The international standard that defines mathematical signs and symbols, ISO 31-11, was superseded in 2009 by ISO 80000-2. What are the main changes?
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asked Jan 31 '14 at 22:03
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3$\begingroup$ I didn't know there was such a thing! $\endgroup$ – abnry Jan 31 '14 at 22:19
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3$\begingroup$ @nayrb Yeah that's pretty convenient. Unfortunately the ISO 80000-2 is behind paywall, which is a very nice way to spread a standard... $\endgroup$ – Franck Dernoncourt Jan 31 '14 at 22:38
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2$\begingroup$ I won't pay 140 CHF to help decide when to write $\phi$ and when $\varphi$. And I'll keep writing $\pi$ in italics anyway cause I don't know how to avoid it $\endgroup$ – Hagen von Eitzen Jan 31 '14 at 22:40
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$\begingroup$ I can't imagine why the very idea puts my back up. Yet, it does. Perhaps it's just too 1984-ish. $\endgroup$ – Jonathan Y. Jan 31 '14 at 22:57
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2$\begingroup$ Personally I looked for international standards for math notation when I moved from France to the US. As some notations changed, e.g. an open interval is commonly written ]a, b[ in France vs. (a, b) in the US, I started getting interested in standard notations for at least the most common concepts. $\endgroup$ – Franck Dernoncourt Jan 31 '14 at 23:03
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So I've got the document (160 USD for 40 pages!). Here is what it says in page iv:
The first edition cancels and replaces ISO 31-11:1992, which has been technically revised. The major technical changes from the previous standard are the following:
- Four clauses have been added, i.e. "Standard number sets and intervals", "Elementary geometry", "Combinatorics" and "Transforms".
Interestingly, it goes on saying that the standard's title "Quantities and units — Part 2: Mathematical signs and symbols to be used in the natural sciences and technology" should be renamed into "Quantities and units — Part 2: Mathematics".
Given the amount of copyright notices and other efforts to keep the standard from being diffused, I hope I don't get sued for quoting one sentence...
answered Mar 9 '14 at 3:31
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3$\begingroup$ What a complete waste of money, Frank! $\endgroup$ – Pedro Tamaroff♦ May 31 '14 at 21:12
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7$\begingroup$ I am upvoting this just because you paid that much money for the document. $\endgroup$ – naslundx May 31 '14 at 21:21
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8$\begingroup$ Thanks, I just need to find a way to turn upvotes into USD and my investment will finally pay back :-) $\endgroup$ – Franck Dernoncourt Jun 1 '14 at 0:58
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$\begingroup$ I don't understand how something can become standard if it's hoarded at such an exorbitant price. $\endgroup$ – gen-ℤ ready to perish Apr 8 '19 at 6:40
