Notation
You will be expected to use computer notation to answer some questions
on this site, as you need to be very familiar with this notation when
taking Massey Mathematics papers. For each operation shown below
we give the mathematical notation used in schools and most text books
and typical computer notation used in many software packages.
Operation |
Mathematical
Notation |
Computer
Notation |
Mathematical
Notation Examples |
Computer
Notation Examples |
Addition |
+
|
+
|
3 + 2
a + b |
3+2
a+b |
Subtraction |
-
|
-
|
3 - 2
a - b |
3-2
a-b |
Multiplication |
×
or ( )( )
|
*
|
3 × 2
or (3)(2)
a × b or (a)(b)
or ab |
3*2
a*b |
Division |
÷
or
|
/
|
3 ÷ 2 or 
a ÷ b or  |
3/2
a/b |
Powers |
|
^
|
32
ax |
3^2
a^x |
Exponential function |
|
exp( )
|
e2, e
ex |
exp(2), exp(1)
exp(x) |
Logarithm (base 10) |
log
|
log( )
see below |
log 2
log x |
log(2)
log(x) |
Natural logarithm |
ln
|
ln( )
see below |
ln 2
ln x |
ln(2)
ln(x) |
Square root (positive) |
|
sqrt( )
or ^0.5
|

 |
sqrt(32) or 32^0.5
sqrt(x) or x^0.5 |
Reciprocal |
|
1/
or ^(-1)
|

 |
1/ 32 or 32^(-1)
1/x or x^(-1) |
Sine |
sin
|
sin( )
|
sin p
sin x |
sin(pi)
sin(x) |
Cosine |
cos
|
cos( )
|
cos p
cos x |
cos(pi)
cos(x) |
Tangent |
tan
|
tan( )
|
tan p
tan x |
tan(pi)
tan(x) |
When you have complex expressions, you may need to use brackets to obtain
the desired order of operations. While textbooks may use round,
square and curly brackets in an expression, in computer expressions we
use only curved brackets, for example, ( expression ).
Examples of expressions in computer notation using brackets:
5^x+2 represents 5x + 2 whereas 5^(x+2) represents
5x + 2.
(x + 1)/(x + 2) represents
whereas x + 1/x + 2 represents x +
+ 2.
To enter ,
use exp(a*exp(b)).
is entered as y^(x^2).
Logarithms
Computer notation for logarithms varies from programme to programme. Matlab uses log10( ) for logarithms to base 10 and log( ) for natural logarithms whereas Excel uses both log( ) and log10( ) for logarithms to base 10 and ln( ) for natural logarithms.
|