Numbers and elementary functions




Numerical quantities, even those denoted by letters, are usually printed in roman (upright) type, though sometimes in italic. Symbols for elementary functions (circular trigonometric, hyperbolic, logarithmic etc.), changes in a quantity like Δ in Δy or operators like d in dx, are also recommended to be printed in roman type.

Examples:

  • Real numbers, such as 1 or √2,
  • e, the base of natural logarithms,
  • i, the imaginary unit,
  • π for the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288...
  • δx, Δy, dz, representing differences (finite or otherwise) in the quantities x, y and z
  • sin α, sinh γ, log x

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