Symbols and notation

Vertical bars

Vertical bars can denote absolute value, a determinant, a vector magnitude, divisibility or set size, so their meaning is determined by the enclosed object and context.

Common notation |x|; |A|; ‖v‖

In one sentence

What does Vertical bars mean?

Vertical bars can denote absolute value, a determinant, a vector magnitude, divisibility or set size, so their meaning is determined by the enclosed object and context.

How it is written

|x|; |A|; ‖v‖

A compact example

|−7|=7, while |A| may mean the determinant of matrix A.

Other names and search terms

| |, ‖ ‖, absolute value bars, modulus bars, determinant bars, norm symbol.

Clear answers

Questions about Vertical bars

What does Vertical bars mean in mathematics?

Vertical bars can denote absolute value, a determinant, a vector magnitude, divisibility or set size, so their meaning is determined by the enclosed object and context.

How is Vertical bars written?

A common notation is |x|; |A|; ‖v‖.

What is an example of Vertical bars?

|−7|=7, while |A| may mean the determinant of matrix A.