Mathematics Stack Exchange
Mathematics Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [notation]

Questions on the meaning, history, and usage of mathematical symbols and notation. Please remember to mention where (book, paper, webpage, etc.) you encountered any mathematical notation you are asking about.

Before asking a question on the site, please check if you can find your answer in Earliest Uses of Various Mathematical Symbols or the book A History of Mathematical Notations.

Alternatively, a textbook or paper usually takes the time to explain the notation they're using; please remember to mention where you've seen the notation you are asking about.

12848 questions
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What does $\Lsh$ mean?

Source: Wikipedia (permalink), in the formula for the heat capacity ratio: $$Y=\biggl({Cp\over \Lsh Cv}\biggr)$$ The $\LaTeX$ command is \Lsh.
Wood
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What does the uppercase greek symbol pi mean for sets?

What operation is denoted in e.g.: $\Pi_{i \in I} S_i$ The document in question is: John C. Reynolds - Types, abstraction, and parametric polymorphism Since no index order is specified, the operation must be commutative and associative. I am…
Panayiotis Karabassis
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Why is base-10 the most common positional notation radix for number representation?

I understand that number can have multiple representations, and I can conceive that the positional notation system was better adapted for arithmetics than say the Roman numerals system which led to its wide adoption (or at least I'm willing to…
rahmu
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What is the mathematical symbol for the unique values in a vector?

I am looking for a symbol to represent the operation of taking unique values from a vector. So, say the symbol was $\theta$: $v = [0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 3, 1, 2, 0]$ $\theta(v) = [0, 1, 3, 2]$ Or is this something that just isn't…
Bill Cheatham
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Is there an encyclopedia of mathematical notation?

For example - for set complements, it would include all common notations such as 'A - B' or 'A \ B'
jsmith
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How to express rounding down/up to nearest multiplum of a number?

I've written an equation in a programming language which I need to express using maths: slots = (elements_count - (elements_count % slot_size) + slot_size) / slot_size In Excel, you can also write (replaced cell…
Atle
  • 165
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What does the symbol $\in$ mean?

I am currently studying discrete mathematics, and I have very little background knowledge, and I was wondering what the symbol "$\in$" means. The following is where I encountered this symbol:
Oliver K
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What is the difference between $x \bmod y$ and $x \pmod y$?

I'm currently taking Calculus I, so I'm new with mathematical notation. I always thought $x \bmod 3$ means the remainder when you divide $x$ by $3$. Am I wrong in thinking this is the remainder? What is the difference between $x \pmod y$ and $\quad…
Ahmed S. Attaalla
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When does one use 'succeeds' and when does one use 'greater than'?

I am reading a text on convex optimisation, and there is a line: $f_i(\tilde{x})\leq0$ and $h_i(\tilde{x})=0$, and $\lambda \succeq 0$ and I was just wondering why for one term, $\leq$ is used and for the other, $\succeq$ is used. I have a…
Gus Kenny
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Why is the notation $f=f(x)$ mathematically correct?

Looking at the equation, which is written all over my textbooks, $f=f(x)$ or $\mathbf r = \mathbf r(x,y,z)$ or what-have-you, I can't help but think that that is just wrong. On the LHS is a function. On the RHS is the value of that function…
user223442
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Is there any convenient notation for a vector entry j at iteration step i?

I have a stupid question: I'm writing a master thesis and I have to describe an iterative method of an algorithm. The method uses vectors which are manipulated at each iteration step. Now my question: is there any convenient method of writing for…
Filip M
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What does the sign that looks like $\geq$ except with the bottom line being sloped mean?

I'm referring to this symbol: $\geqslant$. No symbol list I've come across mentions it. I saw it in the book Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning by Christopher M. Bishop.
Kelmikra
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How do I learn all the weird symbols and notations?

I'm really fond of math, and would have studied that, if I didn't find software development even more interesting. Even though I don't study math, I do sometimes come across stuff I want to learn and/or understand, but cannot seem to grasp, mostly…
phaz
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A sigma notation but with multiplication instead of addition?

I am not a mathematician, so I apologize if this question will sound stupid. I am wondering is there some sort of notation which will resemble the one of sigma notation, but with multiplication instead of addition? For example, the following…
Bernard
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Why do so few people use the $\equiv$ symbol for identities?

I've always been taught to write, for example, $$\sin^2(\theta)+\cos^2\theta \color{red}{\equiv} 1,$$ rather than $$\sin^2(\theta)+\cos^2\theta \color{red}{=} 1,$$ and $$x(x+2)\color{red}{\equiv} x^2+2x$$ rather than $$x(x+2)\color{red}{=}x^2+2x,…
beep-boop
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