Common math symbols for homework and notes
This collection starts with the maths symbols students and teachers need most: plus-minus ±, multiply ×, divide ÷, not equal ≠, approximately ≈, less than or equal ≤, greater than or equal ≥, infinity ∞, square root √, sum ∑, integral ∫, pi π, degree °, fractions like ½ and powers like ² and ³. After those come hundreds more operators, set and logic symbols.
Tap a symbol to copy it, then paste it into your homework, a test answer, a Google Doc or a study group chat.
Symbols by school level
- Primary school: + − × ÷ = < > ½ ¼ for basic sums.
- Middle school: ≠ ≈ ≤ ≥ % ² ³ √ π ° for algebra and geometry.
- High school: ∞ ∑ ∆ θ ∠ ⊥ ∥ ± for trigonometry and statistics.
- College: ∫ ∂ ∇ ∀ ∃ ∈ ⊂ ∪ ∩ ℝ for calculus and logic.
Writing maths in chats and online tests
Many online tests and homework apps let you type answers but do not have an equation editor. Copying the right symbol saves you from writing “x squared” or “square root of 2”. Instead you can write x², √2 or 3 × 4 = 12. In study group chats on WhatsApp or Discord, symbols make explanations much clearer and quicker to read.
Common mistakes to avoid
Some symbols look alike but mean different things. The letter x is not the same as the multiplication sign ×. The hyphen - is shorter than the minus sign −. The letter o is not the degree sign °. And the check mark ✓ is different from the square root √. Using the correct symbol makes your work look neat and avoids confusion when others read it.
Greek letters in maths
Greek letters appear everywhere in maths and science: π for pi, θ for angles, Δ for change, Σ for sums, λ for wavelength, μ for micro and σ for standard deviation. You can copy them from this collection or search by name. For the full Greek alphabet, open the Greek alphabet page in world alphabets.
Symbols in Word and Google Docs
Word and Google Docs both have equation tools for long formulas. For one or two symbols in a sentence, copying from here is often faster. Pasted symbols keep the same font and size as your text, so they blend in neatly. For superscripts like ², you can paste the special character or use the superscript button in your editor.
Need more?
This page keeps everyday symbols near the top. The math category has more than 950 characters, including rare relation signs, brackets and operators used in advanced maths. Search by name, like “subset”, “therefore” or “nabla”, to find any symbol quickly.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I type the divide symbol ÷?
- Copy ÷ from this page. On a Mac press Option + /, and on Windows try Alt + 0247.
- What does ≤ mean?
- ≤ means “less than or equal to”. Its opposite, ≥, means “greater than or equal to”.
- How do I write x squared?
- Type x and then paste the superscript ², so it reads x².
- What is the plus-minus sign for?
- ± means a value can be plus or minus, like in a ± b, or that a measurement has some error, like 5 ± 0.1 cm.
- Is the multiplication sign the same as the letter x?
- No. × is a separate symbol made for multiplication. It looks neater and is easier to read in sums.
- Where can I find Greek letters?
- Common ones like π, θ and Δ are in this collection. For the full alphabet, open the Greek alphabet page.