What is Symbols: Definition and 292 Discussions

A symbol is a mark, sign, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, object, or relationship. Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by creating linkages between otherwise very different concepts and experiences. All communication (and data processing) is achieved through the use of symbols. Symbols take the form of words, sounds, gestures, ideas, or visual images and are used to convey other ideas and beliefs. For example, a red octagon is a common symbol for "STOP"; on maps, blue lines often represent rivers; and a red rose often symbolizes love and compassion. Numerals are symbols for numbers; letters of an alphabet may be symbols for certain phonemes; and personal names are symbols representing individuals. The variable 'x', in a mathematical equation, may symbolize the position of a particle in space.
The academic study of symbols is semiotics. In cartography, an organized collection of symbols forms a legend for a map.

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  1. N

    How do I find Christoffel symbols for cylindrical coordinates?

    Hey Guys, I'm new here on the forum, and I hope someone can help me out. I'm solving one of my GR homework exercises and I'm asked to find the christoffel symbols corresponding to cylindrical coordinates. I'll post my work and please correct if you see mistakes. I found the metric to be dR^2...
  2. N

    Christoffel symbols from definition or Lagrangian

    I asked this question in the tensor analysis formum but did we did not reach a satisfactory conclusion. Here is the problem: Let \mathbf{x} : U \subset\mathbb{R}^2 \to S be a local parametrization of a regular surface S. Then the coefficients of the second derivatives of x in the basis of...
  3. C

    Christoffel Coefficient Defined: Exploring Beyond the Metric Tensor

    so I'm taking general relativity right now and we've just gone over the covariant derivaive and the riemann tensor, however we haven't yet defined explicitly what the christoffel coefficients are except in relation to the metric tensor, I remember that there is another way of defining them...
  4. N

    Christoffel symbols from definition or Lagrangian

    Hi, Let \mathbf{x}(u,v) be a local parametrization of a regular surface. Then the coefficients of \mathbf{x}_{uu},\mathbf{x}_{uv} etc. in the basis of the tangent space are defined as the Christoffel symbols. On the other hand, if we write the first fundamental form \langle,\rangle in...
  5. I

    What do these two symbols mean?

    I was looking into a set of equations, and came across two different symbols that I'm not familiar with what do they mean? One looks like an "X" inscribed in a circle and the other was an addition sign in scribed in a circle. Again, what do they mean?
  6. E

    Big Oh notation (Landau symbols)

    I have a question with respect to the Big Oh notation, in which the Landau symbol O(n) is involved. The Landau symbol O(n) is defined as: f(n)=O(g(n)) if there exists an integer n_0 and a constant C>0 such that for all integers n \geq n_0, f(n) \leq C \cdot g(n). For example f(n)= 5 \cdot n...
  7. C

    From Christoffel symbols to connection 1-forms

    I have Christoffel symbols for a metric and I want to find the connection 1-forms. I have the relation: w(^i j)=Chr(^i j k)*dx(^k) w: conn. 1-form Chr: Christoffel symbols But Christoffel symbols do not share the symmetries of the conn. 1-forms. Do you know any way to make this...
  8. T

    Need help with Christoffel symbols? Here are some examples to practice with!

    i'm having a hard time computing these so could people show me several examples to help me get a better feel for them before I move on to curvature?
  9. S

    Writing Symbols in Microsoft Word

    Hi, Sorry if I put this in the wrong forum. Ive just been writing up my notes and I can't seem to be able to write things like this: ^{12}_{6}C using microsoft word. If anybody could explain how I could write it in this, I'd be very appreciative. Thanks
  10. T

    Three symbols i can never understand in relativity tesbooks

    There are three symbols in relativity textbooks that I've never encoutered before and need lots of help with. 1.Einstein summation convetion : Though not really a symbol i still don't quite understand what is meant by it. 2. Upper case lambda with super scripts and subscripts: It seems to...
  11. quasar987

    Symbols for homeomorphic, isomorphic, homotopic

    My professor seems to randomly use the symbols \approx, \cong and \simeq to denote either homeomorphic, isomorphic or homotopic. So, what is the official symbol for each?
  12. M

    Symbols in Mathematics: Exploring the Complex World of Mathematical Notation

    Can anyone tell me about all the symbols used in Mathematics and there use? or Can anyone tell me about the website where I can find all the symbols used in Mathematics?
  13. tony873004

    Symbols are used instead of an equal sign

    Sometimes the following symbols are used instead of an equal sign. I think the single one ~ means "is proportional to". One of the other ones means "is approximately". Which one is it? I'm guessing the second one because LaTex calls it approx. When are the others used? \begin{array}{l}...
  14. M

    Confused, how many symbols can be represented by braille code? Combinations wee

    Hello everyone im' stuck on this problem. It says: Each symbol in braille code is represened by a rectangular arrangement of six dots. Given that a least 1 dot of the 6 must be raised, how many symbols can be represented in brail? I'm thinking I have to use combinations becuase the...
  15. T

    What do the symbols in Physics Formulas mean? Help needed!

    What I am looking for is a link or "cheat sheet" that will give me an explanation of the symbols that are used in Physics Formulas. I have a basic understanding of some of the symbols but there are some that I do not understand. I have read several of Prof. Hawking and Prof. Einsteins papers and...
  16. K

    Write Atomic Symbols in MS Word: Super/Sub Scripts?

    I am trying to complete some chem homework in microsoft word, but I need to write the atomic symbols. Is there any way I can write the mass number over the atomic number. Can I use sub and super script at the same time in the same place?
  17. A

    Meaning of Differential Symbols δ & đ

    What do the following differential symbols mean: δ, đ (the line is actually more slanted) Ive seen these come up in my thermal physics class. For example δU or đW. Is the little delta equivalent to writing the uppercase "triangle" delta? Also i think the d with the line has something to do...
  18. T

    Displaying Math Symbols in Message Boxes

    Hi What should I do to display math symbols, typed in latex, in the message box?
  19. A

    LaTeX How to Create Basic LaTeX Documents Efficiently?

    I know basic formulas / symbols in LaTeX, but I'm not too good with the whole PDF thing. I mean, once I have a .tex file I can make a PS, DVI, or PDF file no problem, but the .tex file is the hard part. Every tutorial I read is like 100 pages long. Does anyone have a brief tutorial that gives...
  20. J

    Mathematica Word Processor for Math & Greek Symbols

    I was wondering if there is some verison of Word~or something like it,in which it has virtually all the math operators and greek letters. So then you could write elegant formulas and equations.
  21. P

    What Are Logic Symbols and How Are They Used in the Object Language?

    Hi, new here but I see the people are very helpful, hoping I can take advantage of that. Does anyone recognize the symbols ⊃, ≡, |, |–, –||–, |=, =||= ?? They are logical connectives, just different than the ones I know. Help would be greatly appreciated as soon as possible. Thank you.
  22. N

    Websites: xdot, xdoubledot symbols?

    Hey, was wondering if anyone knows of any fonts that hold the xdot, xdoubledot symbols one would use int physics? If not i guess i got to use the image methods. best
  23. JamesU

    Square symbols that are on web pages

    Sometimes, there are symbols that are on web pages, that my computer just reads a square-> ⌂ Is there a way to make my computer stop doing this?
  24. P

    How do i use mathmatical symbols

    not necessarily homework...but i don't know where to put it... how do i use greek letters/square roots...etc in the forums
  25. O

    How Do Term Symbols Reflect Electron Spin States and Degeneracy?

    Hi! I've finally made some effort to understand spectroscopic term symbols (^{2S+1}L_J) and after having thought a few times that I'd understood but then running into trouble again, now I'm fairly convinced that I got it right. But some things bother me though. Apparently I was locked too...
  26. JamesU

    Smiley Codes - Learn How to Represent Your Emotions with Symbols

    shouldn't the smiling smiley be coded as :) instead of : smile : shouldn't most of the smileys have a code that is related to their appearence, like: :frown: :( or :eek: :O :bugeye: 8| :biggrin: :D :wink: ;) :cool: B) :tongue: or :tongue2: :P :cry: :*(
  27. V

    Mathematica Math Symbols: Acquiring & Using Software

    How does one acquire math symbols for use in postings? Is there software available for this?
  28. P

    Math symbols in word? hurry please

    I am making a formula page in word. I tried using the latex here and cut%paste but when i print it prints in a nasty pink/purple colour despite the black appearance on the screen. So i need to know how to do math basic maths in word specifically making fraction so I can have something like...
  29. T

    Smallest Number with 50+ Symbols Definition

    What is the: smallest # whose definition requires at least 50 symbols?
  30. P

    Embarassingly simple question - Christoffel symbols

    OK, my computer program (GRTensor II) says that \Gamma_{abc} is symmetric in the first two indices. Which leads to the equation \Gamma_{abc} = \frac{1}{2} ( \frac{\partial g_{bc}}{\partial a}+ \frac{\partial g_{ac}}{\partial b} - \frac{\partial g_{ab}}{\partial c} ) And that's...
  31. Q

    How to make those special symbols

    I Posted this before but I can't find how to make those special symbols, such as beta, alpha, limit signs etc. I searched the FAQ but I can't find anything. someone please give me a link?
  32. Q

    Where Can I Find and Pronounce Greek Symbols for Equations?

    I've noticed a lot of people here posting equations with integral signs, and greek symbols. however, how do you do this? obviously they arent' on anyones key board. :grumpy:
  33. N

    Math/Science symbols, program for writing them

    Hi. I am wondering if there is a program that can do a few things: 1. Plot data points 2. Graph functions 3. Show math symbols (integral, etc) with correct placement of characters I am attempting to do these things in a lab writeup, so if separate programs are needed I would need to...
  34. C

    What is the Meaning of Vector Magnitude Symbols?

    when you use these symbols | |, does that mean absolute value of the vector size (since it is same as absolute value symbols)? Or do they just have a different meaning, that we just write the same symbols. So |U| automatically implies just the magnitude of U? Also, what is a unit vector...
  35. P

    Christoffel symbols in the Schwarzschild metric

    Well, I think I finally figured out how to get good values for the local values of the Christoffel symbols (aka local gravitational accelerations) in the Schwarzschild metric. Some of the results are moderately interesting, though there is one point that still makes me wonder a bit. If we...
  36. zoobyshoe

    What Do These Weird Physics Symbols Mean?

    Is there a reference list anywhere where I can look for the meaning of a weird physics symbol when I run across one? For instance there is a thing that looks like a sideways capitol M. (There are two of them in the new PF banner to the right of Einstein's face.) I ran into this sideways...
  37. C

    Thread for posting math symbols

    Can someone linke me to the .pdf file or the thread that showed how to post math symbols in your post? I did a search on multiple queries, but none gave me what I was looking for. Thanks.
  38. D

    Can multi digit numbers be made into a single digit using a new base?

    Digit has {b} ; b is the count of symbols b is the base of the digit and is the symbol count b symbols 1 0 2 0,1 3 0,1,2 ... The symbol count is necessary. The symbols can be any set of marks. If you count and come to the end of the symbols you have, there are 3 choices: 1: give up...
  39. D

    Why Nabla Symbol Not Listed Under Math Symbols

    Under the list of math symbols, nabla doesn't show up (the upside down triangle). Why is that? I just use &#9660 instead.
  40. G

    Chemistry Help: Element Symbols & Names

    Chemistry help please! I took Chem. 2 yrs ago, don't remember much from it. Next yr, I'm planning to take AP Chem. so I have to do Summer HW. I know that H is the symbol of Hydrogen, C is Carbon.Can someone please help me how to figure out how to write element symbol, for example how to write...
  41. Greg Bernhardt

    What Are Some Examples of Ambiguous Symbols?

    http://www.uspoliticsforum.com/emergency/ What is your favorite one?
  42. K

    Creating Superscripts and Subscripts Using the &name Format

    how do you type superscript Text and subscript Text, not using the symbols like 2^2 ?
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