Earliest Uses of Various Mathematical Symbols

These pages show the names of the individuals who first used various common mathematical symbols, and the dates the symbols first appeared.

The most important written source is the definitive A History of Mathematical Notations by Florian Cajori.

Symbols of operation, including +, -, X, division, exponents, radical symbol, dot and vector product
Grouping symbols, including (), [], {}, vinculum
Symbols of relation, including =, >, <
Fractions, including decimals
Symbols for various constants, such as π, i, e, 0
Symbols for variables
Symbols to represent various functions, such as log, ln, γ, absolute value; also the f(x) notation
Symbols used in geometry
Symbols used in trigonometry; also symbols for hyperbolic functions
Symbols used in calculus
Symbols for matrices and vectors
Set notation and logic
Symbols used in number theory
Symbols used in probability and statistics
Written sources for these pages

Please see also Earliest Known Uses of Some of the Words of Mathematics, Images of Mathematicians on Postage Stamps, and Ambiguously Defined Mathematical Terms at the High School Level.

Assistance for this page has been provided by Julio González Cabillón, John Aldrich, Avinoam Mann, Eddie Mizzi, Fred E. Wadley, Giovanni Ferraro, Judy Ann Brown, Len Berggren, Manoel Almeida, Michael Closs, Milo Gardner, Paul Pollack, and Samuel S. Kutler.

These pages were greated by Jeff Miller, a teacher at Gulf High School in New Port Richey, Florida (now retired).