What does the ≈ symbol mean? The abbreviation ≈ means “approximately equal to,” or that two values are close in value, but not exactly equal. Sometimes called a double tilde, this mathematical symbol is represented as two parallel wavy lines.
When is it appropriate to use the ≈ symbol? For example, π is approximately 3.14 when rounded to two decimal places. The fraction 7/3 (2.333…), rounded to two decimal places, is also approximately 2.33.
The symbol for approximate equality is used when a calculation cannot produce an exact number. This can happen in several situations:
When performing a calculation using measurements. For instance, if you’re trying to determine the length of a football field by measuring its width and length, and then multiplying them together, your measurements may be inaccurate due to limitations of precision or scale. The result of the multiplication would thus be approximate.
When expressing the relationship between two variables. A graph, for instance, might show the relationship between two quantities over time, with one quantity being approximately proportional to another.
You should use the symbol for approximation when there’s an inherent error or variation in a given situation. That could be because the original numbers were measured instead of calculated, or simply because they can’t be expressed exactly. In other cases, such as the Fibonacci sequence, we use the symbol to denote a recurring pattern.
How the ≈ Symbol Differs From Other Symbols
How is the ≈ symbol different from the exact equality symbol (=)? It isn’t. While the ≈ symbol indicates that a value is close to another value, the = symbol means that the value is exactly equal to the other value. Likewise, the ≠ symbol means that the value is not equal. If you want to compare whether one value is greater than another, you’d use >; and vice versa for <.
There are also some symbols similar to the ≈ sign, which express that two things are related. For example, the ~ symbol (similar-to) means that two things have equal respective angles and sides in proportion. But unlike the ≈ symbol, ~ does not indicate numerical approximation. Similarly, the symbols ≃ (approximately equal to) and ≅ (congruent to) are used to denote relationships between shapes and figures.
How to Type the ≈ Symbol and the Written Abbreviation
If you’d like to type the ≈ symbol on your keyboard, you can do so by using the Windows ALT code. Press and hold down the Alt key, then type 247 on the numeric keypad. Alternatively, you can copy the symbol directly into your document.
Finally, it’s important to distinguish between the written abbreviation for “approximately” and the mathematical symbol. The correct abbreviation is “approx.”, which uses a period after the abbreviation. This is only accepted as an abbreviation for the word approximately, and it is distinct from the symbol itself.