Infinity symbol (∞)
Símbolo de infinito (∞)
- Date
- 1655 · confidence medium
- Place
- Oxford, England, United Kingdom
- Credited to
- John Wallis
- Field
- Knowledge & symbols
What it is
A sideways figure-eight (lemniscate) shape representing mathematical infinity, first used with that meaning by John Wallis in the 17th century. It spread to denote infinite processes and values and is now a common symbol beyond mathematics.
Introduced by Wallis in 'De sectionibus conicis' (1655); its exact origin (a possible derivation from the Roman numeral M for a thousand) is debated.
What it led to
- standard notation for infinity in calculus and analysis
- use of the symbol in logos and graphic design
- encoding of the sign in modern character sets