Numeracy

Common Mathematical Symbols and Terminology





1. Common Mathematical Symbols

Basic Arithmetic Symbols
- + (Addition): Add two or more values (e.g., ( 2 + 2 = 4 )).
- ? (Subtraction): Subtract values or denote negative numbers (e.g., ( 5 3 = 2 ), (2 )).
- × / * / · (Multiplication): Multiply values (e.g., ( 3 × 4 = 12 ), ( 3(2+1) = 9 )).
- ÷ / / (Division): Divide values (e.g., ( 6 ÷ 3 = 2 )).
- = (Equals): Indicates equality (e.g., ( 5 + 3 = 8 )).
- ?: Not equal.
- ?: Approximately equal.
- ?: Identical to.

Comparative Symbols
- < (Less than): ( 2 < 5 ).
- > (Greater than): ( 5 > 2 ).
- ? /: Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to.
- ? /: Much less than, much greater than.

Other Useful Symbols
- ± (Plus or minus): Represents a range (e.g., ( 5 ± 2 ) means 3 to 7).
- ? (Summation): Add multiple values (e.g., (x = x_1 + x_2 + \dots )).
- ° (Degrees): Measure angles or temperature (e.g., ( 90° ), ( 100°C )).
- ? (Square root): Calculate the root (e.g., (9 = 3 )).
- ? (Pi): Constant value ( \approx 3.14159 ), used in circles.
- ? (Infinity): Concept of numbers continuing forever.


2. Terminology (A-Z)

Geometry Terms
- Circumference: Perimeter of a circle.
- Diameter: Distance across a circle through the center.
- Radius: Half the diameter.
- Angle (?): Formed by two intersecting lines.

Arithmetic and Algebra
- Coefficient: Number multiplying a variable (e.g., ( 6x ), where 6 is the coefficient).
- Variable: A symbol representing a changeable value (e.g., ( x, y )).
- Factorial (!): Product of all integers from 1 to ( n ) (e.g., ( 5! = 120 )).
- Mean: Average of a dataset.
- Median: Middle value in an ordered dataset.
- Mode: Most frequently occurring value in a dataset.

Statistics
- Range: Difference between the largest and smallest values.
- Standard Deviation: Measures data spread around the mean.
- Variance: Indicates how data points differ from the mean.

Graphing and Coordinate Systems
- Axis: Lines for reference (x and y in 2D, z in 3D).
- Asymptote: A line a curve approaches but never touches.
- Intercepts: Points where a graph crosses axes (x-intercept, y-intercept).

Data and Ratios
- Proportion: Part-to-whole relationship (e.g., ( 3 { out of } 10 )).
- Ratio: Comparison of two quantities (e.g., ( 3:2 )).
- Quantitative Data: Numerical information (e.g., height).
- Qualitative Data: Descriptive information (e.g., color).


3. Mathematical Operators and Concepts

  • Brackets ( ): Determine order of operations (BODMAS).
  • Powers (( x^n )): Denotes repeated multiplication (e.g., ( 3^2 = 9 )).
  • Percentage (%): Out of 100 (e.g., ( 50% = 0.5 )).
  • Pipe (|): Indicates absolute value or "modulus" (e.g., ( |?5| = 5 )).

Advanced Symbols
- ? (Proportional): Shows dependency (e.g., ( x y ), if ( x = 2y )).
- ? (Therefore): Indicates logical conclusion.
- ? (Because): Indicates reasoning.

Key Concepts:
Understanding mathematical terminology and symbols can simplify calculations, data analysis, and problem-solving across disciplines!


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