# A Note on Notation

For quite awhile I’ve been writing sin(x), ln(x) and the like with parentheses instead of the usual sin or ln x .

The main reason is that I want to emphasize that  sin(x), ln(x), etc. are the same level and type of notation as f(x). The only difference is that sin(x) and ln(x) always represent the same function, while things like f(x) represent different functions from problem to problem. I hope this makes things just a little clearer to the students.

I also favor using (sin(x))² instead of sin²(x), again to make more clear just what is getting squared. Notation can be inconsistent: I don’t think I’ve ever seen ln²(x) or even ²(x).  So this helps in that regard as well.

Of course, when entering functions in calculators or computers you almost always must use the “extra” parentheses in both cases. (Except for the new Casio PRIZM which will understand sin x and ln x, but not sin²(x).)

Now we can use that spot in  the notation exclusively for inverse functions, as in  ${{\sin }^{-1}}\left( x \right)$ and ${{f}^{-1}}\left( x \right)$. Maybe that will lessen the confusion there.

Another possible inconsistency is trying to write sin′(x)  for the derivative as you do with ${f}'\left( x \right)$Although, if I saw it I would understand it. (LaTex won’t even parse  sin′(x).)

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## One thought on “A Note on Notation”

1. Jane says:

I definitely read more than one AP exam this year with the notation “ln^2 (x)”. It led to quite a few discussions at my table.

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