Overview
EN ISO 80000-2:2019 (Corrected version 2021-11) - Part 2 of the ISO 80000 series - defines standard quantities and units for mathematics, specifying recommended mathematical symbols, their meanings, verbal equivalents and typical applications. Published by ISO in collaboration with CEN, this edition replaces earlier versions (supersedes EN ISO 80000-2:2013) and is intended principally for the natural sciences and technology, but also for any field that relies on clear mathematical notation.
Key topics
The standard organizes mathematical notation into focused tables and clauses. Major technical topics include:
- Variables, functions and operators - typographic conventions (italic vs upright for variables, constants and named functions), function argument notation and spacing rules.
- Mathematical logic and sets - notation for logical operators, set symbols and common set constructions.
- Number sets and intervals - standard symbols for ℕ, ℤ, ℝ, intervals and related usage.
- Elementary geometry, operations and combinatorics - symbols for geometric constructs, operators and combinatorial notation.
- Functions, exponentials, logs, circular and hyperbolic functions - standard function names and examples.
- Complex numbers, matrices, coordinate systems, vectors and tensors - consistent symbols and remarks for multi‑dimensional objects.
- Transforms and special functions - notation for common transforms and special mathematical functions.
- Typography and layout rules such as spacing around binary operators, rules for splitting equations across lines, and use of parentheses to avoid ambiguity.
- Tables (1–16) that list symbols, expressions, meanings and non‑normative examples for quick reference.
Practical applications
EN ISO 80000-2 provides a uniform foundation for:
- Technical documentation and standards - ensuring consistent mathematical notation in engineering standards, test reports and regulatory documents.
- Scientific publishing and education - common rules for typesetting equations and symbols in journals, textbooks and course materials.
- Software and data exchange - clear symbol semantics for mathematical libraries, scientific computing, and interoperability between systems.
- Quality management and international collaboration - reducing ambiguity when teams across countries or disciplines share models, formulas and specifications.
Typical users: engineers, scientists, technical authors, editors, standards writers, educators and software developers dealing with mathematical content.
Related standards
- ISO 80000-1 - Quantities and units - Part 1: General (normative reference for typography and general rules).
- Other parts of the ISO 80000 series cover physical quantities, units and domain‑specific notation.
By adopting EN ISO 80000-2:2019, organizations and authors improve clarity, reduce ambiguity and support consistent, internationally accepted mathematical notation across technical and scientific communication.
