Earliest Uses of Various Mathematical Symbols - MacTutor History of Mathematics

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Earliest Uses of Various Mathematical Symbols

These pages show the names of the individuals who first used various common mathematical symbols, and the dates the symbols first appeared.

The most important written source is the definitive A History of Mathematical Notations by Florian Cajori.

Symbols of operation, including +, -, X, division, exponents, radical symbol, dot and vector product

Grouping symbols, including (), [], {}, vinculum

Symbols of relation, including =, >, Fractions, including decimals

Symbols for various constants, such as π, i, e, 0

Symbols for variables

Symbols to represent various functions, such as log, ln, γ, absolute value; also the f(x) notation

Symbols used in geometry

Symbols used in trigonometry; also symbols for hyperbolic functions

Symbols used in calculus

Symbols for matrices and vectors

Set notation and logic

Symbols used in number theory

Symbols used in probability and statistics

Written sources for these pages

Please see also Earliest Known Uses of Some of the Words of Mathematics, Images of Mathematicians on Postage Stamps, and Ambiguously Defined Mathematical Terms at the High School Level.

Assistance for this page has been provided by Julio González Cabillón, John Aldrich, Avinoam Mann, Eddie Mizzi, Fred E. Wadley, Giovanni Ferraro, Judy Ann Brown, Len Berggren, Manoel Almeida, Michael Closs, Milo Gardner, Paul Pollack, and Samuel S. Kutler.

These pages were greated by Jeff Miller, a teacher at Gulf High School in New Port Richey, Florida (now retired).

Front Page | Operation | Grouping | Relation | Fractions and Decimals | Constants

Variables | Functions | Geometry | Trigonometry | Calculus | Matrices and Vectors

Set Theory and Logic | Number theory | Statistics | Sources