Modern Arabic mathematical notation

The designation modern Arabic mathematical notation is used for a mathematical notation based on the Arabic script that is widely used in the Arab world, especially at pre-university levels of education. Its form is mostly derived from Western notation, but has some notable features that set it apart from its Western counterpart. The most remarkable of those features is the fact that it is written from right to left following the normal direction of the Arabic script. Other differences include the replacement of the Latin alphabet letters for symbols with Arabic letters and the use of Arabic names for functions and relations.

Some features of Arabic mathematical notation

• The most remarkable of those features is the fact that it is written from right to left following the normal direction of the Arabic script. Other differences include the replacement of the Latin alphabet letters for symbols with Arabic letters and the use of Arabic names for functions and relations.

• The notation exhibits one of the very few remaining vestiges of non-dotted Arabic scripts, as dots over and under letters (I'jam) are usually omitted.

• Letter cursivity (connectedness) of Arabic is also taken advantage of, in a few cases, to define variables using more than one letter. The most widespread example of this kind of usage is the canonical symbol for the radius of a circle نق (Arabic pronunciation: [nɑq]), which is written using the two letters nūn and qāf. When variable names are juxtaposed (as when expressing multiplication) they are written non-cursively.

Arabic mathematical notation in different regions

The notation differs slightly from region to another. In university-level education most regions use the Western notation. The notation mainly differs in numeral system used, and in mathematical symbol used

Numeral systems used in Arabic mathematical notation

There are three numeral systems used in right to left mathematical notation.

• "Western Arabic numerals" (sometimes called European) are used in western Arabic regions (e.g. Morocco)
• "Eastern Arabic numerals" are used in middle and eastern Arabic regions (e.g. Egypt and Syria)
• "Eastern Arabic-Indic numerals" are used in Persian and Urdu speaking regions (e.g. Iran, Pakistan, India)

Arabic symbols and mirrored Latin symbols

• Sometimes, The symbols used in Arabic mathematical notation differs according to the region

e.g.

• Sometimes, mirrored Latin symbols are used in Arabic mathematical notation (especially in western Arabic regions)

e.g.

Examples of Arabic mathematical notation

Mathematical letters

Latin	Arabic
a
b
c
d
x
y
z

• Usage of Latin x in maths is derived from the first letter of the Arabic word شيء [ʃajʔ(un)] meaning thing. (X was used in old Spanish for the sound /ʃ/).

Mathematical constants and units

Description	Latin	Arabic	Notes
Euler's number	e
imaginary unit	i
pi	π		also π in some regions
radius	r
kilogram	kg		In some regions alternative symbols like or are used‎
gram	g
meter	m
centimeter	cm
millimeter	mm
kilometer	km		also in some regions
second	s
minute	min		also in some regions
hour	h
kilometer per hour	km/h
degree Celsius	°C		also
degree Fahrenheit	°F
millimeters of mercury	mmHg
Ångström	Å

Sets and number systems

Description	Latin	Arabic
Natural numbers	$\mathbb{N}$
Integers	$\mathbb{Z}$
Rational numbers	$\mathbb{Q}$
Real numbers	$\mathbb{R}$
Imaginary numbers	$\mathbb{I}$
Complex numbers	$\mathbb{C}$
Empty set	$\varnothing$	$\varnothing$
Is an element of	$\in$	$\ni$
Subset	$\subset$	$\supset$
Superset	$\supset$	$\subset$
Universal set	$\mathbf{S}$

Arithmetic and algebra

Description	Latin	Arabic	Notes
Decimal Point	$\mathbf{.}$	$\mathbf{,}$	a Decimal comma is used
Comma	$\mathbf{,}$	،	، is used instead of , in Latin notation
Percent	%
Permille	‰
Is proportional to	$\propto$
n th root	$^n\sqrt{\,\,\,}$
Logarithm	log
Logarithm to base b	log b
Natural logarithm	ln
Summation	$\sum$		also in some regions
Product	$\prod$		also $\prod$ in some regions
factorial	n!		also in some regions
permutations	$^n\mathbf{P}_r$		also is used in some regions as $\mathbf{P}(n,r)$
Combinations	$^n\mathbf{C}_k$		also is used in some regions as $\mathbf{C}(n,k)$ and as the binomial coefficient $n \choose k$

Trigonometric and hyperbolic functions

Trigonometric functions

Latin	Arabic	Notes
sin		also is used in some regions (e.g. : Syria)
cos		also is used in some regions (e.g. : Syria)
tan		also is used in some regions (e.g. : Syria)
cot		also is used in some regions (e.g. : Syria)
sec
csc

Hyperbolic functions

The letter is added to the end of trigonometric functions to express hyperbolic functions (the same way h is used in Latin notation).

Inverse trigonometric functions

The notation sin ^{− 1} is the one used in Arabic notation for the inverse functions like:

Inverse hyperbolic functions

Calculus

Description	Latin	Arabic	Notes
Limit	lim		also is used in some regions (e.g. Iran)
function	$\mathbf{f}(x)$
derivatives	$\mathbf{f'}(x), \dfrac{dy}{dx} , \dfrac{d^2y}{dx^2} , \dfrac{\partial {y}}{\partial{x}}$
Integrals	$\int{} , \iint{} ,\iiint{}, \oint{}$

Complex analysis

Latin	Arabic
$z = x + iy = r(\cos{\varphi}+i \sin{\varphi})= r e^{i\varphi} = r\angle{\varphi}$

See also

• Mathematical notation

External links

• Multilingual mathematical e-document processing
• Arabic mathematical notation - W3C Interest Group Note.