name of the symbol Ø? (1 Viewer)

jathu123 · Jan 26, 2016

When referring to angles (eg. cosØ) what's the name of this symbol Ø? I searched up in the internet and some say its phi (golden ratio), slashed zero, diameter, but not sure which is the actual correct name when referring to angles. Also, out of curiosity, does it have any meaning other than to represent an angle?

InteGrand · Jan 26, 2016

jathu123 said:
When referring to angles (eg. cosØ) what's the name of this symbol Ø? I searched up in the internet and some say its phi (golden ratio), slashed zero, diameter, but not sure which is the actual correct name when referring to angles. Also, out of curiosity, does it have any meaning other than to represent an angle?

$\noindent The angle one ($\phi$) is the Greek letter phi (this symbol is distinct from $\varnothing$). If $\phi$ is drawn a bit differently, it can refer to the empty set symbol (this symbol is the one you typed and is not the Greek letter phi): $\varnothing$. This comes from the Scandinavian letter with a similar symbol:$

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ø .

$\noindent You can find other uses for that symbol here, including names for them in its various uses:$

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ø_(disambiguation) .

$\noindent In the world of mathematics, $\varnothing$ normally refers to the empty set, so I'd just call it the empty set symbol if referring to it as a symbol.$

jathu123 · Jan 26, 2016

ah, I see, thanks man!

Squar3root · Jan 26, 2016

In engineering it means diameter

Flop21 · Jan 26, 2016

Don't you usually use the theta symbol when referring to angles?

Drongoski · Jan 26, 2016

Flop21 said:
Don't you usually use the theta symbol when referring to angles?

Yes but what happens when you need to label another 2 angles, say?

InteGrand · Jan 26, 2016

Flop21 said:
Don't you usually use the theta symbol when referring to angles?

$\noindent The symbol $\phi$ (which can also be written as $\varphi$ (some Greek letter symbols have two versions)) is often used to represent a phase angle in a sinusoid. Here, $\theta$ is typically not used even though the $\theta$ symbol itself isn't used much for sinusoids (as $\omega t$ is used instead, where $t$ is time and $\omega$ is the \textit{angular frequency} of the wave). I suppose $\phi$ is used because it makes the `f' sound present in `phase' angle. Another example of phi being used when an `f' sound is present is to represent magnetic \textsl{flux} in physics (here, the capital Phi $\Phi$ is typically used).$

Silly Sausage · Jan 26, 2016

In university it gets confusing on how symbols there are and even worse some of them are used repeatedly within the same context. It's not that bad printed but on paper and writing mistaking $\rho$ with p can lead to serious consequences.

Flop21 · Jan 27, 2016

Interesting thanks all.

name of the symbol Ø? (1 Viewer)

jathu123

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InteGrand

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jathu123

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Squar3root

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Flop21

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InteGrand

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