SS PhysicsⅠ

Reading Numbers and Symbols in Physics

Numbers:0Zero; Naught−1

Negative one; Minus one+1

Positive one; Plus one∞Infinity−∞

Negative infinity; Minus infinity

1,000

One thousand

1,000,000

One million

1,000,000,000

One billion

1,000,000,000,000 One trillion
123,456,789,321

One hundred twenty-three billion, four hundred fifty-six million, seven hundred eightynine thousand, three hundred twenty-one

1One-half; One over two2
1One-third; One over three

3
2Two-thirds; Two over three3
1One-quarter; One-fourth; One over four43Three-quarters; Three-fourths; Three over four

41One-fifth; One over five

52Two-fifths; Two over five

51One-sixth; One over six

65Five-sixths; Five over six

61One-seventh; One over seven

71
10
1
1615
16
7257
3One-sixteenth; One over sixteen
Fifteen-sixteenths; Fifteen over sixteen
Seven-two hundred fifty-sevenths; Seven over two hundred fifty-sevenThree-halves; Three over two

2

1One-tenth; One over ten

12526

One and a half
Two and five-sixths
1π

Pi2π

Two pi𝜋Pi over two2
3𝜋
2

Three pi over two

0.1

Zero point one; (One-tenth)

0.01

Zero point zero one; (One-hundredth)

0.001

Zero point zero zero one; (One-thousandth)

98.765

Ninety-eight point seven six five; (Ninety-eight and seven hundred sixty-five thousands)

4.769× 1018

Four point seven six nine times ten to the eighteenth (power)

5.328× 10−9

Five point three two eight times ten to the negative ninth (power); Five point three two
eight times ten to the minus ninth (power)

Math Functions:
𝐴+𝐵 = 𝐶A plus B equals C; the sum of A and B is equal to C

𝐴−𝐵 = 𝐶A minus B equals C; the difference of A and B is equal to C

𝐴×𝐵 =𝐶A times B equals C; the product of A and B is equal to C𝐴÷𝐵 = 𝐶A divided by B equals C; the quotient of A and B is equal to C𝐴

A over B; A divided by B

𝐵

𝐴2

A squared; A to the second (power)𝐴3

A cubed; A to the third (power)

𝐴4

A to the fourth (power)𝐴𝑛

A to the n-th (power)

𝐴2 + 𝐵2 = 𝐶 2

A squared plus B squared equals C squared; the Pythagorean Theorem

𝐴−1

A to the negative one (power); A to the minus one (power); A inverse

𝐴−2

A to the negative two (power); A to the minus two (power)𝐴−3

A to the negative three (power); A to the minus three (power)

𝐴−𝑛

A to the negative n (power); A to the minus n (power)

𝐴1/2

A to the one-half (power)

𝐴2/3

A to the two-thirds (power)

𝐴1/5

A to the one-fifth (power)

𝐴1/𝑛

A to the one over n (power)2√𝐴

The square root of A3√𝐴The cubed root of A

4

√𝐴The 4th root of A𝑛√𝐴The nth root of A

√𝐴2The square root of A squared(√𝐴)

2The square of the square root of A

√𝑎 2 + 𝑏2

The square root of the quantity a squared plus b squared

𝐴+𝐵

A plus B, all divided by D; the sum of A and B divided by D

𝐷𝐴+(𝐵×𝐶)
𝐷A×(B+C)
𝐷A plus the product of B and C, all divided by D
A times the sum of B and C, all divided by D
Plus or minus±−𝑏±√𝑏 2 −4𝑎𝑐
2𝑎Negative b plus or minus the square root of the difference of b squared minus four times
a times c, all divided by two times a; the Quadratic Formula𝐴≈𝐵

A is approximately equal to B; A is approximately B𝑐 ≈3.0×108 m/s

c is approximately three point zero times ten to the eighth meters per second𝐴>𝐵

A is greater than B

𝐴<𝐵A is less than B𝐴≥𝐵

A is greater than or equal to B𝐴≤𝐵

A is less than or equal to B𝐴≠𝐵

A is not equal to B

|𝐴|

The absolute value of A𝐷!

Factorial; the factorial of D()

Parentheses(Open parenthesis)

Close parenthesis[]

Brackets[Open bracket]

Close bracket{}Braces{Open brace}

Close brace3𝑓(𝑥)

f of x; a function of x𝑓′(𝑥)f prime of x; the derivative of f of x𝑓′′(𝑥)f double prime of x; the second derivative of f of x

lim

1𝑥→∞ 𝑥𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥∞∫0 𝑥 + 2 𝑑𝑦

The limit as x approaches infinity of one over x
The derivative of y with respect to x
The integral from zero to infinity of x plus 2 with respect to y𝜃

Theta

sin 𝜃

Sine thetacos 𝜃Cosine thetatan 𝜃

Tangent thetaOther Symbols:𝑣̅

V bar; Average velocity; Mean velocity

𝑣0V naught; V zero𝑣𝑖

V i; V sub i; V initial; Initial velocity

𝑣𝑓

V f; V sub f; V final; Final velocity

𝑣𝑖 2V i squared; V sub i squared; V initial squared; Initial velocity squared

𝐸𝑇E sub T; Total Energy*Asterisk─┄┉┉Solid line
Broken line; Dashed Line
Dotted line

Sources for more information
Lawrence Chang's book Handbook for Spoken Mathematics: Larry’s Speakeasy (1983)
Website of Project Math Access Handbook for Spoken Mathematics hosted by the Texas School for theBlind and Visually Impaired

http://www.tsbvi.edu/mathproject/appB-sec1,asp#main

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