Key Mathematical Symbols Begin to Find General Use
Overview
Mathematical symbols seem impenetrable to most nonmathematicians. A seemingly arbitrary collection of shapes and letters in several alphabets, each with arcane meanings (some with multiple meanings), these symbols often seem designed to obscure meaning rather than lead to a deeper understanding. However, to a mathematician, these symbols are as easy to read as this paragraph is to the average student. In addition, by representing complex or sophisticated concepts or mathematical operations in a short, easily-recognizable form, mathematical symbols make it easier to concentrate on the actual mathematical arguments taking place rather than the words describing what the symbols represent. Many of today's commonly used mathematical symbols came into being in the eighteenth century, and a disproportionate number of them were introduced by the great mathematician, Leonhard Euler. By formalizing the language of mathematics, Euler helped set the stage for the great flowering of mathematical thought that began in the latter part of the eighteenth century and carried forward to this day.
Background
A symbol represents something. Typically, a symbol is a way to quickly represent an object, an idea, or a concept. The first mathematical symbols were the numbers, which were a simple way to represent how many of any object there might be.
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