Latin letters used in mathematics, science, and engineering explained

Many letters of the Latin alphabet, both capital and small, are used in mathematics, science, and engineering to denote by convention specific or abstracted constants, variables of a certain type, units, multipliers, or physical entities. Certain letters, when combined with special formatting, take on special meaning.

Below is an alphabetical list of the letters of the alphabet with some of their uses. The field in which the convention applies is mathematics unless otherwise noted.

Typographical variation

Some common conventions:

Typographical variations of Latin letters in Unicode
NameSub-typeAlphabet
Double-struckMathematical
Italic ⅆ ⅇ ⅈ ⅉ ⅅ
Script/CalligraphyMathematical ℬ ℰ ℱ ℋ ℐ ℒ ℳ ℛ
ℯ ℊ ℴ
Mathematical Bold
FrakturMathematical ℭ ℌ ℑ ℜ ℨ
Mathematical Bold
Mono-space Mathematical

Aa

A

represents the algebraic numbers[11] or affine space in algebraic geometry.

Bb

l{B}

) or

B

)[16]

l{B}

))

bf{B}

or

\vec{B}

Cc

C

represents the set of complex numbers.

ak{c}

denotes the cardinality of the set of real numbers (the "continuum"), or, equivalently, of the power set of natural numbers.

Dd

Ee

bf{E}

or

\vec{E}

l{E}

and measured in volts), refers to voltage

E

Ff

l{F}

Gg

Hh

\boldsymbol{H}

H

represents the quaternions (after William Rowan Hamilton).

l{H}

) represents the Hamiltonian in Hamiltonian mechanics.

Ii

Jj

\boldsymbol{J}

-1+
2
1
2

i\sqrt3

Kk

Ll

l{L}

) represents:

Mm

Nn

N

represents the natural numbers.

Oo

(0,0,\ldots,0)

 — the Origin of the coordinate system in Cartesian coordinates

Pp

P

represents

Qq

Q

represents the rational numbers

Rr

R

represents the set of real numbers and various algebraic structures built upon the set of real numbers, such as

Rn

.

Ss

l{S}

) represents a system's action in physics

Tt

Uu

Vv

Ww

Xx

Yy

Zz

Z

represents the integers

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Weisstein . Eric W. . Triangle . 2022-03-21 . mathworld.wolfram.com . en.
  2. Web site: Hexadecimal - Hexadecimal and character sets - GCSE Computer Science Revision . 2022-03-21 . BBC Bitesize . en-GB.
  3. Web site: DECIMAL function . 2022-03-22 . support.microsoft.com.
  4. Web site: 2014-10-07 . BIPM - SI base units . bipm.org . https://web.archive.org/web/20141007203046/http://www.bipm.org/en/publications/si-brochure/section2-1.html . 2014-10-07.
  5. Web site: 2014-10-07 . BIPM - SI derived units . 2022-03-22 . bipm.org . https://web.archive.org/web/20141007193455/http://www.bipm.org/en/publications/si-brochure/section2-2.html . 2014-10-07.
  6. Jensen . William B. . December 2005 . The Origins of the Symbols A and Z for Atomic Weight and Number . Journal of Chemical Education . en . 82 . 12 . 1764 . 10.1021/ed082p1764 . 2005JChEd..82.1764J . 0021-9584.
  7. News: 2014-06-21 . 22.1: Helmholtz Energy . 2022-03-23 . Chemistry LibreTexts . en.
  8. Web site: The magnetic vector potential . 2022-03-21 . farside.ph.utexas.edu.
  9. Web site: Weisstein . Eric W. . Glaisher-Kinkelin Constant . 2022-03-21 . mathworld.wolfram.com . en.
  10. Web site: 2013-10-02 . 6.2.3.1: Arrhenius Equation . 2022-04-03 . Chemistry LibreTexts . en.
  11. Web site: Weisstein . Eric W. . Algebraic Number . 2022-03-22 . mathworld.wolfram.com . en.
  12. Book: Liebscher, Dierck-Ekkehard . Cosmology . Springer . 2005 . 9783540232612 . Berlin . 53–77 .
  13. Book: Conversion factors and tables. Part 1. Basis of tables. Conversion factors. . 1974 . BSI . British Standards Institution . 0-580-08471-X . 3rd revision . London . 7 . 32212391.
  14. Book: Conversion factors and tables. Part 1. Basis of tables. Conversion factors. . 1974 . BSI . British Standards Institution . 0-580-08471-X . 3rd revision . London . 4 . 32212391.
  15. Web site: Arithmetic Progression - Formula, Examples AP Formula . 2022-03-24 . Cuemath . en.
  16. Web site: Weisstein . Eric W. . Ball . 2022-03-24 . mathworld.wolfram.com . en.
  17. Stohner . Jürgen . Quack . Martin . 2011 . A Concise Summary of Quantities, Units, and Symbols in Physical Chemistry . Chemistry International . . 33 . 4 . Centerfold . y.
  18. Book: Prasad . Paras N. . Introduction to Biophotonics . 16 January 2004 . John Wiley & Sons . 978-0-471-46539-3 . 12 . en.
  19. Book: Quantities, Units and Symbols in Physical Chemistry . International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry . 1993 . 0-632-03583-8 . 20 . En.
  20. Web site: 2013-10-02 . 6.4.1: Eyring equation . 2022-04-03 . Chemistry LibreTexts . en.
  21. Web site: 2013-10-02 . Quantum Numbers for Atoms . 2022-04-07 . Chemistry LibreTexts . en.
  22. Book: Kardar, Mehran . Statistical Physics of Particles . Statistical Physics of Particles . . 2007 . 978-0-521-87342-0 . 860391091 . Mehran Kardar.
  23. Web site: Analytical Compendium . https://web.archive.org/web/20170505235542/https://media.iupac.org/publications/analytical_compendium/Cha01sec39.pdf . May 5, 2017 . October 5, 2023.
  24. Web site: Velocity, acceleration and distance - Motion - Edexcel - GCSE Physics (Single Science) Revision - Edexcel . 2022-03-26 . BBC Bitesize . en-GB.
  25. Web site: frequency Definition, Symbols, & Formulas Britannica . 2022-03-26 . www.britannica.com . en.
  26. Book: Durrer, Ruth . The cosmic microwave background . 2021 . Cambridge University Press . 978-1-316-47152-4 . 2nd . Cambridge, United Kingdom . 1182021387 . Ruth Durrer.
  27. Book: Quantities, Units and Symbols in Physical Chemistry . International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry . 1993 . 0-632-03583-8 . 56.