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The division sign (÷) is a mathematical symbol consisting of a short horizontal line with a dot above and another dot below, used in Anglophone countries to indicate the operation of division. This usage, though widespread in some countries, is not universal and the symbol has a different meaning in other countries.
Division sign ÷; Dagger † Commercial minus sign ⁒ (limited geographical area of use) The word "obelus" comes from ὀβελός (obelós), the Ancient Greek word for a sharpened stick, spit, or pointed pillar. [1] This is the same root as that of the word 'obelisk'. [2]
This division sign is also used alone to represent the division operation itself, as for instance as a label on a key of a calculator. The obelus was introduced by Swiss mathematician Johann Rahn in 1659 in Teutsche Algebra. [10]: 211 The ÷ symbol is used to indicate subtraction in some European countries, so its use may be misunderstood. [11]
A mathematical symbol is a figure or a combination of figures that is used to represent a mathematical object, an action on mathematical objects, a relation between mathematical objects, or for structuring the other symbols that occur in a formula. As formulas are entirely constituted with symbols of various types, many symbols are needed for ...
The division slash ∕ , equivalent to the division sign ÷ , may be used between two numbers to indicate division. For example, 23 ÷ 43 can also be written as 23 ∕ 43. This use developed from the fraction slash in the late 18th or early 19th century. [20] The formatting was advocated by De Morgan in the mid-19th century.
The following table lists many specialized symbols commonly used in modern mathematics, ordered by their introduction date. The table can also be ordered alphabetically by clicking on the relevant header title.
Caret (The freestanding circumflex symbol is known as a caret in computing and mathematics) Circumflex (diacritic), Caret (computing), Hat operator ̂: Circumflex (diacritic) Grave, Tilde: Combining Diacritical Marks, Diacritic: Colon: Semicolon, Comma: Cedilla, Decimal separator ⁒ Commercial minus sign: Minus sign, Division sign, Per cent ...
The combination of these two symbols is sometimes known as a long division symbol or division bracket. [8] It developed in the 18th century from an earlier single-line notation separating the dividend from the quotient by a left parenthesis. [9] [10] The process is begun by dividing the left-most digit of the dividend by the divisor.