List of problems in mathematical notation
From Learning
This page gives a list of problems in mathematical notation. The list focuses on problems with the symbolism of mathematics rather than other communication problems/conventions (such as using "if" to mean "iff" in definitions, not introducing variables, etc.).
Name | Description | How to avoid |
---|---|---|
Overloading/abuse of notation | This happens when the same symbol is used for different purposes. For instance, parentheses are used to group expressions, for writing tuples, for function calls, in superscripts or subscripts with various meanings (![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Type error | ||
Failure of Leibniz law, "same object denotes different things" | in probability, where ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
"different objects denoted by the same thing" | see e.g. here, where ![]() | |
Omission of index | Writing things like ![]() ![]() | |
Ambiguous order of operations | e.g. ![]() | |
Undefined operations | e.g. I often see in mathematical logic things like ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
strange reorderings based on context | e.g. https://machinelearning.subwiki.org/wiki/User:IssaRice/Minus_notation_in_game_theory |