Can you name the first mathematicians to use the given notation?

created by Ignis_Umbrae
  • Enter a mathematician (last names acceptable) in the box below
  • Correctly named mathematicians will show up below
  • Click any empty Notation or Originator to answer for that location
  • Source: A History of Mathematical Notations by Florian Cajori
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NotationOriginatorEarliest known usage
Square root/radical symbol (√)Die Coss, 1525
Square 'tombstone' symbol (∎/□) for the end of a proof20th century
Empty set symbol (∅)Éléments de mathématique, 1939
Less than and greater than symbolsArtis Analyticae Praxis ad Aequationes Algebraicas Resolvenda, published 1631
Vertical bars around the entries of a matrix for its determinant Cambridge Mathematical Journal, Vol. II, p. 267-271, 1841
Multiplication symbol (×); plus-minus signClavis Mathematicae, published 1631
Addition (+) and subtraction (-) signsBehende und hüpsche Rechenung auff allen Kauffmanschafft, 1489
Curly d (∂) for partial derivativesMemoire sur la manière de distinguer les maxima des minima dans le Calcul des Variations, 1786
Universal quantifier symbol (∀)Untersuchungen ueber das logische Schliessen, 1935
Equals sign (=)The Whetstone of Witte, 1557
f(x) for a function f of a variable xCommentarii Academiae Scientiarum Petropolitanae, 1734
Greek letter pi (π) for the constant 3.1415...Synopsis palmariorum mathesios, 1706
Three horizontal lines (≡) for congruence of integersDisquisitiones arithmeticae, 1801
NotationOriginatorEarliest known usage
Infinity symbol (∞)De sectionibus conicis, 1655
Vertical bars for the absolute value of x (|x|)Zur Theorie der Potenzreihen, 1841
Exclamation mark (!) for factorialÉléments d'arithmétique universelle, 1808
Prime (') notation for total derivativesThéorie des fonctions analytiques, 1797
Elongated 'S' (∫) for integralsAnalyseos tetragonisticae pars secunda, 1675
Perpendicularity sign (⊥)Cursus mathematicus, 1634
Big-O notation for asymptotic boundsAnalytische Zahlentheorie, 1894
Curly braces ({, }) for enclosing elements of setsEin Beitrag zur Mannifaltigkeitslehre, 1878
Stylized Greek letter epsilon (∈) for 'is an element of'Arithmetices prinicipia nova methodo exposita, 1899
Nabla symbol (∇) for vectorial derivatives, etc.19th century
Obelus (÷) for division, therefore symbol (∴)Teutsche Algebra, 1659
Bra-ket notation (⟨| , |⟩) in physicsA New Notation for Quantum Mechanics, 1939
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Origins of mathematical notation Quiz

  1. by Ignis_Umbrae
  • Created Apr 24, 2010 in Science
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