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## Difference between different types of brackets used

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winnerhere Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
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#### Difference between different types of brackets used

Thu Sep 03, 2009 5:19 am
Whats the difference between square brackets,parenthesis and flower brackets in mathematics

[0,5]

(0,5)

[0,5)

are all different ranges.

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Thu Sep 03, 2009 5:40 am
If you have a square bracket, the interval also contains the "head" of the interval. If it's just a round bracket, then that head is not included.

[0,5] means 0 <= x <=5

(0,5) means 0 < x < 5

[0,5) means 0 <= x < 5

winnerhere Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
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Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:20 am
Thanks danaj

what abt {}

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Ian Stewart GMAT Instructor
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Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:21 pm
Dana's explanation is perfect, but I've never seen a real GMAT question which uses that notation for an interval (ranges of values are always expressed using inequalities, a number line, or words), so you likely don't need to know it. In algebra, square brackets [] and parentheses () have the same meaning (in algebra texts, you'll sometimes see square brackets used as outer brackets when there are brackets within brackets), though I don't think I've ever seen that on the GMAT either - I'm pretty sure the GMAT uses standard parentheses exclusively in algebraic expressions. Set braces {} will only be used in a question about sets, so if you see something like {6}, that's the one element set containing the number 6.

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Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:11 pm
On top of what Ian said, we also have this notation in Romania:

{2.34} = 0.34
{3} = 0

We call this the "fractional part" of a number. However, seeing this on the GMAT is impossible, since I understand it is a pretty specific notation.

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