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The division sign (÷) is a mathematical symbol consisting of a short horizontal line with a dot above and another dot below, used in Anglophone countries to indicate the operation of division. This usage, though widespread in some countries, is not universal and the symbol has a different meaning in other countries.
Division sign ÷; Dagger † Commercial minus sign ⁒ (limited geographical area of use) The word "obelus" comes from ὀβελός (obelós), the Ancient Greek word for a sharpened stick, spit, or pointed pillar. [1] This is the same root as that of the word 'obelisk'. [2]
This division sign is also used alone to represent the division operation itself, as for instance as a label on a key of a calculator. The obelus was introduced by Swiss mathematician Johann Rahn in 1659 in Teutsche Algebra. [10]: 211 The ÷ symbol is used to indicate subtraction in some European countries, so its use may be misunderstood. [11]
A mathematical symbol is a figure or a combination of figures that is used to represent a mathematical object, an action on mathematical objects, a relation between mathematical objects, or for structuring the other symbols that occur in a formula. As formulas are entirely constituted with symbols of various types, many symbols are needed for ...
division sign (a repurposed obelus variant) 1659 Johann Rahn: ≤ ≥. unstrict inequality signs (less-than or equals to sign and greater-than or equals to sign)
Caret (The freestanding circumflex symbol is known as a caret in computing and mathematics) Circumflex (diacritic), Caret (computing), Hat operator ̂: Circumflex (diacritic) Grave, Tilde: Combining Diacritical Marks, Diacritic: Colon: Semicolon, Comma: Cedilla, Decimal separator ⁒ Commercial minus sign: Minus sign, Division sign, Per cent ...
English: division symbol (÷), Times New Roman font at 400 px. Date: 22 November 2008: Source: Own work: Author: F l a n k e r: Permission (Reusing this file)
The combination of these two symbols is sometimes known as a long division symbol or division bracket. [8] It developed in the 18th century from an earlier single-line notation separating the dividend from the quotient by a left parenthesis. [9] [10] The process is begun by dividing the left-most digit of the dividend by the divisor.