ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Letterlike Symbols

Letterlike symbols are just like letters, but they don't stand for any specific sound like "a" or "b" do. Instead, they are used to represent things like mathematical equations or scientific formulas.

Think of it this way - when you're doing a math problem, you might use the letter "x" to represent an unknown number. It's not really standing for the sound of "x" like in the word "box," but it's still a symbol you can use to represent something. Letterlike symbols work the same way - they're symbols you can use to represent things without having to use words.

Some examples of letterlike symbols are "∞" for infinity, "≈" for approximately equal to, and "∆" for change or difference. Just like letters, different letterlike symbols have different meanings and uses.