Basic Operators Symbols: Names, Meanings and LaTeX Codes

This cheat sheet lists 17 Basic Operators symbols from nyuyo. It includes composition, convolution, cube-root and more. Each entry shows the symbol, its meaning, LaTeX command, Unicode code point and HTML entity. Every entry also shows how to read an example aloud.

composition

Character	`∘`
Name	Composition
Meaning	Combines two functions into one that applies the right-hand function first and then the left-hand one, so (f ∘ g)(x) = f(g(x)).
LaTeX	`\circ`
Unicode	`U+2218`
HTML entity	`&compfn;`
Example expression	`(f ∘ g)(x) = f(g(x))`
Read aloud	f composed with g of x equals f of g of x
Related symbols	Maps To, Right Arrow

convolution

Character	`∗`
Name	Convolution
Meaning	Combines two functions by integrating the product of one with a shifted, reflected copy of the other. It is used in signal processing, probability, and differential equations.
LaTeX	`\ast`
Unicode	`U+2217`
HTML entity	`&lowast;`
Example expression	`(f ∗ g)(t)`
Read aloud	f convolved with g, evaluated at t
Related symbols	Integral, Composition, Multiplication

cube-root

Character	`∛`
Name	Cube Root
Meaning	Gives the number that, multiplied by itself three times, equals the number under the sign. Unlike the square root, it is defined for negative numbers too.
LaTeX	`\sqrt[3]{x}`
Unicode	`U+221B`
HTML entity	`∛`
Example expression	`∛27 = 3`
Read aloud	the cube root of twenty-seven equals three
Related symbols	Square Root, Fourth Root

direct-sum

Character	`⊕`
Name	Direct Sum
Meaning	Combines two vector spaces, groups, or modules into one whose elements are pairs, one from each, added component by component. In logic and computing it also denotes exclusive or.
LaTeX	`\oplus`
Unicode	`U+2295`
HTML entity	`&oplus;`
Example expression	`ℝ ⊕ ℝ ≅ ℝ²`
Read aloud	R direct sum R is isomorphic to R squared
Related symbols	Tensor Product, Plus

division

Character	`÷`
Name	Division
Meaning	Divides the first number by the second. In most written mathematics a fraction bar or a slash is used instead.
LaTeX	`\div`
Unicode	`U+00F7`
HTML entity	`÷`
Example expression	`12 ÷ 3 = 4`
Read aloud	twelve divided by three equals four
Related symbols	Multiplication, Minus

dot-operator

Character	`⋅`
Name	Dot Operator
Meaning	A centred dot that means multiplication. With vectors it denotes the dot product.
LaTeX	`\cdot`
Unicode	`U+22C5`
HTML entity	`⋅`
Example expression	`a ⋅ b`
Read aloud	a times b, or a dot b
Related symbols	Multiplication, Division, Product

factorial

Character	`!`
Name	Factorial
Meaning	Written after a non-negative integer n, it means the product of all positive integers from 1 to n. By convention, 0! equals 1.
LaTeX	`!`
Unicode	`U+0021`
HTML entity	`&excl;`
Example expression	`4! = 24`
Read aloud	four factorial equals twenty-four
Related symbols	Product, Multiplication, Square Root

fourth-root

Character	`∜`
Name	Fourth Root
Meaning	Gives the non-negative number that, raised to the fourth power, equals the number under the sign. It is the same as taking the square root twice.
LaTeX	`\sqrt[4]{x}`
Unicode	`U+221C`
HTML entity	`∜`
Example expression	`∜16 = 2`
Read aloud	the fourth root of sixteen equals two
Related symbols	Square Root, Cube Root, Multiplication

minus

Character	`−`
Name	Minus
Meaning	Subtracts the second quantity from the first. Placed in front of a single number, it marks the number as negative.
LaTeX	`-`
Unicode	`U+2212`
HTML entity	`−`
Example expression	`9 − 5 = 4`
Read aloud	nine minus five equals four
Related symbols	Plus, Plus-Minus

minus-plus

Character	`∓`
Name	Minus-Plus
Meaning	Used together with ± to show that the signs are opposite: when ± is read as plus, ∓ is read as minus, and the other way round.
LaTeX	`\mp`
Unicode	`U+2213`
HTML entity	`&mnplus;`
Example expression	`a ± b ∓ c`
Read aloud	a plus or minus b, minus or plus c
Related symbols	Plus-Minus, Plus

multiplication

Character	`×`
Name	Multiplication
Meaning	Multiplies two numbers. With vectors it denotes the cross product, and with sets the Cartesian product.
LaTeX	`\times`
Unicode	`U+00D7`
HTML entity	`×`
Example expression	`6 × 7 = 42`
Read aloud	six times seven equals forty-two
Related symbols	Dot Operator, Division, Plus, Product

per-mille

Character	`‰`
Name	Per Mille
Meaning	Means parts per thousand, so a number followed by ‰ is that number divided by 1000.
LaTeX	`\textperthousand`
Unicode	`U+2030`
HTML entity	`&permil;`
Example expression	`5‰ = 0.005`
Read aloud	five per mille equals zero point zero zero five
Related symbols	Percent, Division, Multiplication

percent

Character	`%`
Name	Percent
Meaning	Means parts per hundred, so a number followed by % is that number divided by 100.
LaTeX	`\%`
Unicode	`U+0025`
HTML entity	`&percnt;`
Example expression	`25% = 0.25`
Read aloud	twenty-five percent equals zero point two five
Related symbols	Per Mille, Division

plus

Character	`+`
Name	Plus
Meaning	Adds two numbers or expressions. Placed in front of a single number, it marks the number as positive.
LaTeX	`+`
Unicode	`U+002B`
HTML entity	`+`
Example expression	`3 + 4 = 7`
Read aloud	three plus four equals seven
Related symbols	Minus, Plus-Minus, Multiplication, Summation

plus-minus

Character	`±`
Name	Plus-Minus
Meaning	Stands for two values at once: one with a plus sign and one with a minus sign. It is also used to give a measurement with its margin of error.
LaTeX	`\pm`
Unicode	`U+00B1`
HTML entity	`±`
Example expression	`x = ±2`
Read aloud	x equals plus or minus two
Related symbols	Minus-Plus, Minus, Square Root

square-root

Character	`√`
Name	Square Root
Meaning	Gives the non-negative number that, multiplied by itself, equals the number under the sign.
LaTeX	`\sqrt{x}`
Unicode	`U+221A`
HTML entity	`√`
Example expression	`√9 = 3`
Read aloud	the square root of nine equals three
Related symbols	Plus-Minus, Multiplication

tensor-product

Character	`⊗`
Name	Tensor Product
Meaning	Combines two vector spaces or modules into a larger one built from all products of their elements, so its dimension is the product of the two dimensions.
LaTeX	`\otimes`
Unicode	`U+2297`
HTML entity	`&otimes;`
Example expression	`V ⊗ W`
Read aloud	V tensor W
Related symbols	Direct Sum, Multiplication, Dot Operator

FAQ

How many Basic Operators symbols are on this page?

This page lists 17 Basic Operators symbols, including composition, convolution, cube-root.

How do I type Basic Operators symbols in LaTeX?

Each symbol on this page has its LaTeX command shown next to it, for example -,!, \%. Copy the command into your maths mode.

What are the Unicode code points for Basic Operators symbols?

Every symbol lists its Unicode code point, such as U+0021, U+0025, U+002B, so you can insert it in documents and web pages.

How do I write Basic Operators symbols in HTML?

Each entry shows its HTML entity where one exists, for example ∜, &compfn;, ÷. You can paste it directly into your page.

How do I read Basic Operators symbols aloud?

Each symbol has an example expression and a spoken version, such as (f ∗ g)(t), (f ∘ g)(x) = f(g(x)), √9 = 3 read as a plus or minus b, minus or plus c, a times b, or a dot b, f composed with g of x equals f of g of x.

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