What's the little number on the top of a number w/ unit?
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
I want to ask what is the little numbers on top/over any random number? For example, 75 in² and 125 ft3. What is it called and what does it mean is my question. I couldn't find anything online since I don't know what it is called.
phrase-requests mathematics
|
show 6 more comments
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
I want to ask what is the little numbers on top/over any random number? For example, 75 in² and 125 ft3. What is it called and what does it mean is my question. I couldn't find anything online since I don't know what it is called.
phrase-requests mathematics
12
Note that 'random number' has a special meaning in computing and mathematics. I would use 'arbitrary number' ;-)
– chasly from UK
Dec 8 at 20:32
5
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is about mathematics, not English.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Dec 8 at 20:35
1
I'd be with Janus, 100%, if it was clear what you meant. Are you asking about the mathematical value of that little number on the top, or the typographical description? Either way, this isn't about general English, so I'm back with Janus.
– Robbie Goodwin
Dec 8 at 20:38
5
I think exponent will help you more than superscript.
– Phil Sweet
Dec 8 at 21:38
4
"This tag is for questions about the usage and meaning of mathematical terminology and the names for mathematical entities in English." - Mathematics tag description.
– Phil Sweet
Dec 8 at 21:43
|
show 6 more comments
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
I want to ask what is the little numbers on top/over any random number? For example, 75 in² and 125 ft3. What is it called and what does it mean is my question. I couldn't find anything online since I don't know what it is called.
phrase-requests mathematics
I want to ask what is the little numbers on top/over any random number? For example, 75 in² and 125 ft3. What is it called and what does it mean is my question. I couldn't find anything online since I don't know what it is called.
phrase-requests mathematics
phrase-requests mathematics
edited Dec 9 at 16:57
zwol
2,50411424
2,50411424
asked Dec 8 at 19:47
Annie Chen
667
667
12
Note that 'random number' has a special meaning in computing and mathematics. I would use 'arbitrary number' ;-)
– chasly from UK
Dec 8 at 20:32
5
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is about mathematics, not English.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Dec 8 at 20:35
1
I'd be with Janus, 100%, if it was clear what you meant. Are you asking about the mathematical value of that little number on the top, or the typographical description? Either way, this isn't about general English, so I'm back with Janus.
– Robbie Goodwin
Dec 8 at 20:38
5
I think exponent will help you more than superscript.
– Phil Sweet
Dec 8 at 21:38
4
"This tag is for questions about the usage and meaning of mathematical terminology and the names for mathematical entities in English." - Mathematics tag description.
– Phil Sweet
Dec 8 at 21:43
|
show 6 more comments
12
Note that 'random number' has a special meaning in computing and mathematics. I would use 'arbitrary number' ;-)
– chasly from UK
Dec 8 at 20:32
5
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is about mathematics, not English.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Dec 8 at 20:35
1
I'd be with Janus, 100%, if it was clear what you meant. Are you asking about the mathematical value of that little number on the top, or the typographical description? Either way, this isn't about general English, so I'm back with Janus.
– Robbie Goodwin
Dec 8 at 20:38
5
I think exponent will help you more than superscript.
– Phil Sweet
Dec 8 at 21:38
4
"This tag is for questions about the usage and meaning of mathematical terminology and the names for mathematical entities in English." - Mathematics tag description.
– Phil Sweet
Dec 8 at 21:43
12
12
Note that 'random number' has a special meaning in computing and mathematics. I would use 'arbitrary number' ;-)
– chasly from UK
Dec 8 at 20:32
Note that 'random number' has a special meaning in computing and mathematics. I would use 'arbitrary number' ;-)
– chasly from UK
Dec 8 at 20:32
5
5
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is about mathematics, not English.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Dec 8 at 20:35
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is about mathematics, not English.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Dec 8 at 20:35
1
1
I'd be with Janus, 100%, if it was clear what you meant. Are you asking about the mathematical value of that little number on the top, or the typographical description? Either way, this isn't about general English, so I'm back with Janus.
– Robbie Goodwin
Dec 8 at 20:38
I'd be with Janus, 100%, if it was clear what you meant. Are you asking about the mathematical value of that little number on the top, or the typographical description? Either way, this isn't about general English, so I'm back with Janus.
– Robbie Goodwin
Dec 8 at 20:38
5
5
I think exponent will help you more than superscript.
– Phil Sweet
Dec 8 at 21:38
I think exponent will help you more than superscript.
– Phil Sweet
Dec 8 at 21:38
4
4
"This tag is for questions about the usage and meaning of mathematical terminology and the names for mathematical entities in English." - Mathematics tag description.
– Phil Sweet
Dec 8 at 21:43
"This tag is for questions about the usage and meaning of mathematical terminology and the names for mathematical entities in English." - Mathematics tag description.
– Phil Sweet
Dec 8 at 21:43
|
show 6 more comments
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
24
down vote
In terms of formatting, numbers and letters that appear in the top half of a line are in superscript. Similarly, numbers in the bottom half of a line would be called subscript. "Super" and "sub" describe their position over or under the main text.
In your examples, these superscript numbers stand for a mathematical exponent or power as applied to a unit of measurement. If I were reading it out loud, I might say "seventy-five inches squared," or (more clearly) "seventy-five square inches." It means that I am talking about a unit of distance extending in two dimensions. It's a measurement of surface area, just like houses can be measured in square feet (ft2) and land can be measured in square miles (mi2). The cubic version (in3) would refer to a measurement across three dimensions, or a measurement of volume.
Other measurements can also be squared or cubed, especially when doing calculations in STEM fields, but square inches/feet/miles are the most common examples of this in the US.
New contributor
10
This is a good point: superscript is a typographic term, whereas exponent and power describe the mathematical usage. It's anybody's guess which one OP had in mind.
– Mike Harris
Dec 8 at 21:52
9
Of course you could be really evil and mean "75 inches, see footnote two". Then it would be a superscript but not an exponent.
– Chris H
Dec 8 at 22:22
9
75 inches square is not the same as 75 square inches.
– Walter Mitty
Dec 9 at 1:55
I somehow missed your exponent answer. If you want, I'll just add my answer to the bottom of yours for a reference and delete my answer.
– Phil Sweet
Dec 9 at 2:21
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
The general term for a number (or other text) written like this is superscript.
The term in2 refers to square inches, which is the amount of area in a square with sides an inch in length.
Likewise, if it were in3, it would be referring to cubic inches, which is the amount of volume in a cube with side lengths of an inch.
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
Exponent
3.6 Derived Units— Derived units are formed by combining base units according to the algebraic relations linking
the corresponding quantities. Symbols for derived units are obtained by means of mathematical signs for
multiplication, division, and the use of exponents. For example, the SI unit for speed is the meter per second
(m/s or m·s–1 and that for density is kilogram per cubic meter kg/m3
or kg·m–3). Most derived units have only
their composite names, such as meter per second for speed or velocity. Others have special names, such as
newton (N), joule (J), watt (W), and pascal (Pa), given to SI units of force, energy, power, and pressure (or
stress), respectively.
SAE Technical Standards Board: Rules for SAE Use of SI (Metric) Units, Rev May 1999.
https://www.sae.org/standardsdev/tsb/tsb003.pdf
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
24
down vote
In terms of formatting, numbers and letters that appear in the top half of a line are in superscript. Similarly, numbers in the bottom half of a line would be called subscript. "Super" and "sub" describe their position over or under the main text.
In your examples, these superscript numbers stand for a mathematical exponent or power as applied to a unit of measurement. If I were reading it out loud, I might say "seventy-five inches squared," or (more clearly) "seventy-five square inches." It means that I am talking about a unit of distance extending in two dimensions. It's a measurement of surface area, just like houses can be measured in square feet (ft2) and land can be measured in square miles (mi2). The cubic version (in3) would refer to a measurement across three dimensions, or a measurement of volume.
Other measurements can also be squared or cubed, especially when doing calculations in STEM fields, but square inches/feet/miles are the most common examples of this in the US.
New contributor
10
This is a good point: superscript is a typographic term, whereas exponent and power describe the mathematical usage. It's anybody's guess which one OP had in mind.
– Mike Harris
Dec 8 at 21:52
9
Of course you could be really evil and mean "75 inches, see footnote two". Then it would be a superscript but not an exponent.
– Chris H
Dec 8 at 22:22
9
75 inches square is not the same as 75 square inches.
– Walter Mitty
Dec 9 at 1:55
I somehow missed your exponent answer. If you want, I'll just add my answer to the bottom of yours for a reference and delete my answer.
– Phil Sweet
Dec 9 at 2:21
add a comment |
up vote
24
down vote
In terms of formatting, numbers and letters that appear in the top half of a line are in superscript. Similarly, numbers in the bottom half of a line would be called subscript. "Super" and "sub" describe their position over or under the main text.
In your examples, these superscript numbers stand for a mathematical exponent or power as applied to a unit of measurement. If I were reading it out loud, I might say "seventy-five inches squared," or (more clearly) "seventy-five square inches." It means that I am talking about a unit of distance extending in two dimensions. It's a measurement of surface area, just like houses can be measured in square feet (ft2) and land can be measured in square miles (mi2). The cubic version (in3) would refer to a measurement across three dimensions, or a measurement of volume.
Other measurements can also be squared or cubed, especially when doing calculations in STEM fields, but square inches/feet/miles are the most common examples of this in the US.
New contributor
10
This is a good point: superscript is a typographic term, whereas exponent and power describe the mathematical usage. It's anybody's guess which one OP had in mind.
– Mike Harris
Dec 8 at 21:52
9
Of course you could be really evil and mean "75 inches, see footnote two". Then it would be a superscript but not an exponent.
– Chris H
Dec 8 at 22:22
9
75 inches square is not the same as 75 square inches.
– Walter Mitty
Dec 9 at 1:55
I somehow missed your exponent answer. If you want, I'll just add my answer to the bottom of yours for a reference and delete my answer.
– Phil Sweet
Dec 9 at 2:21
add a comment |
up vote
24
down vote
up vote
24
down vote
In terms of formatting, numbers and letters that appear in the top half of a line are in superscript. Similarly, numbers in the bottom half of a line would be called subscript. "Super" and "sub" describe their position over or under the main text.
In your examples, these superscript numbers stand for a mathematical exponent or power as applied to a unit of measurement. If I were reading it out loud, I might say "seventy-five inches squared," or (more clearly) "seventy-five square inches." It means that I am talking about a unit of distance extending in two dimensions. It's a measurement of surface area, just like houses can be measured in square feet (ft2) and land can be measured in square miles (mi2). The cubic version (in3) would refer to a measurement across three dimensions, or a measurement of volume.
Other measurements can also be squared or cubed, especially when doing calculations in STEM fields, but square inches/feet/miles are the most common examples of this in the US.
New contributor
In terms of formatting, numbers and letters that appear in the top half of a line are in superscript. Similarly, numbers in the bottom half of a line would be called subscript. "Super" and "sub" describe their position over or under the main text.
In your examples, these superscript numbers stand for a mathematical exponent or power as applied to a unit of measurement. If I were reading it out loud, I might say "seventy-five inches squared," or (more clearly) "seventy-five square inches." It means that I am talking about a unit of distance extending in two dimensions. It's a measurement of surface area, just like houses can be measured in square feet (ft2) and land can be measured in square miles (mi2). The cubic version (in3) would refer to a measurement across three dimensions, or a measurement of volume.
Other measurements can also be squared or cubed, especially when doing calculations in STEM fields, but square inches/feet/miles are the most common examples of this in the US.
New contributor
edited Dec 9 at 2:23
bof
220210
220210
New contributor
answered Dec 8 at 20:36
TaliesinMerlin
3865
3865
New contributor
New contributor
10
This is a good point: superscript is a typographic term, whereas exponent and power describe the mathematical usage. It's anybody's guess which one OP had in mind.
– Mike Harris
Dec 8 at 21:52
9
Of course you could be really evil and mean "75 inches, see footnote two". Then it would be a superscript but not an exponent.
– Chris H
Dec 8 at 22:22
9
75 inches square is not the same as 75 square inches.
– Walter Mitty
Dec 9 at 1:55
I somehow missed your exponent answer. If you want, I'll just add my answer to the bottom of yours for a reference and delete my answer.
– Phil Sweet
Dec 9 at 2:21
add a comment |
10
This is a good point: superscript is a typographic term, whereas exponent and power describe the mathematical usage. It's anybody's guess which one OP had in mind.
– Mike Harris
Dec 8 at 21:52
9
Of course you could be really evil and mean "75 inches, see footnote two". Then it would be a superscript but not an exponent.
– Chris H
Dec 8 at 22:22
9
75 inches square is not the same as 75 square inches.
– Walter Mitty
Dec 9 at 1:55
I somehow missed your exponent answer. If you want, I'll just add my answer to the bottom of yours for a reference and delete my answer.
– Phil Sweet
Dec 9 at 2:21
10
10
This is a good point: superscript is a typographic term, whereas exponent and power describe the mathematical usage. It's anybody's guess which one OP had in mind.
– Mike Harris
Dec 8 at 21:52
This is a good point: superscript is a typographic term, whereas exponent and power describe the mathematical usage. It's anybody's guess which one OP had in mind.
– Mike Harris
Dec 8 at 21:52
9
9
Of course you could be really evil and mean "75 inches, see footnote two". Then it would be a superscript but not an exponent.
– Chris H
Dec 8 at 22:22
Of course you could be really evil and mean "75 inches, see footnote two". Then it would be a superscript but not an exponent.
– Chris H
Dec 8 at 22:22
9
9
75 inches square is not the same as 75 square inches.
– Walter Mitty
Dec 9 at 1:55
75 inches square is not the same as 75 square inches.
– Walter Mitty
Dec 9 at 1:55
I somehow missed your exponent answer. If you want, I'll just add my answer to the bottom of yours for a reference and delete my answer.
– Phil Sweet
Dec 9 at 2:21
I somehow missed your exponent answer. If you want, I'll just add my answer to the bottom of yours for a reference and delete my answer.
– Phil Sweet
Dec 9 at 2:21
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
The general term for a number (or other text) written like this is superscript.
The term in2 refers to square inches, which is the amount of area in a square with sides an inch in length.
Likewise, if it were in3, it would be referring to cubic inches, which is the amount of volume in a cube with side lengths of an inch.
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
The general term for a number (or other text) written like this is superscript.
The term in2 refers to square inches, which is the amount of area in a square with sides an inch in length.
Likewise, if it were in3, it would be referring to cubic inches, which is the amount of volume in a cube with side lengths of an inch.
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
The general term for a number (or other text) written like this is superscript.
The term in2 refers to square inches, which is the amount of area in a square with sides an inch in length.
Likewise, if it were in3, it would be referring to cubic inches, which is the amount of volume in a cube with side lengths of an inch.
The general term for a number (or other text) written like this is superscript.
The term in2 refers to square inches, which is the amount of area in a square with sides an inch in length.
Likewise, if it were in3, it would be referring to cubic inches, which is the amount of volume in a cube with side lengths of an inch.
answered Dec 8 at 20:29
Laurel
29.5k655104
29.5k655104
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
Exponent
3.6 Derived Units— Derived units are formed by combining base units according to the algebraic relations linking
the corresponding quantities. Symbols for derived units are obtained by means of mathematical signs for
multiplication, division, and the use of exponents. For example, the SI unit for speed is the meter per second
(m/s or m·s–1 and that for density is kilogram per cubic meter kg/m3
or kg·m–3). Most derived units have only
their composite names, such as meter per second for speed or velocity. Others have special names, such as
newton (N), joule (J), watt (W), and pascal (Pa), given to SI units of force, energy, power, and pressure (or
stress), respectively.
SAE Technical Standards Board: Rules for SAE Use of SI (Metric) Units, Rev May 1999.
https://www.sae.org/standardsdev/tsb/tsb003.pdf
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
Exponent
3.6 Derived Units— Derived units are formed by combining base units according to the algebraic relations linking
the corresponding quantities. Symbols for derived units are obtained by means of mathematical signs for
multiplication, division, and the use of exponents. For example, the SI unit for speed is the meter per second
(m/s or m·s–1 and that for density is kilogram per cubic meter kg/m3
or kg·m–3). Most derived units have only
their composite names, such as meter per second for speed or velocity. Others have special names, such as
newton (N), joule (J), watt (W), and pascal (Pa), given to SI units of force, energy, power, and pressure (or
stress), respectively.
SAE Technical Standards Board: Rules for SAE Use of SI (Metric) Units, Rev May 1999.
https://www.sae.org/standardsdev/tsb/tsb003.pdf
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
Exponent
3.6 Derived Units— Derived units are formed by combining base units according to the algebraic relations linking
the corresponding quantities. Symbols for derived units are obtained by means of mathematical signs for
multiplication, division, and the use of exponents. For example, the SI unit for speed is the meter per second
(m/s or m·s–1 and that for density is kilogram per cubic meter kg/m3
or kg·m–3). Most derived units have only
their composite names, such as meter per second for speed or velocity. Others have special names, such as
newton (N), joule (J), watt (W), and pascal (Pa), given to SI units of force, energy, power, and pressure (or
stress), respectively.
SAE Technical Standards Board: Rules for SAE Use of SI (Metric) Units, Rev May 1999.
https://www.sae.org/standardsdev/tsb/tsb003.pdf
Exponent
3.6 Derived Units— Derived units are formed by combining base units according to the algebraic relations linking
the corresponding quantities. Symbols for derived units are obtained by means of mathematical signs for
multiplication, division, and the use of exponents. For example, the SI unit for speed is the meter per second
(m/s or m·s–1 and that for density is kilogram per cubic meter kg/m3
or kg·m–3). Most derived units have only
their composite names, such as meter per second for speed or velocity. Others have special names, such as
newton (N), joule (J), watt (W), and pascal (Pa), given to SI units of force, energy, power, and pressure (or
stress), respectively.
SAE Technical Standards Board: Rules for SAE Use of SI (Metric) Units, Rev May 1999.
https://www.sae.org/standardsdev/tsb/tsb003.pdf
answered Dec 8 at 22:23
Phil Sweet
10.1k22146
10.1k22146
add a comment |
add a comment |
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12
Note that 'random number' has a special meaning in computing and mathematics. I would use 'arbitrary number' ;-)
– chasly from UK
Dec 8 at 20:32
5
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is about mathematics, not English.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
Dec 8 at 20:35
1
I'd be with Janus, 100%, if it was clear what you meant. Are you asking about the mathematical value of that little number on the top, or the typographical description? Either way, this isn't about general English, so I'm back with Janus.
– Robbie Goodwin
Dec 8 at 20:38
5
I think exponent will help you more than superscript.
– Phil Sweet
Dec 8 at 21:38
4
"This tag is for questions about the usage and meaning of mathematical terminology and the names for mathematical entities in English." - Mathematics tag description.
– Phil Sweet
Dec 8 at 21:43