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User:Alksentrs/Table of mathematical symbols (grouped like in German version)

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This is an experimental version of Table of mathematical symbols. (Structure is based on the article Mathematische Symbole on the German Wikipedia.)

Algebra

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Linear algebra

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Symbol
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AT

Atr


transpose
AT means A, but with its rows swapped for columns. If A = (aij) then AT = (aji).
|A|

det(A)


determinant of
|A| means the determinant of the matrix A
W
orthogonal/perpendicular complement of; perp
If W is a subspace of the inner product space V, then W is the set of all vectors in V orthogonal to every vector in W. Within , .
V ⊕ W
direct sum of
The direct sum is a special way of combining several modules into one general module. Most commonly, for vector spaces U, V, and W, the following consequence is used:
U = VW ⇔ (U = V + W) ∧ (VW = {0})
〈,〉

( | )

< , >

·

:








inner product of
x,y〉 means the inner product of x and y as defined in an inner product space.

For spatial vectors, the dot product notation, x·y is common.
For matrices, the colon notation may be used.
(Note that the notationx, ymay be ambiguous: it could mean the inner product or the linear span.)

The standard inner product between two vectors x = (2, 3) and y = (−1, 5) is:
〈x, y〉 = 2 × −1 + 3 × 5 = 13

〈 , 〉

< , >

Sp




(linear) span of; linear hull of
If u,v,wV then 〈u, v, w〉 means the span of u, v and w, as does Sp(u, v, w). That is, it is the intersection of all subspaces of V which contain u, v and w.

(Note that the notationu, vmay be ambiguous: it could mean the inner product or the span.)

.
tensor product of
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}}

Group and ring theory

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Elementary mathematics

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Elementary functions

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|…|
absolute value (modulus) of
|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 + 4i | = 5

Intervals

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Trigonometric functions

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Complex numbers

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Geometry

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Elementary geometry

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Vector calculus

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·
dot
u · v means the dot product of vectors u and v (1,2,5) · (3,4,−1) = 6
×
cross
u × v means the cross product of vectors u and v (1,2,5) × (3,4,−1) =
(−22, 16, − 2)
wedge product; exterior product
uv means the wedge product of vectors u and v. This generalizes the cross product to higher dimensions.

(For vectors in R3, × can also be used.)


Set theory

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Set functions

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|…|

#





cardinality of; size of
|X| means the cardinality of the set X. |{3, 5, 7, 9}| = 4.

Cardinal numbers

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Set operations

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×
the Cartesian product of ... and ...; the direct product of ... and ...
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)}
the Cartesian product of; the direct product of
means the set of all (n+1)-tuples
(y0, …, yn).




minus; without
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.)
{1,2,4} − {1,3,4}  =  {2}
the union of … or …; union
A ∪ B means the set of those elements which are either in A, or in B, or in both. A ⊆ B  ⇔  (A ∪ B) = B
intersected with; intersect
A ∩ B means the set that contains all those elements that A and B have in common. {x ∈ ℝ : x2 = 1} ∩ ℕ = {1}
symmetric difference
A ∆ B means the set of elements in exactly one of A or B. {1,5,6,8} ∆ {2,5,8} = {1,2,6}

Set relations

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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)−1 ∈ ℕ

2−1 ∉ ℕ




is a subset of
(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 ⊂ ℚ

ℚ ⊂ ℝ




is a superset of
A ⊇ B means every element of B is also 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

Ordinal numbers and types

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Special functions

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Error functions

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Number theory

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Sets of numbers

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N


N
N means { 1, 2, 3, ...}, but see the article on natural numbers for a different convention. ℕ = {|a| : a ∈ ℤ, a ≠ 0}


Z


Z
ℤ means {..., −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, ...} and ℤ+ means {1, 2, 3, ...} = ℕ. ℤ = {p, −p : p ∈ ℕ ∪ {0}


Q


Q
ℚ means {p/q : p ∈ ℤ, q ∈ ℕ}. 3.14000... ∈ ℚ

π ∉ ℚ


R


R
ℝ means the set of real numbers. π ∈ ℝ

√(−1) ∉ ℝ


C


C
ℂ means {a + b i : a,b ∈ ℝ}. i = √(−1) ∈ ℂ
𝕂

K


K
K means the statement holds substituting K for R and also for C.

Divisibility

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|
divides
a|b means a divides b. Since 15 = 3×5, it is true that 3|15 and 5|15.


||
exactly divides
pa || n means pa exactly divides n (i.e. pa divides n but pa+1 does not). 23 || 360.
is coprime to
x ⊥ y means x has no factor in common with y. 34  ⊥  55.

Elementary arithmetic functions

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⌊…⌋
floor; greatest integer; entier
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
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

Multiplicative number-theoretic functions

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Further functions from analytical number theory

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Logic and Boolean algebra

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therefore; so; hence
everywhere
Sometimes used in proofs before logical consequences. All humans are mortal. Socrates is a human. ∴ Socrates is mortal.
because; since
everywhere
Sometimes used in proofs before reasoning. 3331 is prime ∵ it has no positive integer factors other than itself and one.








implies; if … then
AB 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  ⇒  x2 = 4 is true, but x2 = 4   ⇒  x = 2 is in general false (since x could be −2).




if and only if; iff
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
¬

˜


not
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.)
¬(¬A) ⇔ A
x ≠ y  ⇔  ¬(x =  y)
and; min; meet
The statement AB 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.
or; max; join
The statement AB 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.




xor
The statement AB is true when either A or B, but not both, are true. AB means the same. A) ⊕ A is always true, AA is always false.
for all; for any; for each
∀ x: P(x) means P(x) is true for all x. ∀ n ∈ ℕ: n2 ≥ n.
there exists
∃ x: P(x) means there is at least one x such that P(x) is true. ∃ n ∈ ℕ: n is even.
∃!
there exists exactly one
∃! x: P(x) means there is exactly one x such that P(x) is true. ∃! n ∈ ℕ: n + 5 = 2n.
entails
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
infers; is derived from
x ⊢ y means y is derivable from x. A → B ⊢ ¬B → ¬A.


Misc.

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Symbol
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=
is equal to; equals
everywhere
x = y means x and y represent the same thing or value. 1 + 1 = 2


<>

!=
is not equal to; does not equal
everywhere
x ≠ y means that x and y do not represent the same thing or value.

(The symbols != and <> are primarily from computer science. They are avoided in mathematical texts.)
1 ≠ 2
<

>









is less than, is greater than, is much less than, is much greater than
x < y means x is less than y.

x > y means x is greater than y.

x ≪ y means x is much less than y.

x ≫ y means x is much greater than y.
3 < 4
5 > 4
0.003 ≪ 1000000

<=


>=



is less than or equal to, is greater than or equal to
x ≤ y means x is less than or equal to y.

x ≥ y means x is greater than or equal to y.

(The symbols <= and >= are primarily from computer science. They are avoided in mathematical texts.)
3 ≤ 4 and 5 ≤ 5
5 ≥ 4 and 5 ≥ 5
is proportional to; varies as
everywhere
yx means that y = kx for some constant k. if y = 2x, then yx
+
4 + 6 means the sum of 4 and 6. 2 + 7 = 9
the disjoint union of ... and ...
A1 + A2 means the disjoint union of sets A1 and A2. A1 = {1, 2, 3, 4} ∧ A2 = {2, 4, 5, 7} ⇒
A1 + A2 = {(1,1), (2,1), (3,1), (4,1), (2,2), (4,2), (5,2), (7,2)}
9 − 4 means the subtraction of 4 from 9. 8 − 3 = 5
negative; minus; the opposite of
−3 means the negative of the number 3. −(−5) = 5
×
times
3 × 4 means the multiplication of 3 by 4. 7 × 8 = 56
·
times
3 · 4 means the multiplication of 3 by 4. 7 · 8 = 56
÷



divided by
6 ÷ 3 or 6 ⁄ 3 means the division of 6 by 3. 2 ÷ 4 = .5

12 ⁄ 4 = 3
mod
G / H means the quotient of group G modulo its subgroup H. {0, a, 2a, b, b+a, b+2a} / {0, b} = {{0, b}, {a, b+a}, {2a, b+2a}}
quotient set
mod
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 or minus
6 ± 3 means both 6 + 3 and 6 − 3. The equation x = 5 ± √4, has two solutions, x = 7 and x = 3.
plus or minus
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 or plus
6 ± (3 ∓ 5) means both 6 + (3 − 5) and 6 − (3 + 5). cos(x ± y) = cos(x) cos(y) ∓ sin(x) sin(y).
the principal square root of; square root
means the positive number whose square is .
the complex square root of …; square root
if is represented in polar coordinates with , then .
|…|
Euclidean distance between; Euclidean norm of
|x – y| means the Euclidean distance between x and y. For x = (1,1), and y = (4,5),
|x – y| = √([1–4]2 + [1–5]2) = 5
|
given
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
!
factorial
n! is the product 1 × 2 × ... × n. 4! = 1 × 2 × 3 × 4 = 24
~
has distribution
X ~ D, means the random variable X has the probability distribution D. X ~ N(0,1), the standard normal distribution
is row equivalent to
A~B means that B can be generated by using a series of elementary row operations on A
roughly similar; poorly approximates
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 π2 ≈ 10
is asymptotically equivalent to
f ~ g means . x ~ x+1

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
is isomorphic to
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.
is a normal subgroup of
N ◅ G means that N is a normal subgroup of group G. Z(G) ◅ G
is an ideal of
I ◅ R means that I is an ideal of ring R. (2) ◅ Z
:=



:⇔








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 useto mean congruence).

P :⇔ Q means P is defined to be logically equivalent to Q.
is congruent to
△ABC ≅ △DEF means triangle ABC is congruent to (has the same measurements as) triangle DEF.
is isomorphic to
G ≅ H means that group G is isomorphic (structurally identical) to group H.

(≈ can also be used for isomorphic, as described above.)
.
... is congruent to ... modulo ...
a ≡ b (mod n) means a − b is divisible by n 5 ≡ 11 (mod 3)
{ , }
set brackets
the set of …
{a,b,c} means the set consisting of a, b, and c. ℕ = { 1, 2, 3, …}
{ : }

{ | }


the set of … such that
{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 : n2 < 20} = { 1, 2, 3, 4}


{ }




the empty set
∅ means the set with no elements. { } means the same. {n ∈ ℕ : 1 < n2 < 4} = ∅
function arrow
from … to
fX → Y means the function f maps the set X into the set Y. Let f: ℤ → ℕ be defined by f(x) := x2.
function arrow
maps to
fa ↦ b means the function f maps the element a to the element b. Let fx ↦ x+1 (the successor function).
o
composed with
fog is the function, such that (fog)(x) = f(g(x)). if f(x) := 2x, and g(x) := x + 3, then (fog)(x) = 2(x + 3).
infinity
∞ is an element of the extended number line that is greater than all real numbers; it often occurs in limits.
[ ]

[ , ]

[ , , ]




the equivalence class of
[a] is the equivalence class of a, i.e. {x : x ~ a}, where ~ is an equivalence relation.

[a]R is 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, …}.

closed interval
. [0,1]
the commutator of
[gh] = g−1h−1gh (or ghg−1h−1), if g, hG (a group).

[ab] = ab − ba, if a, b ∈ R (a ring or commutative algebra).
xy = x[xy] (group theory).

[ABC] = A[BC] + [AC]B (ring theory).
the triple scalar product of
[abc] = a × b · c, the scalar product of a × b with c. [abc] = [bca] = [cab].
( )

( , )


function application
of
f(x) means the value of the function f at the element x. If f(x) := x2, then f(3) = 32 = 9.
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; n-tuple; ordered pair/triple/etc; row vector
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.)

(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; hcf
number theory
(a, b) means the highest common factor of a and b.

(This may also be written hcf(a, b).)
(3, 7) = 1 (they are coprime); (15, 25) = 5.
( , )

] , [


open interval
.

(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)
( , ]

] , ]


half-open interval; left-open interval
. (−1, 7] and (−∞, −1]
[ , )

[ , [


half-open interval; right-open interval
. [4, 18) and [1, +∞)
sum over … from … to … of
means a1 + a2 + … + an. = 12 + 22 + 32 + 42 
= 1 + 4 + 9 + 16 = 30
product over … from … to … of
means a1a2···an. = (1+2)(2+2)(3+2)(4+2)
= 3 × 4 × 5 × 6 = 360
coproduct over … from … to … of
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.




… prime

derivative of
f ′(x) is 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) := x2, then f ′(x) = 2x
indefinite integral of

the antiderivative of
∫ f(x) dx means a function whose derivative is f. x2 dx = x3/3 + C
integral from … to … of … with respect to
ab f(x) dx means the signed area between the x-axis and the graph of the function f between x = a and x = b. ab x2 dx = b3/3 − a3/3;
contour integral of
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 .
f (x1, …, xn) is the vector of partial derivatives (∂f / ∂x1, …, ∂f / ∂xn). If f (x,y,z) := 3xy + z², then ∇f = (3y, 3x, 2z)
del dot, divergence of
If , then .
curl of

If , then .
partial, d
With f (x1, …, xn), ∂f/∂xi is the derivative of f with respect to xi, with all other variables kept constant. If f(x,y) := x2y, then ∂f/∂x = 2xy
boundary of
M means the boundary of M ∂{x : ||x|| ≤ 2} = {x : ||x|| = 2}
degree of
f means the degree of the polynomial f.

(This may also be written deg f.)
∂(x2 − 1) = 2
δ
Dirac delta of
δ(x)
Kronecker delta of
δij
<:



is covered by
x <• y means that x is covered by y. {1, 8} <• {1, 3, 8} among the subsets of {1, 2, …, 10} ordered by containment.
is a subtype of
T1 <: T2 means that T1 is a subtype of T2. If S <: T and T <: U then S <: U (transitivity).
the top element
⊤ means the largest element of a lattice. x : x ∨ ⊤ = ⊤
the top type; top
⊤ means the top or universal type; every type in the type system of interest is a subtype of top. ∀ types T, T <: ⊤
is perpendicular to
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.
the bottom element
⊥ means the smallest element of a lattice. x : x ∧ ⊥ = ⊥
the bottom type; bot
⊥ 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
is comparable to
xy means that x is comparable to y. {eπ} ⊥ {1, 2, e, 3, π} under set containment.
||…||
norm of; length of
|| x || is the norm of the element x of a normed vector space. || x  + y || ≤  || x ||  +  || y ||
||
is parallel to
x || y means x is parallel to y. If l || m and m ⊥ n then l ⊥ n. In physics this is also used to express .
is incomparable to
x || y means x is incomparable to y. {1,2} || {2,3} under set containment.
*
convolution, convolved with
f * g means the convolution of f and g. .
conjugate
z* is the complex conjugate of z.

( can also be used for the conjugate of z, as described below.)
.
the group of units of
R* consists of the set of units of the ring R, along with the operation of multiplication.

(This may also be written R× or U(R).)
.


overbar, … bar
(often read as "x bar") is the mean (average value of ). .
conjugate
is the complex conjugate of z.

(z* can also be used for the conjugate of z, as described above.)
.