Union – Meaning, Copy & Paste, LaTeX, Unicode
Complete mathematical reference, typing shortcuts, character entities, and usage guide for the Union (∪).
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What Does the ∪ Symbol Mean?
The union symbol (∪) is a fundamental set-theoretic operator that combines all distinct elements from two or more sets into a single collection. The union A ∪ B represents the set of all items that belong to A, belong to B, or belong to both.
Real Numeric Examples
{1, 2} ∪ {2, 3, 4} Combine elements without duplicates: {1, 2, 3, 4} The union merges both sets. The shared number 2 is included once, yielding the combined 4-element set.
A ∪ ∅ = A Union of set A with the empty set The identity law of set union: uniting any set with the empty set produces the original set A unchanged.
LaTeX, Unicode, HTML & Keyboard Codes for ∪
Copy individual technical codes and character entities with one click:
\cup U+222A ∪ ∪ Alt+8746 Cmd + Ctrl + Space (Search 'union') How to Type ∪ on Every Device and Application
Step-by-step instructions for Windows, Mac, Word, Google Docs, Excel, HTML, LaTeX, and mobile devices:
Windows
Hold Alt and type 8746 on your numeric keypad. In Word, type 222A and press Alt + X.
Alt+8746 Mac (macOS)
Press Cmd + Ctrl + Space to open the Character Viewer, type 'union' in the search bar, and double-click ∪.
Cmd + Ctrl + Space (Search 'union') Microsoft Word
In Word Equation mode (Alt + =), type \cup and hit Space. In plain text, type 222a and hit Alt + X.
\cup Google Docs
Go to Insert > Equation, type \cup, and hit Space. Or Insert > Special characters and search 'union'.
\cup Excel / Spreadsheets
Insert into any Excel cell using the formula =UNICHAR(8746).
=UNICHAR(8746) HTML & Web
Use the HTML named entity ∪ or the decimal entity ∪.
∪ LaTeX (Math Mode)
Write \cup in LaTeX math mode ($A \cup B$). For large n-ary union, use \bigcup.
\cup Android & iPhone (iOS)
Copy the ∪ symbol directly from this page into your mobile applications.
∪ Commonly Confused With
Distinguish ∪ from visually similar mathematical glyphs and characters:
Intersection
vs ∪The union symbol (∪) takes all elements from both sets (OR), while the intersection symbol (∩) takes only elements present in both sets (AND).
Explore in set theory symbolsLatin Capital U
vs ∪The English letter 'U' (U+0055) is an alphabetic character, whereas ∪ (U+222A) is a mathematical operator with symmetrical rounded geometry and no serifs.
View U Latin Capital U PageLogical OR (Disjunction)
vs ∪Logical OR (∨, U+2228) connects propositions in Boolean logic, while Union (∪, U+222A) operates on sets of objects.
Explore in logic symbolsFrequently Asked Questions About ∪
Answers to common questions about typing, meaning, and syntax for ∪:
What does the ∪ symbol mean in set theory?
The ∪ symbol denotes 'union'. A ∪ B represents the collection containing all elements that belong to set A, set B, or both, with duplicate elements consolidated.
What is the difference between ∪ (Union) and ∩ (Intersection)?
Union (∪) collects everything from either set (logical OR). Intersection (∩) keeps only items shared by both sets simultaneously (logical AND).
How do you write the union symbol in LaTeX?
In LaTeX math mode, write \cup for binary union ($A \cup B$) and \bigcup for big summation-style union over indexed families (\bigcup_{i=1}^{n} A_i).
How do you type ∪ in Word?
Press Alt + = to enter Word Equation mode, type \cup, and hit Space. Or type 222A and press Alt + X in standard document text.