notation
A system of signs and marks that people agree to use to write numbers, music, or other special information.
A set of written symbols and rules used to represent numbers, musical sounds, operations, or other information in a clear and standard way.
A short written mark or comment that you add to something written or drawn to give more information.
A small written note, mark, or comment added to a piece of text, a diagram, or a record, especially for explanation or reference.
- Base: notation
- Plural: notation, notations
chemical notation
1symbols for elements and compounds
The letters and symbols that chemists use to show elements, compounds, and chemical reactions.
- Students must learn basic chemical notation, such as H₂O for water.
- The chart shows the chemical notation for each element in the periodic table.
- Chemical notation allows chemists around the world to understand each other.
mathematical notation
1system of symbols for mathematics
The special symbols and writing style that show numbers, shapes, and operations in math.
- The professor spent the first lecture explaining the mathematical notation used in the book.
- Clear mathematical notation makes complex ideas easier to understand.
- Students often struggle more with the mathematical notation than with the concepts themselves.
musical notation
1system of symbols for music
The system of lines, dots, and other marks that shows how music should be played or sung.
- She is learning to read musical notation so she can play classical pieces.
- Traditional musical notation does not always show the exact style of jazz performance.
- The course begins with the basics of musical notation and rhythm.
scientific notation
1compact way to write big numbers
A short way to write very big or very small numbers using powers of ten, like 3.2 × 10^6.
- In physics we usually write distances in scientific notation.
- The teacher asked the students to convert each number into scientific notation.
- Scientific notation helps avoid long strings of zeros in calculations.
set notation
1symbols for mathematical sets
The special symbols that show groups of things in math, like { } for a set.
- The chapter introduces basic set notation such as union and intersection symbols.
- Many students find set notation confusing at first.
- Using set notation, we can describe the solution to the equation more clearly.
standard notation
1usual way to write numbers
The normal way to write a number, without using scientific notation or other special forms.
- Write each answer in standard notation, not in scientific notation.
- The worksheet asks students to change the numbers from standard notation to scientific notation.
- In everyday life we usually use standard notation for phone numbers and prices.