Compare the possible meanings
| Notation | Typical meaning | How to identify it |
|---|---|---|
|x| | Absolute value or magnitude | The bars enclose one expression |
a | b | Divisibility | A relation between integers |
P(A | B) | Conditional probability | Inside probability notation |
{x | x > 0} | Such that | Inside set-builder notation |
det |A| | Determinant in some texts | Applied to a matrix |
Examples
- |−3|=3 because absolute value is distance from zero.
- 3|12 means 3 divides 12.
- P(A|B) reads probability of A given B.
How to decide
Read the complete expression, identify the mathematical subject, and check whether the bars enclose an object or separate two statements.
How to verify the interpretation
Replace the bar with the proposed meaning in words. If the sentence becomes grammatically and mathematically coherent, the interpretation is plausible.