Plus Minus Symbol (±) — How to Type, Copy & Paste

Copy the Plus Minus Symbol

Here is the plus minus symbol ready for you to copy and paste:

± — Plus Minus Sign (U+00B1) — Copy this: ±

Unicode: U+00B1 | HTML entity: ± | CSS: \00B1

There is also a minus-plus variant: ∓ (U+2213) — Copy this: ∓

What Does the Plus Minus Symbol Mean?

The plus-minus symbol (±) indicates that a value can be either added or subtracted. It is commonly used to express a range, margin of error, or tolerance. For example, "5 ± 2" means the value could be anywhere from 3 to 7.

The symbol has been in use since at least the 17th century. It first appeared in print in a 1624 mathematical work by William Oughtred, the same mathematician who invented the slide rule. The minus-plus variant (∓) indicates the opposite sign — if one expression uses +, the corresponding one uses -.

How to Type the Plus Minus Symbol on Windows

• Alt Code: Hold Alt and type 0 1 7 7 on the numeric keypad. Release Alt to produce ±.
• Character Map: Press Win + R, type charmap, search for "plus-minus," and copy it.
• Microsoft Word: Type 00B1 and press Alt + X to convert it to ±.
• Shortcut in Word: You can also use the AutoCorrect feature — type +-, and Word may auto-convert it depending on your settings.

How to Type Plus Minus on Mac

• Keyboard Shortcut: Press Shift + Option + = (the equals key). This instantly produces ±.
• Character Viewer: Press Ctrl + Cmd + Space, search for "plus minus," and double-click to insert.

How to Type Plus Minus on iPhone

• Numbers Keypad: Switch to the numbers keyboard (123), then tap the "#+=" key. The ± symbol should appear on the second symbols page on most iOS versions.
• Text Replacement: Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement. Set the shortcut "pm" to expand to ±. Then just type "pm" and it auto-replaces.
• Copy and Paste: Copy ± from this page.

How to Type Plus Minus on Android

• Gboard: Tap the "?123" key, then the "=<" key to access more symbols. Look for ± on the symbols page.
• Copy and Paste: The fastest method — grab ± from this page.

Plus Minus in Mathematics

The plus-minus sign is essential in mathematics:

• Quadratic Formula: The most famous use of ± is in the quadratic formula: x = (-b ± √(b² - 4ac)) / 2a. The ± indicates there are two possible solutions.
• Square Roots: When solving x² = 9, the answer is written as x = ±3, since both 3 and -3 satisfy the equation.
• Inequalities and Intervals: A value expressed as "x ± y" represents the interval from (x - y) to (x + y).
• Trigonometry: In trigonometric identities like cos(A ± B) = cosA cosB ∓ sinA sinB, the minus-plus symbol shows that if you used + on the left side, you use - on the right.

Plus Minus in Science and Engineering

• Measurement Uncertainty: In scientific notation, a measurement might be reported as 9.8 ± 0.1 m/s², indicating the measured value and its uncertainty range.
• Engineering Tolerances: Manufacturing specifications use ± to define acceptable dimensional ranges. A part dimensioned as 50 ± 0.05 mm must measure between 49.95 and 50.05 mm to pass quality control.
• Temperature: Operating temperature ranges are often expressed with plus-minus, such as "operates at 25 ± 5°C."
• Chemistry: In redox reactions, ± n is used to show electron transfer.
• Medicine: Blood test results often include a reference range expressed with ±, and ± is used in clinical trial results to show confidence intervals.

Plus Minus in Everyday Life

• Weather Forecasts: Temperature predictions might include a ± margin.
• Sports Statistics: Player performance metrics (especially in hockey and basketball) use "plus-minus" to measure a player's on-court/on-ice impact.
• Product Packaging: Net weight declarations on food products often include a ± tolerance.
• Surveys and Polls: The margin of error in opinion polls is expressed with ± (e.g., "±3 percentage points").

Quick Reference Table

Whether you are writing a math paper, engineering specification, or just need the symbol for a quick text, the plus-minus sign is one of the most practical symbols you will encounter. Bookmark this page to copy ± in a single click.