÷

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

÷ U+00F7, ÷
DIVISION SIGN
ö
[U+00F6]
Latin-1 Supplement ø
[U+00F8]

U+2052, ⁒
COMMERCIAL MINUS SIGN

[U+2051]
General Punctuation
[U+2053]
See also: [U+2E13 DOTTED OBELOS]

Translingual

[edit]

Description

[edit]

The division-minus sign is a dash (commonly horizontal) between two dots, that is used for both subtraction and division. Its use for subtraction is visually more distinct from a hyphen than is the anglophone minus sign ⟨−⟩. In some scribal traditions, in its use as a minus sign it is set at an angle, ⟨⁒⟩ (commercial minus sign).

Symbol

[edit]

÷

  1. (mathematics, especially Anglophone countries) division
    Synonyms: /, :
    6 ÷ 2 = 3
    • 2009, Blair Madore, GRE Math Workbook (in English), Barron's Educational Series, →ISBN, page 73:
      Since decimal numbers are based on powers of ten it is extremely easy to multiply or divide by 10ⁿ, where n is a positive integer. To multiply a number by 10ⁿ, just move the decimal place n places to the right. For example, 24.345 × 10² = 2,434.5. [] To divide a number by 10ⁿ, just move the decimal place n places to the left. For example, 24.345 ÷ 10² = 0.23345.
  2. (mathematics, non-Anglophone countries) negative, minus
    Synonym:
    ÷50% (meaning a 50% reduction)
  3. (editorial mark) Alternative form of (obelus)

Coordinate terms

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]

Latin

[edit]

Verb

[edit]

÷

  1. (Medieval Latin) Scribal abbreviation of est; third-person singular present active indicative of sum
    • 845, St. Gall Priscian Glosses, Irish manuscript of Priscianus Caesariensis, Institutiones Grammaticae (526–527), De Oratione
      Oratio÷ ordinatio dictionũ ↄgrua sententiã p̛fectã demonstrans.
      A sentence is a coherent arrangement of words showing a complete thought.