Plus-Minus Sign

Commonly referred to as the plus-minus sign, this symbol consists of a plus sign situated directly above a minus sign. It represents the concept of multiple possible values or the range of uncertainty around a specific number. In speech, users typically read it as plus or minus. This glyph belongs to the Latin 1 Supplement block and is categorized within the Common script, serving as a standard utilitarian mark across diverse languages and technical systems.

In real-world applications, the symbol is most frequently found in mathematics to indicate both positive and negative roots of an equation or to define a tolerance interval. Scientists and engineers use it to denote margins of error in measurement, such as expressing a weight as fifty kilograms plus or minus one. It also appears in general typography to show an approximation or a range of possible outcomes in statistical reporting and everyday social communication.