# Basic Math Notation

1. Aug 2, 2011

### autodidude

When you start a new line in solving an equation (or any math problem), is there a symbol you should start of with? I usually use an equal or therefore sign but sometimes it doesn't seem appropriate and I just end up using a little arrow

Say I had to rearrange this equation (ab)/2 = c to make a the subject , what would I write in front of the first and subsequent lines of working? Just leave it blank?

e.g.
(ab)/2 = c
<--- what goes here? (ab) = 2c..etc.
etc..

2. Aug 2, 2011

### pwsnafu

You can use ∴ (which means http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therefore_sign" [Broken]) but personally I wouldn't bother. Remember you get marks for your working, clarity and expression, not typography quirks.

Last edited by a moderator: May 5, 2017
3. Aug 2, 2011

### phinds

why would you need to have ANYTHING go there? Your second line of "(ab) = 2c" does not need anything in front of it, nor do subsequent lines.

I suppose when you get to the final line you could preceded it with the "therefore" dots, but as pwsnafu said, I don't think most people bother.

4. Aug 2, 2011

Thank you

5. Aug 2, 2011

### I like Serena

Actually, I'm used to the symbol $\Rightarrow$ to show how one equation follows from a previous one (as opposed to $\rightarrow$ which indicate a logical implication within a statement).
This helps distinguishing it from when you start new lines of reasoning.

6. Aug 2, 2011

### Dr. Seafood

When you start writing a new line in a paragraph (not because your sentence didn't fit on the previous line, but because you're beginning a new phrase), you don't do anything but indent, right? This just makes reading easier on the eye. I actually indent very slightly when going from a paragraph to a series of implications, equalities, etc.

7. Aug 2, 2011

### micromass

I always use $\Rightarrow$ in such contexts.

I think it is better to use a symbol. Writing nothing in front of it can cause the text to be hard to read...