keyboard symbols

[Albert Cahalan]

On 10/9/07, Mitch Bradley <wmb at laptop.org> wrote:
> Bert Freudenberg wrote:
> > On Oct 9, 2007, at 8:15 , Albert Cahalan wrote:

> >> I notice that some keyboards lack the multiplication
> >> and division symbols. Providing them for all kids
> >> would be good, even if they need to move elsewhere.
> >
> > Why those? They are not used universally.
>
> And even in places where they are used, like the US, they fall into
> disuse when you get to algebra.  The multiplication symbol is too much
> like the variable x, and the division symbol is replaced by
> numerator-over-denominator notation.

1. The target audience is mostly below algebra.
2. The cross product is used in college.

> >  At least German kids are
> > taught to use "·" (centered dot) for multiplication and ":" (colon)
> > for division. And for real math formulae you don't need those either.

Well, you have the colon, and I did suggest the centered dot.

I forgot the infinity symbol.

In case anybody wonders, the list comes from the symbols
that tend to show up in character set standards. I picked
though many of those while making a font.

infinity symbol
multiplication symbol
division symbol
bullet
star
heart
smiley
skull-and-crossbones
musical flat
musical natural
musical sharp
copyright symbol
registered trademark symbol
trademark symbol
check mark
dagger
double dagger
not equals symbol
degree symbol
pi
alpha
phi
omega
therefore symbol
center dot (math)
set union symbol
set intersection symbol
plus or minus symbol
power of 2
spade
clubs
diamond