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∝

proportional to

Proportional To

∝ is the proportional-to sign: y ∝ x means y = kx for some fixed constant k, so doubling x doubles y. Scientists use it when the constant doesn't matter yet; y ∝ 1/x marks inverse proportion. Read it aloud as "varies as".

Text symbol

Also called: proportional symbol · directly proportional sign · varies as
Search it as: propto · proportionality sign · direct proportion · inverse proportion
Shows up in: Anything that takes text · its shape is whatever your font draws

What ∝ means

William Emerson introduced it in 1768. He used it as a compact sign for general proportion, the "varies as" relation, where earlier writers spelled proportions out with ratio signs.

Formal and technical: it says how quantities scale, not what they equal.

∝ is not =; it drops the constant on purpose.

Don't confuse it with

Greek Small Letter Alpha

Alpha is a Greek letter used as a variable; ∝ is a relation sitting between two quantities, with an open right end.

≈

Almost Equal To

≈ means nearly equal; ∝ means equal up to a constant multiplier.

Questions people ask

Why does ∝ show as a box on some devices?

Because that device's fonts have no glyph for it. The character is still correct and still copies correctly — the box is a missing glyph, not a broken character.

How to type ∝

Windows (Word)

Alt+XType 221D, then Alt+X to get ∝.

Windows

Win+Rrun charmap for the full table, or use the emoji picker's Ω symbols tab (Win + .).

macOS

Control+Command+SpaceOpen the character viewer and search “proportional to”.

Linux

Ctrl+Shift+UType 221d, then Enter or Space.

HTML

∝

CSS

\221D

Word equation

In an equation box, type \propto then Space.

Word Unicode input

Type 221D, then press Alt+X.

LaTeX

\propto in math mode.

Codes and encoding1 code points

HTML decimal

∝

HTML hex

∝

CSS content

content: "\221D";

Each escape is closed by the next backslash; a trailing space is needed before a literal hex digit.

URL encoded

%E2%88%9D

On screen

Code points

JS .length

UTF-8 bytes

A visible symbol can contain several code points. JS .length counts UTF-16 units; UTF-8 counts bytes.

Families this belongs to

Maths & numbers1,835 symbols

1️⃣📏📐✖️➕➖➗🟰♾️#️⃣*️⃣0️⃣