Academic Resource Center

Statistics and Probability Symbols

Updated on

*Note: though the symbols below are commonly used, representations may vary. Please consult your text or other class materials for guidance.

Description Symbol
Summation (this symbol is telling you to add) Ξ£ (β€œsigma,” capitalized)
Null hypothesis 𝐻0
Alternative hypothesis π»π‘Ž or 𝐻1
Significance Level 𝛼 (β€œalpha”)
Z critical value 𝑍𝛼 or 𝑍𝛼/2
T critical value 𝑑𝛼 or 𝑑𝛼/2
Chi-squared πœ’2
Coefficient of determination 𝑅2
Less than <
Less than or equal to ≀
Greater than >
Greater than or equal to β‰₯
Not equal to β‰ 
Approximately equals β‰ˆ
Predicted y value 𝑦̂ (β€œy-hat”)
Slope of a linear equation π‘š
y-intercept of a linear equation 𝑏
Slope of a prediction equation 𝛽1 (β€œbeta 1”)
y-intercept of a prediction equation 𝛽0 (β€œbeta 0”)
Quartile 1 Q1
Quartile 3 Q3
   Sample Statistic  Population  Parameter
Median 𝑀 or Med None
Size (the number of members in your sample or population) 𝑛 𝑁
Mean (AKA average) π‘₯Μ… (β€œx-bar”) πœ‡ (β€œmu”)
Standard deviation (SD or s.d.) 𝑠 𝜎 (β€œsigma”)
Proportion 𝑝̂ (β€œp-hat”) 𝑝
Correlation coefficient π‘Ÿ 𝜌 (β€œrho”)

Probability Symbols

Sample space 𝑆
Event 𝐸 (often written as 𝐹 as well)
Probability of event E 𝑃(𝐸)
Union βˆͺ
Intersection ∩
Empty Set βˆ…
Complement 𝐸′ or 𝐸𝐢
Conditional Probability 𝑃(𝐸|𝐹)(β€œProbability of event E given event F”)
Factorial !
Combination π‘›πΆπ‘Ÿ
Permutation π‘›π‘ƒπ‘Ÿ

Need More Help?

Click here to schedule a 1:1 with a tutor, coach, and or sign up for a workshop.  *If this link does not bring you directly to our platform, please use our direct link to "Academic Support" from any Brightspace course at the top of the navigation bar.   

Previous Article Standard Normal Distribution
Next Article Center, Shape and Spread
Have a suggestion or a request? Share it with us!