The Mathematical Symbol "Division Sign (÷)"

Understanding the "Division Sign" Symbol (÷): A Basic Arithmetic Operation

In the realm of arithmetic, a few operations stand out as foundational. Among addition, subtraction, and multiplication, there's the division operation, represented by the ÷ symbol. This article explores the significance and applications of this ubiquitous mathematical symbol.

Decoding the ÷ Symbol

The ÷ symbol signifies the arithmetic operation of division. It's used to indicate that one number is to be divided by another. This operation describes the process of splitting a quantity into equal parts or finding out how many times one number is contained within another.

Example 1:

If we wish to divide 20 by 4, the expression is represented as:

20 ÷ 4 = 5

Example 2:

When dividing 15 by 3, the equation would look like:

15 ÷ 3 = 5

The ÷ symbol is prevalent not just in advanced mathematical studies but also in elementary arithmetic, where the basics of division are taught. It's one of the primary operations everyone learns in their early academic years, making it fundamental in various calculations, from simple everyday math to complex equations in higher studies.

In summary, while the concept of division might seem simple, it's an essential operation with vast applications, and the ÷ symbol serves as its universally recognized representation.

Mathematical symbol 'Division Sign'

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Codes for the ÷ Symbol

The Symbol÷
Alt CodeAlt 247
HTML Code÷
HTML Entity÷
CSS Code\00F7
Hex Code÷
UnicodeU+00F7

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 247. When you lift the Alt key, the symbol appears. ("Num Lock" must be on.)

(Method 3) Use the HTML Decimal Code (for webpages).

HTML TextOutput
<b>My symbol: &#247;</b>My symbol: ÷

(Method 4) Use the HTML Entity Code (for webpages).

HTML TextOutput
<b>My symbol: &divide;</b>My symbol: ÷

(Method 5) Use the CSS Code (for webpages).

CSS and HTML TextOutput
<style>
span:after {
content: "\00F7";}
</style>
<span>My symbol:</span> 		My symbol: ÷

(Method 6) Use the HTML Hex Code (for webpages and HTML canvas).

HTML TextOutput
<b>My symbol: &#x00F7;</b>My symbol: ÷
On the assumption that you already have your canvas and the context set up, use the Hex code in the format 0x00F7 to place the ÷ symbol on your canvas. For example:
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+00F7. 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:
TypeOutput
00F7
[Hold down Alt]
[Press x]		÷
(The 00F7 turns into ÷. Note that you can omit any leading zeros.)
In JavaScript, the syntax is \uXXXX. So, our example would be \u00F7. (Note that the format is 4 hexadecimal characters.)
JavaScript TextOutput
let str = "\u00F7"
document.write("My symbol: " + str)		My symbol: ÷