Maths History
The history of maths symbols
Explain where +, −, ×, ÷ and = came from and why symbols make maths quicker to write.
Quick answer
Maths symbols like +, −, ×, ÷, and = were invented over hundreds of years to make maths easier to write and understand. Before symbols, people had to write out words for maths, which took a long time. Symbols help us do maths faster and clearer.Learning outcome
By the end of this page, you will understand how maths symbols like +, −, ×, ÷, and = were created and why they help us do maths more quickly. Success signs:- You can explain why symbols make maths easier
- You can name at least 3 maths symbols and where they came from
- You can show how symbols help solve a maths problem
- You can imagine what maths would be like without symbols
Why this matters
Maths symbols make it much easier to write and understand maths problems. Imagine writing "three plus two equals five" every time you wanted to add numbers! Symbols let us write maths quickly and clearly, so we can focus on solving problems, not on writing them out. In games, cooking, shopping, and even sports, we use symbols to understand numbers and solve problems. Understanding where symbols come from helps us appreciate maths more and makes it feel less like a mystery.How it works
Maths symbols didn’t appear overnight. They were invented by clever people over many years. Each symbol has a special story. First, people used words for maths. Then, they used letters, then short words, then simple marks. Over time, these marks became the symbols we know today. Let’s look at how each symbol came to be: 1. Plus (+) – This symbol started as the Latin word "et", meaning "and". People began writing "et" as "e" and then turned it into the + sign. 2. Minus (−) – This symbol was used as a mark for "minus" in early books. It may have come from a line used in accounting to show that money was taken out. 3. Multiply (×) – This symbol was first used by a mathematician named William Oughtred in 1631. He thought it looked like an "X" and was a good way to show multiplication. 4. Divide (÷) – This symbol was used by Swiss mathematician Johann Rahn in 1659. It was like a line with a dot above and below it, showing a fraction. 5. Equals (=) – This symbol was created by Welsh mathematician Robert Recorde in 1557. He said two parallel lines were the best way to show things are equal.Examples you can see
Let’s look at some real-life examples to help you understand how these symbols work: Example 1: The Plus Sign Imagine you have 3 apples and your friend gives you 2 more apples. You can write this as: 3 + 2 = 5 This is much faster than writing "three apples plus two apples equals five apples." Example 2: The Minus Sign You have 10 cookies and you eat 4. How many are left? 10 − 4 = 6 Writing it with the minus sign helps us see the problem quickly. Example 3: The Multiply Sign You have 4 boxes, and each box has 3 toys. How many toys do you have in total? 4 × 3 = 12 The multiplication sign helps us see that we have 4 groups of 3. Example 4: The Divide Sign You have 12 pencils and you want to share them equally among 3 friends. How many pencils does each friend get? 12 ÷ 3 = 4 The division symbol shows that we are sharing into equal parts. Example 5: The Equals Sign If you have 5 + 3 = 8, it means that the left side equals the right side.Try it as a mini adventure
Adventure: The Symbol Hunt You are a detective looking for the missing maths symbols in a treasure map! You need to find the symbols +, −, ×, ÷, and = to unlock the treasure chest. Here’s your adventure: 1st time: You find a pile of stones. Each stone has a number on it. You see 3 + 2 = 5. What symbol did you find? Answer: + 2nd time: You see a line with a dot on top and a dot below. You know this means division. What symbol did you find? Answer: ÷ 3rd time: You see 6 × 4 = 24. What symbol did you find? Answer: × 4th time: You see 10 − 5 = 5. What symbol did you find? Answer: − 5th time: You see 7 = 7. What symbol did you find? Answer: = Now you have found all the symbols! You can now unlock the treasure chest.Common mistakes
- Mistake: Thinking that the multiplication symbol × is the same as the letter X.
Why it happens: The symbol × looks like the letter X, so it can be confusing.
Fix: Remember that × is only used for multiplication, not for letters or variables. - Mistake: Mixing up the plus and minus signs.
Why it happens: Both signs are short lines, so it’s easy to confuse them.
Fix: Remember that + means to add, and − means to take away. - Mistake: Not knowing that the equals sign means "the same as".
Why it happens: Some children think = means "the answer is".
Fix: The equals sign means both sides have the same value. For example, 3 + 2 = 5 is the same as 5 = 3 + 2.
Parent and carer guide
Help your child understand maths symbols by using real-life examples. You can play games like "Symbol Hunt" where you look for symbols in books, newspapers, or even on your phone. Talk about how symbols make maths faster and easier to read. You can ask your child to explain what each symbol means in a simple problem. Here are 5 minutes of helpful tips:- Use everyday maths: Ask your child to count how many toys are in 3 boxes with 4 toys each. Use × to show this.
- Draw symbols on paper: Draw a +, −, ×, ÷, and = sign and ask what each one means.
- Play a memory game: Show your child a symbol for 5 seconds and ask them to say what it means.
- Use books: Read a maths book together and point out the symbols on each page.
- Be patient: It's normal for children to mix up symbols at first. Encourage them to keep trying!
Practice questions
- What symbol means "plus"?
Answer: + - What symbol means "minus"?
Answer: − - What symbol means "multiply"?
Answer: × - What symbol means "divide"?
Answer: ÷ - What symbol means "equals"?
Answer: = - Which symbol was first used by Robert Recorde?
Answer: = - Who first used the × symbol for multiplication?
Answer: William Oughtred - What did the symbol ÷ come from?
Answer: A line with dots above and below, like a fraction - What symbol did the Latin word "et" become?
Answer: + - Who invented the minus sign?
Answer: Not one person, but it was used in early books
FAQ
Why do we need maths symbols?
Symbols make maths faster to write and easier to understand. Without them, we would have to write out long sentences for every problem.
Who made the first maths symbols?
Many people helped make maths symbols over hundreds of years. Some were mathematicians from ancient times, and others were from the Renaissance period.
What does the equals sign mean?
The equals sign means that both sides of the equation are the same. For example, 2 + 3 = 5 means 2 + 3 and 5 are equal.
Can we still use words instead of symbols?
Yes, but it takes a lot longer and can be confusing. Symbols help us do maths quickly and clearly.
Are all maths symbols the same in every country?
Most symbols are the same, but some countries may use slightly different ones. For example, some use a colon (:) for division, but the ÷ sign is more common in English-speaking countries.