Reading Mathematical Symbols

+

Plus [plʌs]

–

minus['mainəs]

±

plus or minus ['plʌs o: 'mainəs]

x

multiplication sign [mʌltipli'keiʃn sain]

•

point

/ (or :)

division sign [di`viʒn sain]

:

1) ratio sign ['reiʃiəu sain]

2) is to [iz tu]

: :

1) sign of proportion ['sain əv prə'pо:ʃn]

2) equals, as ['ikwəlz, æz]

÷

(is) divided by

=

1) sign of equality ['sain əv i'kwоliti]

1/2

a (one) half

1/6

a (one) sixth

3/4

three fourths

0

[əu] = nought [no:t] = zero ['zirəu]

0.5

(nought) point five

0.004

(nought) point two naughts four = two oes [auz] four = point zero zero four

0.28

nought point twenty eight

2.50

two point five (nought)

53.46

fifty-three point four six = five three point four six

10,000

ten thousand

a⁰

a to the power of zero

a²

a squared

a³

a cubed

10 ^-5

the minus fifth power of ten = ten to the minus fifth power

10²

ten to the second (power) = ten squared

10³

ten to the third (power) = ten cubed

a = b

a equals b = a is equal to b

A ≠ b

a is not equal to b

a>b

a is greater than b

a<b

a is less than b

a~b

a is approximately equal to b

A_b

a sub b = a subscript b

a + b

a plus b

A – b

a minus b

A x b

a times b = a multiplied by b

a ÷ b

a divided by b

A

b

A over b

Ab

cd

A times b over c times d

[a]

a in brackets

(a)

a in parentheses

()

round brackets

[]

square brackets

%

Percent

52%

fifty-two per cent

√a

square root of a

in

inch(es)

sqin

square inch(es)

cu in

cubic inch(es)

ft

foot/feet

sqft

square foot/feet

cu ft

cubic foot/feet

yd

yard(s)

sqyd

square yard(s)

cu yd

cubic yard(s)

–

mile(s)

–

square mile(s)

–

–

mm

millimetre(s)

mm²

square millimetre(s)

mm³

cubic millimetre(s)

cm

centimetre(s)

cm²

square centimetre(s)

cm³/cc

cubic centimetre(s)

m

metre(s)

m²

square metre(s)

m³

cubic metre(s)

km

kilometre(s)

km²

square kilometer(s)

–

–