But "=" is used for equality and not assignment in the Pascal family, Ada, Eiffel, APL, and other languages.Ī few languages, such as BASIC and PL/I, have used the equals sign to mean both assignment and equality, distinguished by context. As well as Fortran, "=" is used for assignment in such languages as C, Perl, Python, awk, and their descendants. The equals sign was reserved for this usage.īoth usages have remained common in different programming languages into the early 21st century. ALGOL included a relational operator that tested for equality, allowing constructions like if x = 2 with essentially the same meaning of "=" as the conditional usage in mathematics. For example, the assignment X = X + 2 increases the value of X by 2.Ī rival programming-language usage was pioneered by the original version of ALGOL, which was designed in 1958 and implemented in 1960. This somewhat resembles the use of "=" in a mathematical definition, but with different semantics: the expression following "=" is evaluated first and may refer to a previous value of X. In Fortran, "=" serves as an assignment operator: X = 2 sets the value of X to 2. The first important computer programming language to use the equals sign was the original version of Fortran, FORTRAN I, designed in 1954 and implemented in 1957. In mathematics, the equals sign can be used as a simple statement of fact in a specific case (x = 2), or to create definitions (let x = 2), conditional statements (if x = 2, then …), or to express a universal equivalence (x + 1) 2 = x 2 + 2x + 1. Usage in mathematics and computer programming The symbol || was used by some and æ (or œ), from the Latin word aequalis meaning equal, was widely used into the 1700s. … to avoid the tedious repetition of these words: "is equal to", I will set (as I do often in work use) a pair of parallels, or Gemowe lines, of one length (thus =), because no two things can be more equal.Īccording to Scotland's University of St Andrews History of Mathematics website: The symbol '=' was not immediately popular. … to auoide the tediouſe repetition of theſe woordes : is equalle to : I will ſette as I doe often in woorke vſe, a paire of paralleles, or Gemowe lines of one lengthe, thus: =, bicauſe noe. In his book Recorde explains his design of the "Gemowe lines" (meaning twin lines, from the Latin gemellus ): The original form of the symbol was much wider than the present form.
#Equal sign with slash how to#
For more information on how to type the multitude of "special" characters in a given situations, simply search the web for such terms as "Unicode Character Set", "HTML Character Entity", or the like - there's a wealth of resources freely available.The "=" symbol that is now universally accepted in mathematics for equality was first recorded by Welsh mathematician Robert Recorde in The Whetstone of Witte (1557).
To find the Not Equal To sign, simply type "not" or "equal" in the Search box, press enter, and the program will present all symbols of the selected font that have those terms in their description.
#Equal sign with slash full#
It's also worth noting that Microsoft Operating Systems include "Character Map" (shortcut to start the program is located in the Accessories/System Tools folder, under "Programs" or "All Programs" in the Start Menu) it typically includes the full Unicode character set available for any True Type Font installed on one's computer. There are other key combinations (mainly applicable to special situations involving different iterations of the Unicode character set), but the above suffice for the great majority of applications. If working on a Mac, "option', followed by + then = will produce the symbol. If working in Microsoft Word or similar documents (not Notepad), holding the keyboard's "Alt" key while typing 8800 will accomplish the same thing once the Alt key is released. Note that you may have to refresh the page after typing. Will result in the "Not Equal To sign on a standard web page (i.e., one not requiring javascript, cascading style sheets, and the like.
Removing the spaces between each character as displayed below: If it's desired to have the symbol display on a web page, typing the correct HTML character identity is fairly simple once one knows the proper one. This depends on where and how one wishes to have the symbol appear.