Maths - Notation

Multidimensional Algebra

notation meaning basis Alternative
⊕ direct sum or Kronecker sum depending on context    
⊗ direct product or Kronecker product depending on context    
/\ exterior algebra    
/\k exterior algebra kth blade    
ℜ scalar or real depending on context (see below) e0  
ℜ² 2 dimensional vector e1,e2  
ℜ³ 3 dimensional vector e1,e2,e3  
ℜn n dimensional vector e1…en  
ℜ² bivector based on 2D algebra e12  
ℜ³ bivector based on 3D algebra e12,e31,e23  
C complex numbers   ℜ⊕ℜ
H quaternions   ℜ⊕ℜ³
O octonions   ℜ⊕ℜ7
a∈A a is an element of the set A    
       
       

Scalar

I have used the term 'scalar' interchangeably with the term 'real', that is, a continuous value that can be represented by a single number.

Strictly speaking the term 'scalar' should be reserved for a quantity that is used to scale a vector, that is change its magnitude without changing its direction, or in other words a scalar is the ratio of parallel vectors.

For instance I should not really call energy a scalar because there are no vectors involved.

I apologise for my lack of mathematical rigor here, its just that the word scalar seems to better express that it is not a vector and its less likely to cause confusion with the real part of a complex number. Also this (mis?)usage is quite common in the computer world.

Matrix

notation meaning
[M] matrix
[M]t transpose of matrix (swap rows & columns)
[M]-1 inverse of matrix
[I] identity matrix (ones on leading diagonal, otherwise zeros)

The individual elements of the matrix are numbered as follows,

m00 m01 m02 m0n
m10 m11 m12 m1n
m20 m21 m22 m2n
⊗ ⊗ ⊗ ⊗ ⊗
mp0 mp1 mp2 mpn

The first subscript represents the row, the second subscript represents the column

Tensor Notation

notation example meaning pages in site
subscript e1 coordinate basis
superscript x1 coordinate value  
Einstein Summation Convention eixi=e1x1+e2x2+e3x3=∑eixi When the same index appears twice in an expression, once raised and once lowered, a sum is implied.  
partial derivatives a=∂/∂a    

Set Theory

notation example meaning
A A = {a | a∈A} set
a a∈A element of A
{a, b, c}   set containing a, b and c
  a H = {ah | h∈H} left coset of a
(a,b)   cycle notation
<a,b>   all the elements of group generated by a and b
  <r,f | r³=1, f²=1, frf=r-1> generators with constrains
K
K = {k | k∉K} complement of set indicated by bar over top
| A |   grade (size) = number of elements in A
| G : H |   number of left cosets of H in G
×   Direct Product
&22C9;   Semidirect Product (left)
&22CA; {n, h}&22CA;φ {n',h'} Semidirect Product (right)
&22C8;   Bicrossed Product
also known as Knit or Zappa-Szep product
∈ there existsh = h'∈H such that
a h' = h a
Normal subgroup a H = H a for all a in G
Ø   empty set
¬   not
  and (intersection= intersection)
  or (U = union)
∈   is in (is an element of the set)
contains AcontainsB A is contained in B (or A is a subset of B)
->   if
<->   if and only if
for all   for all
there exists   there exists
isomorpic   is isomorphic to
power set(S)   The set of subsets of S (power set)
orb(s)   Orbit - set of elements that can be reached
stab(s)   Stabilizer - set of elements that don't move s

Sets are discussed on this page and groups here.

Definition

Endo is a Greek word meaning inside.

Logic / Proofs

notation example meaning pages in site
/\  

conjunction, and , intersection (in set), greatest lower bound (in order)

 
\/   disjunction, or , union (in set), least upper bound (in order)  
T   Top (true)  
_|_   Bottom (false)  
=> A => B Implication
A => B means A implies B
 
right adjoint Tright adjointφ

φ is a theorem of T
that is: φ is deducible from T

In contrast to 'implication' above this is a statement about statements usually written only when we mean φ follows from T, wheras A => B is a statement we may consider as a conjecture . See [Lawvere,Rosebrugh page 198]

Not to be confused with right adjoint in category theory.

logic
for all   for all (quantifier)  
there exists   there exists (quantifier)  

Category Theory

notation example meaning pages in site
AmapB   Map / Morphism / Function between mathematical structures that relates or preserves the structures in some way. May be injection, surjection or bijection (injection can be specifically indicated see below)
a mapElement b   A function in terms of elements of the structures a∈A, b∈B  
map dot   A function that is valid if all the functions drawn as solid lines are valid  
map injective   injective morphism (embedding)  
map canonical   canonical map - map of G onto factor group G/H where H is a normal subgroup of G  
left adjoint   Left adjoint
right adjoint   Right adjoint  

Topology Botanical Notation

Topology Notation

Denotional Semantics

notation example meaning pages in site
[[D]] [[2*5]] = 10 A 'denotion' is written in double square brackets.
It represents the meaning of D to a program
evaluation of D
_|_   Bottom (undefined)  
∈   Less defined than  

Greek Alphabet

  upper lower   upper lower   upper lower
Alpha A α Iota I ι Rho P ρ
Beta B β Kappa K κ Sigma Σ σ
Gamma Γ γ Lambda Λ λ Tau Τ τ
Delta Δ δ Mu M μ Upsilon Υ υ
Epsilon E ε Nu N ν Phi Φ φ
Zeta Z ζ Xi Ξ ξ Chi X χ
Eta H η Omicron O ο Psi Ψ ψ
Theta Θ θ Pi Π π Omega Ω ω

Various Operator Symbols

×   ÷   ±        
°   ð   Ð   ƒ   µ  
Ø   ø   Þ   þ    
           
         
           
                   
                   
                   
                   

Powers of 10

m 10-3 K 103
µ  10-6 M 106
n 10-9 G 109
p 10-12 T 1012
f 10-15    
a 10-18    

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