# Where can I learn about mathematical notation?

I often see mathematical notation on Wikipedia articles (e.g. Finding the matrix of a transformation). Where is a good resource for learning what the different symbols mean?

-
the question already seems to have been discussed here stackoverflow.com/questions/720993/… –  Bhargav Oct 5 '11 at 14:42
Do you know who Mark Ingram is, by the way, the other one, the famous one? Are you him??? :) –  Jon Beardsley Oct 5 '11 at 14:54
unicode.org/charts/PDF/U2200.pdf –  pedja Oct 5 '11 at 15:01
@JBeardz, are you referring to the American Football player? :) –  Mark Ingram Oct 6 '11 at 13:11
:) That's exactly who I'm referring to! I'd love to imagine him sitting on math.stackexchange asking for math help. But don't worry, it's okay if you're not him, –  Jon Beardsley Oct 6 '11 at 15:24

## 3 Answers

You can check out the following wikipedia web page. It is a list of mathematical symbols and the associated $\LaTeX$ codes.

However I feel that in order for one to be truly accustomed to notation, you should read mathematics and try and figure out the notation as you go along. Gradually after a while you will build up a knowledge base of what certain symbols mean/ which conventions are employed.

-

If you'd like an inexpensive, handy reference to mathematical notation please check out my book available at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Mathematical-Notation-Guide-Engineers-Scientists/dp/1466230525/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355100927&sr=1-1&keywords=mathematical+notation

If you find it useful, please give it a thumbs up on its Facebook page.

-

From your link, it looks like the stuff that is troubling you is related to vectors and linear algebra type notation. The best way to learn this stuff is from a general calculus book (up through multi-variable calculus). It really depends more on what you're getting stuck on. I agree with Benjamin, the best way to learn is by reading math and DOING math, because it's important to intuitively understand the symbols and what they represent. A good place to start might be the Stewart book, which covers Calc I, II and III.

After that, you'll want to start learning the algebraic notation which mostly comes from set theory and logic, so a book like this might help (this is just sort of a shot in the dark, I don't personally know anything about this book, but something like this). Much of this stuff you can probably find in books at a book store like Borders. Also, just Google things like "standard math notation, matrices" or something. There's lots of info online.

-New Cover for November Release!
Thought I'd pop in and give an update of what I've been up to. Basically, a little bit of everything. Currently I'm working on two westerns at the same time while editing a book by a friend. I know - I should be working on my fantasy, the sequel to The Keeper of Moon Haven and I will. It's halfway written but I need to be able to concentrate, to be able to give it my all. The fantasies and sci-fi's require more from me with regard to imagination. The westerns require more from me with regards to research so there it is in a nutshell.
And then there's the historical western/fantasy that bridges both genres. Ha ha. Yep, I started working on it also and have about 12,000 words. So - I'm thinking I might not have much coming out in 2012 but look out 2013. "Grin"Cais do Sodré Station, across the road from Mercado da Ribeira
The Cais do Sodré transportation hub is located on the waterfront, to the west of Baixa (downtown). It consists of a train station from 1928, which is linked to a metro station below it, and a ferry station behind it. Outside are the terminus and stops of several bus and tram routes.
Train to Cascais, which stops in Belém
The trains are those of the Lisbon-Cascais line, which operates between 5:30am and 1:30am. The ferries link Lisbon to Cacilhas across the river, where there’s a bus terminal with services to the beaches of Costa da Caparica.
Tram 18 terminal next to the train station
Tram 18 to Belém departs from a stop to the east of the station, while tram 15 heading in the same direction stops across the street, as does bus 728 that also goes through Belém.
Bus 758 that heads north, past the neighborhood of Príncipe Real and the Amoreiras shopping mall, departs from a stop across the square to the east of the station.
The stop of bus 728 and tram 15 to Belém, outside the station
The metro station is the final stop of the green line, and was inaugurated in 1993, with large tile panels covering the walls, depicting Alice in Wonderland’s White Rabbit running late.
There are always long lines by the ticket machines in the summer
In the main hall of the Art Deco train station are ticket counters and several ticket machines (and often long lines of beach-going tourists in the summer). There are also a few shops, a couple of cafés, and a supermarket. The metro is downstairs.
Long lines for the ticket office are also common in the summer. Avoid them by acquiring the Lisboa Card.
The train to Cascais and the metro are free with the Lisboa Card. If you don’t acquire that card and need to buy tickets to the Cascais train, be sure to arrive some time before your desired departure time in the summer, as you may have to wait in line for some time.
Alice in Wonderland's White Rabbit decorates the Cais do Sodré metro station<shawn> Scribe: Sharron
<shawn> ScribeNick: Sharron
<scribe> scribe: Sharron
Shawn: wanted everyone to have a
week to consider and hope for a brilliant brainstorm
... are you happy with proposeed changes?
Sharron: Yes
Liam: yes
Sandi: yes
<shawn>
Sylvie: What is the proposed change for 1.3?
Shawn: It is the only one still open
<sylvie> ok with all others
<shawn> sharron: Meaning and structure persist with any technology.
Shawn: Any other thoughts?
Liam: Present content in different ways without losing meaning or structure
Shawn: Puts responsibility on the author
Liam: Don't lose meaning if content is presented in different ways
Sharron: Don't lose meaning if
content is reconfigured
... reformatted?
<shawn> Make content that can be reconfigured without losing meaning
<shawn> Make content that can be presented in different ways without losing meaning
<sylvie> reconfigured sounds strange to me
Jennifer: differently?
<shawn> Make content with meaning independt of presentation
Liam: meaning is independent of presentation
<LiamM> keep meaning independent of presentation
Shawn: Make content that can be presented in different ways without losing meaning
Jennifer: differently rather than in different ways
<shawn> Make content presentable differntly without losing meaning :-)
Sharron: 'keep meaning independent of presentation' really gets at the crux of it
Shawn: Will people know what it means? Will it be confused with'separate content from presentation'? does it cover what is actually in the Success Criteria?
Jennifer: seems like it would map to keep content separate from presentaiton
Shawn: is that good?
... people who don't know the phrase may not understand it
Liam: We like it becasue it is old school but the thing is that content does not equal meaning so it is clearer to say separate meaning from presentation
<sinarmaya> Ensure that the meaning is maintained in any medium or mode of presentation
Jennifer: Maintain meaning regardless of presentation
Liam: maintain meaning acrosee different presentations
<shawn> Make content mean the same in different presetnations
Shawn: Propose that we sit on the
original language though its longer and think of how to shorten
it.
... Make content maintain meaning when presented in different ways.
Jennifer: retain rather than maintain?
Shawn: Make content retain meaning when presneted in different ways.
Sharron: or regardless of presentation?
Shawn: whould people understand?
Sandi: Have content retain
meaning however presented
... Make rather than have...Make content retain meaning however presented
Liam: Make content retain meaning
Sandi: However presented implies the different possibilities
Liam: but seems onerous
Shawn: reads all current brainstorm possibilities
Liam: structure content wiht
underlying meaning
... add meaning to content
Shawn: I will send updated email with link for your further pondering.
Shawn: There is some reaction