Algebra 2 Symbols Flashcards

Set Theory and Basic Symbols

• A set is represented by braces { }, indicating its members.
• The symbol ∈ denotes membership, meaning an element is part of a set.
• The subset symbol ⊂ indicates that all elements of one set are contained within another set.
• The null set is represented by ∅, signifying a set with no members.

Basic Operations and Relations

• The equals sign = represents equality between two expressions or values.
• The symbol / is used for negation, indicating that something is not true or not applicable.
• ∩ represents intersection, the common elements found in two or more sets.
• ∪ represents union, which combines all elements from sets, removing duplicates.

Mathematical Notation and Concepts

• The symbol ∴ indicates a conclusion or "therefore" in mathematical reasoning.
• R denotes the set of all real numbers, encompassing both rational and irrational numbers.
• The concept of infinity is indicated by the phrase "continues without end."

Inverse and Exponential Notation

• The additive inverse of a number a is represented as −a, which when added to a yields zero.
• The multiplicative inverse is 1/a, which when multiplied by a results in one.
• xⁿ signifies the nth power of x, representing x multiplied by itself n times.

Inequalities

• The symbol < indicates that one value is less than another.
• The symbol > shows that one value is greater than another.
• The symbols ≤ and ≥ convey less than or equal to and greater than or equal to, respectively.

Absolute Value and Coordinate Systems

• The absolute value of a number a is represented as |a|, reflecting its distance from zero regardless of sign.
• An ordered pair is denoted as (x, y), indicating the first coordinate as x and the second as y.

Functions and Assignments

• The arrow → symbolizes assignment, linking one value to another.
• The notation f(x) represents a function evaluated at x, often used in algebraic contexts.
• (f × g)(x) refers to the composition of two functions, f and g, indicating how one may operate after the other.

Special Functions and Roots

• signifies the greatest integer function, which rounds down to the nearest integer.
• an denotes a generic term in a sequence, where "n" indicates its position.
• P(x, y) refers to a point in the Cartesian plane with coordinates (x, y).
• The symbol b⁻ⁿ denotes the reciprocal of b, highlighting inverse relationships in fractions.
• The expression ⁿ√b signifies the nth root of b, representing the value that, when raised to n, equals b.

Approximation and Imaginary Units

• The symbol ≈ indicates that two values are approximately equal but not necessarily exact.
• The letter i represents the imaginary unit, defined as the square root of −1, crucial for complex number calculations.