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raum's avatar

Why don’t we use obelus?

The question about obscure knowledge got me wondering why we don’t use obelus.

+, plus (addition)
−, minus (subtraction)
÷, obelus (division)
×, times (multiplication)

1+1 = one plus one
2–2 = two minus two
3×3 = three times three
4÷4 = four divided by four

4÷4 =/= four obelus four

Or at least I’ve never heard anyone use it. Have you?

Further musings:
1+1 = one added to one
2–2 = two subtracted from two
3X3 = three multiplied by three
4÷4 = four divided by four

You’d think the language would be consistent across the operations.

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