Help in writing math symbols
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This guide is intended to help with math expressions and syntax for communicating via email.
| Operation | Examples | |
| Multiplication
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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
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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
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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
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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) |
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| 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 <= 5means x is less than or equal
to 5 · x > 3means x is greater than 3 |
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| Area of a circle | · (pi)r^2 or pi*r^2 |