Percent
symbol
... percent ... Proportion 0.032 = 3.2
Per mil
symbol
... per mil ... Proportion 0.032 = 32
Colon,
ratio sign
... is to , such
that , it is
true that ...
Division or ratio, symbol
following, logical quantifier
or used in defining a set
2:4 = 20:40 , x : x > 4 and x < 5
x : x < 0 or x > -1 , S = {x : x < 3}
Vertical line ... such that ...
...it is true that ...
Symbol following
logical quantifier or
used in defining a set
x | x > 4 and x < 5
x | x < 0 or x > -1
S = {x | x < 3}
Double colon ... averaged with ... arithmetic mean 3 :: 11 = 7
lemniscate ... infinity
... increases
without limit
Infinite summations
Infinite sequence
Limit
Parentheses ...quantity, list,
set of coordinates,
open interval
Denotes a quantity, list,
set of coordinates, or an
open interval
(x + y) + z , (a1, a2, a3, a4) ,
(x,y,z) , (3,5)
Square brackets ... the quantity ...
... the closed
interval ...
Denotes a quantity or a
closed interval
w + [(x + y) + z]
[3,5]
Hybrid brackets ... the half-open
interval ...
Denotes a
half-open interval
(3,5]
Hybrid brackets ... the half-open
interval ...
Denotes a
half-open interval
[3,5)
Curly brackets ... the quantity ...
... the set ...
Denotes a quantity or a set E = {2, 4, 6, 8, ...}
Equal sign ... equals ... Indicates two values
are the same
-(-5) = 5
2z2 + 4z - 6 = 0
proportionality
sign
... is proportional to ... Indicates two variables
change in direct proportion
Similarity sign ... is similar to ... Indicates two objects are
geometrically similar
ABC ~ DEF
Approximate
equal sign
... is approximately
equal to ...
Indicates two values are
close to each other
x + y z
Inequality sign ... is not equal to ... Indicates two values
are different
x y
Inequality sign ... is less than ... Indicates value on left
is smaller than
value on right
3 < 5
x < y
Inequality sign ... is less than or
equal to ...
... is at most equal to ...
Indicates value on left
is smaller than or equal to
value on right
x y
Inequality sign ... is greater than ...
... is at most equal to ...
Indicates value on left
is larger than
value on right
5 > 3
x > y
absolute
value sign
The absolute
value of ...
Distance of value from
origin in number line,
plane, or space
| -3 | = 3
Inequality sign ... is greater
than or equal to ...
Indicates value on left
is larger than or equal to
value on right
x y
increment sign,
Triangle symbol
the change in ...
triangle ...
Indicates a small change,
Denotes vertices of triangle
 
Perpendicularity
symbol
... is perpendicular
to ...
Geometry L M
Parallel
symbol
... is parallel to ... Geometry L // M
angle symbol Angle ... Geometry ABC = DEF
Existential
quantifier
For some ...
There exists a(n) ...
Logical statements x : x > 4 and x < 5
Universal
quantifier
For all ...
For every ...
Logical statements x : x < 0 or x > -1
Logical
negation
symbol
not ... Logical statements ¬(¬A) A
Logical
implication
symbol
... implies ...
If ... then ...
Logical statements A B
logical
equivalence
symbol
... is logically
equivalent to ,
... if and only if ..
Logical statements A B
Three dots ... therefore ...
... it follows that ...
Logical statements or
mathematical proofs
x = y and y = z
x = z
Element-of
symbol
... is an element of
a set
...
Sets a A
Not-element-of
symbol
... is not an element of
a set
...
Sets b A
Subset symbol ... is a subset of ... Sets A B
Proper subset
symbol
... is a proper
subset of ...
Sets A B
Superset symbol      
Proper Superset symbol      
Union symbol ... union ... Sets A B = B A
Intersection
symbol
... intersect ...
... intersected with ...
Sets A B = B A
Null symbol The null set
The empty set
Sets = { }
Hebrew aleph
(uppercase)
Aleph ... Transfinite cardinal 1 + 0 = 1
Degree
symbol
... degree(s) Angular measure
Temperature
= 45º
T = +20 ºC
Greek theta
(lowercase)
... theta ... Angular variable
Greek phi
(lowercase)
... phi ... Angular variable = 45º
Greek lambda
(lowercase)
... lambda ... wavelength or Ratio
Eigenvalue
Lebesgue measure
= 70 cm
= 3:1
Greek mu
(lowercase)
micro- (10-6) prefix multiplier C = 0.001 µF
Greek pi
(lowercase)
... pi ... General science
Greek omega
(uppercase)
... omega ... Volume of an object
Ohms (resistance)
R2 = 330
Greek omega
(lowercase)
... omega ... Transfinite ordinal
Angular velocity
Period
Enhanced
or bold N
The set of natural
numbers
Number theory
Set theory
= {0, 1, 2, 3, ...}
Enhanced
or bold Z
The set of integers Number theory
Set theory
= {0, 1, -1, 2, -2, 3, -3, ...}
Enhanced
or bold Q
The set of rational
numbers
Number theory
Set theory
= {a/b | a and b are in }
Enhanced
or bold R
The set of real
numbers
Number theory
Set theory
What is the cardinality of ?