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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How to mathematically express the minimum difference between a number and an interval of numbers?

Suppose $x \in \mathbb{R}$, and $y \in [a, b]$, where $a, b \in \mathbb{R}$. I want to minimize the difference between $x$ and $y$ but am not sure how to write it in mathematical notation. For example, if $x = 10$, and $y \in [11, 35]$, then the…
Adrian
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Binary "star" operator

I'm in the process of implementing a decoder, and I found this formula in the official specification: In context, X and Y can be interpreted as either two integers, or two arrays of integers (byte arrays). But I have no idea what the binary "star"…
Channel72
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notation for index of integers in some range

If I have an expression like $$ \mu^i(x,t) = 0 \qquad, \qquad \qquad i=1,\dots, K $$ I want a more compact way of specifying that the index $i$ takes integer values from $1$ to $K$. I'm looking for something like $i\in I_1^K$, or $i\in…
J Peterson
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Name of a symbol

How is the symbol in the middle read and how to write it in latex
Inspire Maths
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What was the mathematical notation for stopping at a certain digit and rolling over?

For example, if I were to calculate time, I would do: 6 + 8 = ? (That mathematical notation here) 12 Such that the answer would be 2, not 14. I remember last seeing it while working on mathematical encryption.
The Game Challenger
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How to apply MellowMax Softmax operator

I'm currently reading this paper 'An alternative Softmax Operator for Deep Reinforcement Learning' but not having a solid foundation in maths notation is making it quite difficult. I attempted applying the softmax operator (MellowMax) to the matrix…
Bryan Carty
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Condition notation: all variables must all be zero or all not be zero

To be or not to be... What is a good mathematical notation of the criterion, that all variables in an equation must all be zero (or whatever value) or all not be zero (or whatever value)? On the internet I couldn't find anything that would answer my…
Mudimans
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What does this symbol mean

What does the symbol marked by the arrow represent?
Rajesh Marndi
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mathematical notation for "optional" or "maybe" type

In many programming languages, there is optional value. Optional type is used to indicate that the value maybe nil or None. For example python has Optional[int] and c++ has std::optional type. I'd like to ask how to express such type in…
orematasaburou
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Mathematical notation for a variable greater than two variables.

I want to write $x$ is greater than $a$ or $b$, which ever is greater of the two. Should I write it like $x>\max(a,b)$. Thank you.
Yasir Khan
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What is the meaning of "<>" in an equation

There is an equation reads like: $[\mathbf{A}^2]_{ij} = \sum_{k=1, \dots,n} a_{ik}a_{kj} <> 0$ I guess that the symbol $<>$ here means $\neq$ ? But I am not sure and failed to confirm the guess by Google. Thank you!
Ann
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Which partial derivative notation for $\partial_j f_{,i}$ is correct: $f_{,ji}$ or $f_{,ij}$?

I have a notation question: Which partial derivative notation for $\partial_j f_{,i}$ is correct: $f_{,ji}$ or $f_{,ij}$? I think $f_{,ji}$ is correct. Best regards
Bruno Lobo
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What is the mathematical notation of the second and the third lowest values of a variable X?

Assume the time series $\{X_t\}_{t=1}^{260}$ with elements $X_t \in \mathbb{R}$. What is the mathematical notation of the second and the third lowest values from that time series?
Whitebeard13
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Best way to symbolically express this statement?

Let $a$ and $b$ be parameters. How can we say formally that if $d_{ij}\in [a,b]$, then $c_{ij}=f(d_{ij})$ and if $d_{ij}\notin [a,b]$, then $c_{ij}=0$? I want to define $M_{i}$ as the combination of $j$ indexes while $d_{ij}< b$. Is the following…
madetolast
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What is the best way to symbolically express this simple statement?

Let $N$ and $X$ be arbitrary sets, and let $f:N\times X\to\mathbb{R}$ be a function. Let this function satisfy $f(i,x)=f(j,x)$ for all pairs of elements $i,j\in N$ and for every element $x\in X$. I want to write this formally, but I’m unsure what’s…
EoDmnFOr3q
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