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Math Symbols in E-mail

Operation   Examples
Multiplication
 

 

There are several ways to show multiplication.  To make sure it is clear use the * symbol (shift 8) to show numbers or variables that are multiplied together.  ·  5*x   or  5x or 5(x)
·  x*y*z      or  xyz
·  2*(x+4)  or  2(x+4)
Fractions Use the / symbol but make sure the complete numerator and denominator are each in closed parentheses. ·  (3a + b)/(4a)
·  (y+2)/(y - 5)
Exponents

 

Use the ^ symbol (shift 6) to show the power a something is raised to, if an entire expression is raised to a power make sure to use parentheses. ·  x^2  means x squared
·  (2x + 4)^3 means (2x + 4) raised to the 3rd power
Square Root

 

Use sqrt to represent the square root symbol Ö  .  Make sure everything that goes under the square root symbol is closed in parentheses. ·  sqrt(4x)
·  sqrt((x + 2)/(x - 5))
Other Radicals

 

Use nroot to represent any root greater than 2, where the n is the root.  Again, make sure everything that goes under the root symbol is closed in parentheses. · 5root(x+2) means the 5th root of (x + 2)
· 3root(xyz) means the 3rd root of xyz
  Another way to write different roots is to change them to a fractional exponent. · (4x)^(1/2) is the same as sqrt(4x) or the square root of 4x
· (x+2)^(1/5) is the same as 5root(x+2) or the 5th root of (x + 2)
Absolute Value Use the | symbol (shift \) to represent the absolute value of a number or expression. ·  |4| 
·  |x + 2|
Misc. Quadratic Equation · (-b + - sqrt(b^2 - 4ac))/(2a)
  Integral · INT[(5 - x^3)dx] from -2 to 2
  Less than or Greater than · x <= 5 means x is less than or equal to 5
· x > 3 means x is greater than 3
  Area of a circle · (pi)r^2  or pi*r^2

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