Operating Systems, Applications & Web

Plus minus sign – shortcut combination on keyboard & more

The plus-minus sign, which you may also know as the minus-plus sign, is a mathematical sign that, as the name suggests, is composed of a plus and a minus sign. Typographically, there are different ways of writing the plus-minus sign, depending on the font. In the common spelling, a minus sign is placed directly below a plus sign (±) in the same font. The minus-plus sign (∓) is written the other way around, i.e. the minus sign is placed directly above the plus sign. But what is the function of the plus-minus sign and what does it express?

Plus-minus sign shortcuts at a glance

Microsoft Windows Alt key, followed by the digits 0177
Plus-minus sign on Mac OS followed by + +
Linux Compose key, followed by + and –

The mathematical meaning of the plus-minus sign

In general, the plus-minus sign in math tells you that a term can be both positive and negative. For example, if you put the plus-minus sign in front of a number, it means that the number following it is either in the positive, or in the negative range. Tolerance ranges are often indicated with this sign. You probably know tolerance ranges from everyday language.

We often say, for example, that a thing is 1 meter, plusminus 3 centimeters long. What we mean by this is that the length has a certain tolerance range and can be up to 3 centimeters longer or shorter. The plus-minus sign is used in exactly the same way in mathematics, although the sign also fulfills a number of other functions there, for example when summarizing formulas. The plus-minus sign can also be used to specify a range of numbers. If you place the plus-minus sign alone in front of a number, e.g. ±5, a number range from -5 to +5 is indicated. The sign is also frequently used in chemistry and physics. By the way, the plus minus sign is placed correctly if you always place it directly in front of the tolerance range in a mathematical term. Example: 20.00 ±0.02 cm

Plus-minus sign keyboard shortcut in computer systems

Whether you’re using Mac, Linux, or Microsoft Windows, the plus-minus sign is also quite easy to insert on all computer operating systems. Even though there is usually no specific plus-minus sign on keyboards, you can still insert the special character using the plus-minus sign alt code. Under Microsoft Windows, you write the “±” plus-minus sign with the keyboard by holding down the Alt key and then typing the digits 0177 on the number pad. It is important to hold down the Alt key and then release it, because only then will the plus-minus sign be inserted in the document.

On all Apple computers, on the other hand, which use the Mac OS operating system, the minus plus sign is inserted by holding down the “⌥” dial key and then pressing the 2 “+” plus signs. Again, you have to release the selection key afterwards.

On all Linux systems you have to hold down the Compose key and then type in a plus and a minus sign. By means of the various plus-minus character key combinations, the special character can be inserted in all documents on the computer. The Compose key is usually the right Windows key on the keyboard. However, it can also be changed via the keyboard settings.

You can also insert the plus-minus sign in Word using the symbol table. You can open the symbol table in the menu of Word, under Insert, Symbol and Other Symbols. The plus-minus sign can be inserted in Excel in exactly the same way.

Simon Lüthje

I am co-founder of this blog and am very interested in everything that has to do with technology, but I also like to play games. I was born in Hamburg, but now I live in Bad Segeberg.

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The plus-minus sign, which you may also know as the minus-plus sign, is a mathematical sign that, as the name suggests, is composed of a plus and a minus sign. Typographically, there are different ways of writing the plus-minus sign, depending on the font. In the common spelling, a minus sign is placed directly below … (Weiterlesen...)

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