Math symbols chart
A math symbol is a short way to write a word: + means plus, = means equals, < means is less than. This chart lists the symbols used from 1st to 6th grade, with the name of each and an example of how it is read.
Free printable PDF, 1st grade to 6th grade.
One page, black and white, prints the same every time.
What is on the sheet
| Symbol | Name | Example | Read it as |
|---|---|---|---|
| + | Plus, add | 3 + 2 = 5 | 3 plus 2 equals 5 |
| − | Minus, subtract | 7 − 4 = 3 | 7 minus 4 equals 3 |
| × | Times, multiply | 4 × 5 = 20 | 4 times 5 equals 20 |
| · | Times (a raised dot) | 4 · 5 = 20 | 4 times 5 equals 20 |
| ÷ | Divided by | 12 ÷ 3 = 4 | 12 divided by 3 equals 4 |
| / | Fraction bar, divided by | 3/4 | three fourths |
| = | Equals | 6 = 6 | 6 equals 6 |
| ≠ | Is not equal to | 5 ≠ 8 | 5 is not equal to 8 |
| < | Is less than | 2 < 9 | 2 is less than 9 |
| > | Is greater than | 9 > 2 | 9 is greater than 2 |
| ≤ | Is less than or equal to | x ≤ 4 | x is 4 or less |
| ≥ | Is greater than or equal to | x ≥ 4 | x is 4 or more |
| ≈ | Is about equal to | 49 ≈ 50 | 49 is about 50 |
| ( ) | Parentheses | (2 + 3) × 4 | do 2 + 3 first |
| . | Decimal point | 2.5 | two and five tenths |
| % | Percent | 50% | 50 out of 100 |
| ¢ | Cents | 25¢ | 25 cents |
| $ | Dollars | $1.50 | one dollar and fifty cents |
| ° | Degrees | 90° | 90 degrees |
| ² | Squared | 5² | 5 squared, 5 × 5 |
| √ | Square root | √16 = 4 | the square root of 16 is 4 |
| π | Pi | π ≈ 3.14 | pi is about 3.14 |
| … | And so on | 2, 4, 6, 8, … | the pattern keeps going |
The symbols children mix up
Less than and greater than cause the most trouble. The open side of < and > always faces the bigger number, which is why classes draw it as a mouth that eats the larger amount. Reading the sentence out loud from left to right helps too: 2 < 9 is "2 is less than 9."
The times cross and the letter x look alike, so once letters stand for numbers in 6th grade, multiplication is written with a raised dot or with no sign at all: 3n means 3 × n. The fraction bar and the division sign mean the same thing, and 3/4 is 3 ÷ 4.
Which grade meets which symbol
First grade uses +, − and =, and compares numbers with <, > and = (CCSS 1.NBT.B.3 asks for all three). Second grade adds ¢ and $. Third grade brings × and ÷, and 4th grade the decimal point. Sixth grade adds %, exponents and inequalities. π arrives in 7th grade with the circumference of a circle.
Common questions
- Why does the chart show two signs for multiplication?
- The cross × is the one children learn first. The raised dot · does the same job and takes over in algebra, where an x could be read as a letter.
- What does ≈ mean?
- It means "is about equal to." It is used for rounding and estimates: 49 ≈ 50, or π ≈ 3.14.