Approximately Equal Symbol (≈): Meaning, Uses and How to Type It

The approximately equal symbol ≈ says that two values are close but not exactly the same: π ≈ 3.14, √2 ≈ 1.414, and a 9.81 m/s² measurement is ≈ 10 m/s² for a quick estimate. It is two stacked tildes, sometimes called the "almost equal to" sign, and it is one of a small family of wavy equality symbols that are easy to mix up.

Below: the character to copy, the codes for every platform, what ≈ means next to ≃, ≅ and ∼, and how to write it in LaTeX.

Approximately Equal Symbol (≈): Copy and Paste

Copy the symbol from the box below, or take the code you need from the table:

1≈
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Approximately Equal Definition

a ≈ b states that a and b are close enough for the purpose at hand. Unlike =, it is not a precise mathematical relation: how close "approximately" means depends on context, usually the number of significant figures or the size of the error you are willing to accept. Writing π ≈ 3.14 is correct; writing π = 3.14 is not, because π is irrational and has no terminating decimal.

Several neighbouring symbols look alike but mean different things:

In UK and US school maths ≈ is the standard rounding sign. In Japan, ≒ (U+2252) is common for the same idea. For geometry and abstract algebra, ≅ is the right choice; see the congruent symbol guide.

Uses of the Approximately Equal Sign

• Rounding and constants: π ≈ 3.14159, e ≈ 2.71828, √2 ≈ 1.41421. The sign tells the reader that digits have been dropped.
• Estimation and measurement: physicists and engineers use ≈ for order-of-magnitude estimates and for measured values, e.g. g ≈ 9.81 m/s² or "the beam deflects by ≈ 2 mm."
• Approximations in analysis: small-angle approximations such as sin x ≈ x and cos x ≈ 1 − x²/2 for small x, and first-order Taylor expansions f(x + h) ≈ f(x) + h f′(x).
• Statistics and numerics: reported results such as p ≈ 0.03, or the output of an iterative method that stops when successive values are ≈ equal within a tolerance.

How to Type the Approximately Equal Symbol

• Windows: hold Alt and type 247 on the numeric keypad. The code comes from the original IBM PC code page, so Alt + 0247 (with a leading zero) gives ÷ instead. In Word, type 2248 and press Alt + X.
• Mac: press Option + X on the US and UK layouts, or search "almost equal" in the Character Viewer (Control + Command + Space).
• Word equations: insert an equation with Alt + =, type \approx and press space.
• Google Docs: Insert → Special characters and search "almost equal," or insert an equation and type \approx followed by a space.
• HTML: ≈ or ≈. HTML5 also accepts ≈.
• iPhone and Android: Gboard shows ≈ when you long-press = on the symbols page; on iOS, copy it or set up a text replacement.

Approximately Equal in LaTeX

Write \approx in math mode. It is a relation, so LaTeX adds the correct space on both sides. The related commands \simeq, \cong and \sim are built in; \approxeq and \thickapprox need amssymb.

1\documentclass{article}
2\usepackage{amsmath, amssymb}
3\begin{document}
4Constants: $\pi \approx 3.14159$ and $e \approx 2.71828$.
5
6Small-angle approximation:
7\[ \sin x \approx x, \qquad \cos x \approx 1 - \frac{x^2}{2} \quad (x \to 0) \]
8
9Related relations: $f \simeq g$, $\triangle ABC \cong \triangle DEF$,
10$X \sim \mathcal{N}(0, 1)$, $a \approxeq b$, $a \thickapprox b$.
11
12Not approximately equal: $a \not\approx b$.
13\end{document}
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For "not approximately equal" use \not\approx (≉). Never write ~= or paste the Unicode character into a pdfLaTeX file. For a longer lesson with more variants, see approximately equal in LaTeX, and browse every relation symbol with its command on the relations symbol list. For the opposite claim, see the not equal sign.

Related symbols and guides

• Approximately Equal symbol page — copy the symbol and its LaTeX command
• Math symbols reference — every symbol in the category with its LaTeX command
• Approximately equal in LaTeX — how to typeset these symbols in a document
• Not equal sign (≠)
• Congruent symbol (≅)

Approximately Equal Symbol FAQ

What does ≈ mean in math?

≈ means "is approximately equal to." It joins two values that are close but not identical, usually because one has been rounded or estimated, as in π ≈ 3.14.

What is the Alt code for the approximately equal sign?

Alt + 247 on the numeric keypad. Do not add a leading zero: Alt + 0247 types ÷. In Word you can also type 2248 and press Alt + X.

What is the difference between ≈ and ≅?

≈ is for numerical approximation (π ≈ 3.14). ≅ means congruent in geometry or isomorphic in algebra, and some older texts use it for "approximately equal." In modern writing, keep ≈ for numbers and ≅ for shapes and structures.

How do I type approximately equal in LaTeX?

Use \approx in math mode, e.g. $\pi \approx 3.14$. For ≃ use \simeq, for ≅ use \cong, and for ≉ use \not\approx.

How do I type ≈ on a Mac?

Press Option + X. If your keyboard layout does not map it, open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space and search "almost equal."