Math Symbols Guide: Complete List of Mathematical Symbols 2026

Math symbols can look like hieroglyphics if you don't know what they mean. But every symbol represents a specific idea, and once you know the language, math becomes much easier to read.

Basic Arithmetic Symbols

➕ Addition (+)

Means: Add, plus, combine
Example: 5 + 3 = 8 (five plus three equals eight)

➖ Subtraction (−)

Means: Minus, subtract, take away
Example: 10 − 4 = 6 (ten minus four equals six)

✖️ Multiplication (× or ·)

Means: Times, multiplied by
Example: 6 × 4 = 24 or 6 · 4 = 24

➗ Division (÷ or /)

Means: Divided by
Example: 20 ÷ 5 = 4 or 20/5 = 4

🟰 Equals (=)

Means: Is the same as, equivalent to
Example: 2 + 2 = 4

≠ Not Equal (≠)

Means: Is not the same as
Example: 5 ≠ 3

Comparison Symbols

> Greater Than

Means: Bigger than
Example: 10 > 5 (ten is greater than five)

< Less Than

Means: Smaller than
Example: 3 < 7 (three is less than seven)

≥ Greater Than or Equal To

Means: Bigger or the same
Example: x ≥ 5

≤ Less Than or Equal To

Means: Smaller or the same
Example: y ≤ 10

Advanced Arithmetic

± Plus-Minus

Means: Positive or negative, approximately
Example: 5 ± 2 means 5 + 2 or 5 − 2

√ Square Root

Means: The number that multiplied by itself gives the original
Example: √16 = 4

ⁿ Power Notation

Means: Multiplied by itself n times
Example: 5³ = 125

% Percent

Means: Per hundred
Example: 50% = 50/100 = 0.5

! Factorial

Means: Multiply all positive integers up to that number
Example: 5! = 120

Set Theory Symbols

{ } Braces / Curly Brackets

Means: A set of elements
Example: {1, 2, 3}

∈ Element Of

Means: Is contained in
Example: x ∈ A

∉ Not Element Of

Means: Is not contained in

∪ Union

Means: Combined set (everything in either set)

∩ Intersection

Means: Overlapping set (what's in both)

∅ Empty Set

Means: Nothing, zero, no elements

⊂ Subset

Means: Is contained within

Geometry Symbols

∠ Angle

Means: An angle

° Degrees

Means: Measurement of angle or temperature
Example: 90° = right angle

⊥ Perpendicular

Means: At a 90° angle

∥ Parallel

Means: Never meeting, same direction

△ Triangle

Means: A triangle shape

π Pi

Means: Approximately 3.14159
Example: Circumference = 2πr

Calculus Symbols

∫ Integral

Means: Area under a curve

∂ Partial Derivative

Means: Rate of change with respect to one variable

∑ Summation

Means: Sum of a series

∏ Product

Means: Product of a series

lim Limit

Means: Value that a function approaches

∞ Infinity

Means: Endless, unbounded

Logic Symbols

∴ Therefore

Means: Conclusion follows

∵ Because

Means: Reason follows

→ Implies

Means: If-then relationship

↔ If and Only If

Means: Both directions, equivalent

How to Use These Symbols

• Practice writing: Copy equations by hand
• Use Unicode: Copy symbols directly from character maps
• Understand context: Same symbol can mean different things
• Start simple: Master basics before calculus

The Bottom Line

Math symbols are just shorthand — each one replaces words you'd otherwise have to write. Once you know what they mean, reading math becomes as easy as reading a sentence.