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.

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Typesetting Multiline Inequalities

If we write $$\begin{align} a&
Hypergeometricx
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Notation to make a negative answer equal 0

So basically, I'm making a big equation, and one component of it is this $$(n-5)+(n-7)$$ The n-value can be anything from 1 to far away. So, that obviously leads to some negative numbers. However, this part of the equation is only applicable…
A. Kvåle
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Notation for dot product vs multiplication

Is there a difference in the dot (position, size, etc) used in the vector dot product vs the one use for multiplication? For typesetting here we use \cdot for both, i.e. $$2\cdot 3$$ or $$\mathbf u\cdot \mathbf v$$ Would that that be correct or is…
Hypergeometricx
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Notation for time interval

I'm trying to write the following using sensible notation: In the time period between now and M units ago, if n > 0 output 1, if n = 0 output 0. Where n is the number of events that have occurred in the time period. I think I can write that…
ScottishTapWater
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Confusing notation and brackets

I am curious about how to differ between brackets for function calls like $f(x)$ and brackets for multiplication $x(y+1)$. I think there is the possibility to get confused by this, because the first example shows a function call, and the second a…
Lemonbonbon
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What is the proper typographical/notational representation of this range of possible outcomes in a professional (industrial) setting?

I've tried my best to search for an answer myself, but it's been a decade and a half since I last sat in a classroom and unfortunately it seems I no longer possess the adequate nomenclatural vernacular to properly phrase my question via search…
Arctiic
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Notation $\sin^2hx$ vs $\sinh^2x$

I used to write $\sin^2hx$ every time I wanted to show $(\sinh x)^2$.But I saw the notation $\sinh^2x$ somewhere and I thought the correct notation for this, is $\sinh^2x$ because we have the function $\sinh()$ and if I want to square it, the number…
Etemon
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How to represent the coordinates of a point

I would like to know what is the more appropriate way to represent a coordinate of a point in the Cartesian coordinate system. For example, if I have a point $A$, how should I represent its $x$ coordinate? $A_x$, $x_A$ or in another way?
D. Pardal
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Mathematically express length of $n$-tuple

Wikipedia says "An $n$-tuple is a sequence (or ordered list) of $n$ elements, where $n$ is a non-negative integer." so I have a $n$-tuple $m$, what of $m$ is $n$? If I write $f(m)=n$, which function should $f$ be? Is there already a mathematical…
Gqqnbig
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What does "-2E-07x" means?

I'm a programmer who had always been lacking some mathematical skills, yes it's a shame, I know. I'm making this little software for a biologist friend, and at some point I need to pull out a graph out of a formulas he gave me. Problem is, I don't…
Benoit
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What kind of set (builder)notation "$5\mathbb{Z}+3$" is?

I know that $2\mathbb{N}$ or $2\mathbb{N}+1$ are notations for even and odd naturals. What kind of set (builder?) notation is $5\mathbb{Z}+3$? I know it is something like {...,-2,3,8,18,...} intuitively but i am on the notation. I don't think that…
lockedscope
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Does the input notation to this fitness function describe (represent) a Kleene star?

Does the input notation to this fitness function describe (represent) a Kleene star? In an optimization problem; given an input space $X$ and a fitness function $f\;:\;X\mapsto\mathbb{R}$; the goal is to find the best $x^* \in X$ such that…
tkolleh
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Vector notation $\mathbf{x}=\left(x_{i}\right)_{1\leq i\leq n}$ vs $\mathbf{x}=\left(x_1,x_2,\dots,x_n\right)$

I've seen matrices defined as $\mathbf{X}=\left(x_{ij}\right)_{1\leq i\leq n,1\leq j\leq m}$ and I wonder if it is customary to use an equivalent notation for vectors, i.e., $\mathbf{x}=\left(x_{i}\right)_{1\leq i\leq n}$, or even…
Patricio
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Is this the correct notation?

$\left [ \left \{ 1,2,3,4 \right \}! \right]^{-1}$Is this the correct notation if one wanted to obtain the factorial for each number in a sequence and then take the sequence and inverse each number in it?
Kaz
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Is this a correct way to use indexing set notation?

Suppose I have a infinite set $S$, and would like to label all the points in $S$ as $x_i$. Then for each $x_i$, I would like to take a set that contains $x_i$, called $U_i$ and take the union of all these $U_i$s. Question: Is the following way of…
Snowball
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