Strange History of Mathematical Symbols
Mathematics is full of mystery—not just in its theories but in its symbols too. We use +, =, and x every day without questioning where they came from. But their origins are surprisingly strange, filled with forgotten geniuses, accidental inventions, and even a bit of confusion. Let’s uncover the hidden stories behind the math symbols we take for granted. 1. The Plus (+) and Minus (−) Signs Were Invented by Merchants, Not Mathematicians Imagine doing math without + and −. Before the 15th century, people actually wrote out equations in words! Instead of writing "8 + 5," they’d say "8 and 5 more." So, where did "+" and "−" come from? Not from mathematicians, but from German merchants in the late 1400s! In 1489, a German mathematician named Johannes Widmann published a book on trade and accounting. Instead of writing "profit" and "loss," he used "+" for extra stock and "−" for missing stock. The symbols spread ...
