| Interesting Math History |
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Where did the ÷ sign come from ? |
Answer : |
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The sign ÷ is called Obelus. The fraction 2/3 means two divided by 3, and ÷ looks like a fraction.
It is an Anglo-American symbol for division is of 17th century origin, and it has been used a long to indicate subtraction
on the continent of Europe. Like most elementary combinations of lines and points, the symbol is old.
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In Zurich in 1659 the Anglo-American symbol obelus first used in the Teutsche Algebra by Johann Heinrich Rahn. Then the symbol
was made known by Dr. John Pell in his book. Today the obelus symbol is used occasionally.
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