this post was submitted on 05 Feb 2026
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Science Memes

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[–] OhNoMoreLemmy@lemmy.ml 34 points 6 days ago (9 children)

I'm not being funny but it can be both. 

Square root is an operator that maps a number to the positive number that when squared returns the original number, but there is also a square root symbol. 

Similarly, % can be an operator that maps a number x to x/100, but there's also a percent symbol.

It just depends if you're talking about functions or fonts.

[–] JayleneSlide@lemmy.world 44 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Let's not forget that it's also the symbol for modulo operation. So many opportunities for ambiguity!

[–] DozensOfDonner@mander.xyz 20 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I thought they meant modulo actually

[–] martinborgen@piefed.social 3 points 5 days ago

At first glance I thought it was a joke about how programmers use modulo as an operator, while mathematicians use it as a relations thing. I never really understood the way the mathematicians use it tbh

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