What is the history behind mathematical symbols?

What is the history behind mathematical symbols?

Mathematical symbols have evolved over centuries, starting from ancient civilizations like the Babylonians and Greeks. They used various notations to represent numbers and operations.

Can you give examples of some early symbols?

Sure! The ancient Greeks used symbols like 'π' for pi and 'Σ' for summation. The equal sign '=' was introduced in the 16th century.

How did the equal sign come to be?

The equal sign '=' was first used by Robert Recorde in 1557. He chose it because no two things can be more equal than parallel lines.

What about modern symbols like '∞' for infinity?

The symbol for infinity '∞' was introduced by John Wallis in the 17th century. It represents an unbounded quantity.

Are there symbols that are still evolving today?

Yes, new symbols and notations continue to emerge, especially in fields like computer science and data science.