Terminology: Mathematical symbols

Summary of the common mathematical symbols, including each symbol’s name, visual and description:

SymbolSymbol nameSymbol design description

-

Minus 

+

Plus 

×

MultiplySimilar to lowercase letter "x" in sans serif

÷

Obelus, DivideCombined colon and minus symbols

=

EqualTwo parallel horizontal lines

≠

Not equalTwo parallel horizontal lines with a diagonal line through both

≈

Approximately equalTwo wavy parallel lines

±

Plus or minus 

<

Greater than 

>

Less than 

≤

Less than or equal to 

≥

Greater than or equal to 

∞

Infinity 

·

Middot or period centredTraditional English decimal point which is raised

%

PercentPer hundred

‰

PermillePer thousand

‱

Permyriad Also known as a basis point

⅛

FractionOne eighth

¼

Fraction One quarter

⅜

FractionThree eighths

½

Fraction One half

⅝

FractionFive eighths

¾

Fraction Three quarters

¾

Fraction Three quarters

⅞

FractionSeven eighths

⁄

FractionSlash

∑

Sum  

∏

Product 

∫

Integral 

∂

Partial differential 

∆

Increment 

√

Square root 

∩

Intersection 

ƒ

Function 

π

Pi 

⌀

DiameterBar extending diagonally through a circle

℘

Weierstrass' elliptic functionStylised letter "p"