Algebra Symbols

Now let us understand the meaning of these symbols.

Add ( + )

The symbol (+) is read as ‘plus’. It represents the operation of addition, which is to find the sum of numbers.

2 + 3 = 5

When two is added to three, we get the sum of five.

Subtract ( – )

The symbol (-) is termed ‘minus’. It represents the operation of subtraction, which is to find the difference between two numbers.

5 – 2 = 3

When two is subtracted from five, we get the difference as three.

Multiply (\(\times\)) 

The symbol (\(\times\)) is read as ‘times’. It represents the operation of multiplication, which is to find the product of numbers.

3 × 6 = 18

Three times six is eighteen. 18 is the resulting product. 

Divide (\(\div\)) 

The symbol (\(\div\)) represents the operation of division, which is to find the quotient. The symbol (\(\div\)) is read as ‘divided by’.

6 ÷ 3 = 2

When six is divided by three, we get the quotient as two. 

Equal to ( = ) 

The symbol ( = ) represents equality. The quantity on the right side of the ( = ) symbol is equivalent to the quantity on the left side of the symbol.

2 + 4 = 3 + 3

6 = 6

When we add 2 and 4 or 3 and 3, we get the sum of six. So, to represent this equality, we use the ‘equal to’ symbol. 

Less than ( < ) 

The symbol < represents ‘less than’. When we want to show that the quantity on the left of the symbol is less than the quantity on the right, we use this symbol.

Example: 2 < 3

Here, two is less than three. Hence, we can use ‘<’.

Greater than ( > ) 

The symbol > represents ‘greater than’. When we want to show that the quantity on the left is greater than the quantity on the right, we use this symbol. 

Example: 5 > 3

Here, five is greater than three. Hence, we can use ‘>’.

Not equal to (\(\neq\)) 

The symbol represents that the quantities on either side of the symbol are unequal to each other.

Example: 4 ≠ 3 

Here, four is not equal to three. Hence we can use ‘\(\neq\)’.

Square root ( √ )

The symbol √ represents finding the square root of the number inside the symbol.

Example: The square root of 3 is represented as \(\sqrt{3}\).

Parentheses ( ) and square brackets [ ]

Parentheses and square brackets are grouping symbols. Grouping symbols are used to group numbers when multiple operations are involved in an expression. When only one group is needed, we use parentheses. If more than one is needed, we incorporate square brackets as well. 

Example: 5\(\times\)(4+3)

                       = 5\(\times\)7

                       = 35

Since (4 + 3) is grouped in parentheses, that operation is performed first. The sum is then multiplied by five, to get thirty-five as the answer.

Example: 3\(\times\)[7 – (2\(\times\)3)]

                          = 3\(\times\)[7 – 6]

                          = 3\(\times\)1

                          = 3

Since (2\(\times\)3) is grouped in parentheses, that operation is performed first. The product is then subtracted from 7, as they are grouped in a square bracket. This difference is then finally multiplied by 3, to get 3 as the answer.