Mathematical symbols
Mathematical notation from different countries
This list gives a sense of some mathematical symbols that may be used in other countries. It is not
intended to make the teacher an ‘expert’ of translation. The child and family are the experts; teachers
are not expected to know the differences in language. Teachers should speak to the child and parents
to identify differences. Another way of achieving this with children who are in the early stages of
learning English, but are advanced learners of mathematics, would be to model the operation with
cubes (e.g. for 12 ÷ 4 = 3, take the 12 cubes and put them into groups of 4 or share the 12 cubes
into 4 piles) and ask the child to record what has taken place, using symbols.
Some
How it is
How it is
Sample
countries
Symbol
What it is
read
used
expression
where this
symbol is used
... plus...
Latvia,
Lithuania,
... add...
Sum of
EstoniaRussia,
+
Addition sign
3+5=8
values
Ukraine, Poland
and other
The total
countries
of... and...
... subtract...
-
Subtraction
sign
... take
away...
The
difference
Minus sign
between...
and ...
Subtraction,
taking one
value away
from
3 - 5 = -2
another,
difference
between
two values
Latvia,
Lithuania,
EstoniaRussia,
Ukraine, Poland
and other
countries
Product of
two values
3 x 5 = 15
Poland and
other countries
3 . 5 = 15
Argentina and
otherSouth
American
countries,Latvia,
Lithuania,
EstoniaRussia,
Ukraine, Poland
and other
countries
Negative...
... multiplied
by...
x
Multiplication
... groups
sign
of...
... times...
... multiplied
by...
.
Multiplication
... groups
sign
of...
Product of
two values
... times...
... divided
by...
÷
Division sign
What is...
Division
shared
between...?
How many
3 ÷ 4 =
0.75
groups of...
are there
in...?
... divided
by...
What is...
shared
between...?
/
Slash
Division
How many
groups of...
are there
in...?
Latvia,
Lithuania,
EstoniaRussia,
3 / 4 = 0.75
Ukraine, Poland
and other
countries
... over...
... divided
by...
:
Colon, ratio
sign
What is...
shared
between...? Division
How many Ratio
groups of...
are there
in...?
Norway,
Germany, Italy,
3 : 4 = 0.75 Latvia,
Lithuania,
2 : 4 = 20 : EstoniaRussia,
Ukraine, Poland
40
and other
countries
... to...
,
Decimal sign ... point...
Separating
whole
numbers
7,3 + 3,3 =
from
10,6
decimal
points
Europe:Latvia,
Lithuania,
EstoniaRussia,
Ukraine, Poland
and other
countries
In Denmark, a division symbol (÷) is used to mark an answer or solution as incorrect instead of a
cross.
http://c99.e2bn.net/e2bn/leas/c99/schools/c97/accounts/pnsnum/homepage2/Inclusion/EAL/Math
ematical%20symbols%20page/