The Mathematical Symbol "Greater-Than or Equivalent To (≳)"
The ≳ Symbol in Mathematics: Greater-Than or Equivalent To
The ≳ symbol, while not as widespread as some other mathematical notations, holds a significant role in specific contexts. It represents a relation where one entity is either greater than another or equivalent in a particular sense.
Usage
The ≳ sign is applied in situations where there's a need to convey that an entity, while not strictly greater than another, exhibits a behavior or property that makes it "essentially equivalent" or "on par" with the other. This nuanced relationship is crucial in advanced mathematical topics where strict inequalities may not capture the essence of a relation.
Examples
- Example 1: Asymptotic Behavior:
Consider two functions \( f(x) \) and \( g(x) \). If as \( x \) approaches infinity, the ratio \( f(x) / g(x) \) approaches 1, then \( f \) is said to be asymptotically equivalent to \( g \), and it can be denoted as \( f(x) ≳ g(x) \). - Example 2: Equivalence in Complexity:
In computational theory, two algorithms might have a performance or complexity that's essentially equivalent for large inputs, even if one technically outperforms the other. This "big picture" relation could be represented with ≳.
In summary, the ≳ symbol provides a nuanced way to represent relations that are more intricate than simple inequalities. Its presence underscores the richness of mathematical language and the need for various notations to capture the breadth of mathematical relationships.

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Codes for the ≳ Symbol
The Symbol | ≳ | |
Alt Code | Alt 8819 | |
HTML Code | ≳ | |
HTML Entity | ≳ | |
CSS Code | \2273 | |
Hex Code | ≳ | |
Unicode | U+2273 |
How To Insert the ≳ Symbol
(Method 1) Copy and paste the symbol.
The easiest way to get the ≳ symbol is to copy and paste it into your document.Bear in mind that this is a UTF-8 encoded character. It must be encoded as UTF-8 at all stages (copying, replacing, editing, pasting), otherwise it will render as random characters or the dreaded �.
(Method 2) Use the "Alt Code."
If you have a keyboard with a numeric pad, you can use this method. Simply hold down the Alt key and type 8819. When you lift the Alt key, the symbol appears. ("Num Lock" must be on.)(Method 3) Use the HTML Decimal Code (for webpages).
HTML Text | Output |
---|---|
<b>My symbol: ≳</b> | My symbol: ≳ |
(Method 4) Use the HTML Entity Code (for webpages).
HTML Text | Output |
---|---|
<b>My symbol: ≳</b> | My symbol: ≳ |
(Method 5) Use the CSS Code (for webpages).
CSS and HTML Text | Output |
---|---|
<style> span:after { content: "\2273";} </style> <span>My symbol:</span> | My symbol: ≳ |
(Method 6) Use the HTML Hex Code (for webpages and HTML canvas).
HTML Text | Output |
---|---|
<b>My symbol: ≳</b> | My symbol: ≳ |
JavaScript Text |
---|
const x = "0x"+"E9" ctx.fillText(String.fromCodePoint(x), 5, 5); |
Output |
≳ |
(Method 7) Use the Unicode (for various, e.g. Microsoft Office, JavaScript, Perl).
The Unicode for ≳ is U+2273. The important part is the hexadecimal number after the U+, which is used in various formats. For example, in Microsoft Office applications (e.g. Word, PowerPoint), do the following:Type | Output |
---|---|
2273 [Hold down Alt] [Press x] | ≳ (The 2273 turns into ≳. Note that you can omit any leading zeros.) |
JavaScript Text | Output |
---|---|
let str = "\u2273" document.write("My symbol: " + str) | My symbol: ≳ |