Other Mathematical Notation

The Wolfram Language supports an extremely wide range of mathematical notation, although often it does not assign a predefined meaning to it. Thus, for example, you can enter an expression such as x⊕y, but the Wolfram Language will not initially make any assumption about what you mean by ⊕.

The Wolfram Language knows that ⊕ is an operator, but it does not initially assign any specific meaning to it:

{17 ⊕ 5,8 ⊕ 3}

This gives the Wolfram Language a definition for what the ⊕ operator does:

x_ ⊕ y_:=Mod[x+y,2]

Now the Wolfram Language can evaluate ⊕ operations:

{17 ⊕ 5,8 ⊕ 3}

A few of the operators whose input is supported by the Wolfram Language.

The Wolfram Language assigns built-in meanings to ≥ and ⩾, but not to ≳ or ≫:

{3 ≥ 4,3 ⩾ 4,3 ≳ 4,3 ≫ 4}

There are some forms which look like characters on a standard keyboard, but which are interpreted in a different way by the Wolfram Language. Thus, for example, ∖[Backslash] or \ displays as ∖ but is not interpreted in the same way as a ∖ typed directly on the keyboard.

The ∖ and ⋀ characters used here are different from the ∖ and ^ you would type directly on a keyboard:

{a \ b, a ^ b}

Most operators work like ⊕ and go in between their operands. But some operators can go in other places. Thus, for example, < and > or ∖[LeftAngleBracket] and ∖[RightAngleBracket] are effectively operators which go around their operand.

The elements of the angle bracket operator go around their operand:

⟨ 1+x ⟩

Some additional letters and letter-like forms.

You can use letters and letter-like forms anywhere in symbol names:

{ℜ∅,∠ABC}

∅ is assumed to be a symbol, and so is just multiplied by a and b:

a ∅ b