17.2.1999/H. V aliaho Pronunciation of mathematical expressions The pronunciations of the most common mathematical expressions are given in the list below. In general, the shortest versions are preferred (unless greater precision is necessary). 1. Logic there exists for all p qp implies q / if p, then q p qp if and only if q /p is equivalent to q / p and q are equivalent 2. Sets x Ax belongs to A / x is an element (or a member) of A x / Ax does not belong to A / x is not an element (or a member) of A A BA is contained in B / A is a subset of B A BA contains B / B is a subset of A A BA cap B / A meet B / A intersection B A BA cup B / A join B / A union B A B A minus B / the diff erence between A and B A BA cross B / the cartesian product of A and B 3. Real numbers x + 1x plus one x 1x minus one x 1x plus or minus one xyxy / x multiplied by y (x y)(x + y)x minus y, x plus y x y x over y =the equals sign x = 5x equals 5 / x is equal to 5 x ?= 5x (is) not equal to 5 1 x yx is equivalent to (or identical with) y x ? yx is not equivalent to (or identical with) y x yx is greater than y x yx is greater than or equal to y x greater than /gret n/ y x is greater than y x y x is less than y x y x is greater than or equal to y x y x is less than or equal to y 0 x 1 zero is less than x is less than 1; x is greater than zero and less than 1 0 x 1 zero is less than or equal to x is less than or equal to 1; x is greater than or equal to zero and less than or equal to 1 x x squared x x cubed x4x to the fourth; x to the power four xnx to the n; x to the nth; x to the power n x-nx to the minus n; x to the power of minus n root x; square root x; the square root of x the cube root of x the fourth root of x the nth root of x (x + y) x plus y all squared (x/y) x over y all squared n! n factorial; factorial n x% x percent infinity x y x varies as y; x is (directly) proportional to y x 1/y x varies as one over y; x is indirectly proportional to y x dot x double dot f(x) fx f of x; the function of x f(x) f dash x; the (first) derivative of with respect to x fx f double-dash x; the second derivative of f with respect to x f(x) f triple-dash x; f treble-dash x; the third derivative of f with respect to x f(4)f four x; the fourth derivative of f with respect to x v the partial derivative of v v delta v by delta theta, the partial derivative of v with respect to v delta two v by delta theta squared; the second partial derivative of v with respect to dv the derivative of v dv d d v by d theta, the derivative of v with respect to theta dv d d 2 v by d theta squared, the second derivative of v with respect to theta, integral integral from zero to infinity sum the sum from i equals 1 to n w.r.t. with respect to logey log to the base e of y; log y to the base e; natural log (of) y therefore because gives, approaches x 0 delta x approaches zero lim x0 the limit as delta x approaches zero, the limit as delta x tends to zero Lt x0 the limit as delta x approaches zero, the limit as delta x tends to zero m/sec metres per second x A x belongs to A; x is a member of A; x is an element of A x A x does not belong to A; x is not a member of A; x is not an element of A A B A is contained in B; A is a proper subset of B A B A is contained in B; A is a subset of B A B A intersection B A B A union B cos x cos x; cosine x sin x sine x tan x tangent x, tan x cosec x cosec x sinh x shine x cosh x cosh x tanh x than x |x| mod x; modulus x 18 eighteen degrees Centigrade 70 seventy degrees Fahrenheit Greek alphabet alpha /lf/ beta /bi:t/ gamma /gm/ delta /delt/ epsilon /epsiln/ zeta /zit/ eta /it/ theta /it/ iota /at/ kappa /kp/ lamda /lmd/ mu /mju/ nu /nju/ xi /ksa/ omicron /mkrn pi /pa/ rho /r/ sigma /sgm/ tau /t/ upsilon /jpsln/ phi /fa/ chi /ka/ psi /psa/ omega /mg Fractions a half / h:f/ a quarter / kwt/ three quarters /ri kwtz/ a third / :d/ two thirds /tu: :dz/ a fifth / ff/ two fifths /tu: ffs/ three fifths /ri ffs/ four fifths /f ffs/ a sixth / sks/ five sixths /fav skss/ an eighth /n et/ three eighths /ri ets/ five eighths /fav ets/ seven eighths /sevn ets/ Decimal Fractions 0.1 nought point one /n:t pnt wn/ 0.01 nought point oh one /n:t pnt wn/ 0.0001 nought point oh oh oh one /ten pnt wn/ 1.1 one point one /wn pnt wn/ 1.2 one point two /wn pnt tu:/ 1.23 one point two three /wn pnt tu: ri:/ 1.0123 one point oh one two three /wn pnt wn tu: ri:/ 10.01 ten point oh one /ten pnt wn/ 21.57 twenty-one point five seven /twent wn pnt fav sevn/ 2.6666666666 two point six recurring /tu: pnt sks rk:r/ 2.612361236123.