Nemeth Braille
Script type Braille code for encoding mathematical and scientific notation linearly
CreatorAbraham Nemeth
Time period
1952 to the present
LanguagesSeveral

The Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics is a Braille code for encoding mathematical and scientific notation linearly using standard six-dot Braille cells for tactile reading by the visually impaired. The code was developed by Abraham Nemeth. The Nemeth Code was first written up in 1952. It was revised in 1956, 1965, and 1972.[1] It is an example of a compact human-readable markup language.

Nemeth Braille is just one code used to write mathematics in braille. There are many systems in use around the world.[2]

Principles of the Nemeth Code

The Nemeth Code Book (1972) opens with the following words:

This Braille Code for Mathematics and Science Notation has been prepared to provide a system of symbols which will allow technical literature to be presented and read in braille. The Code is intended to convey as accurate an impression as is possible to the braille reader of the corresponding printed text, and this is one of its principal features. When the braille reader has a clear conception of the corresponding printed text, the area of communication between himself and his teacher, his colleagues, his associates, and the world at large is greatly broadened. A test of the accuracy with which the Code conveys information from the print to the braille text is to effect a transcription in the reverse direction. The amount of agreement between the original printed text and one transcribed from the braille is a measure of the Code's accuracy.

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One consequence is that the braille transcriber does not need to know the underlying mathematics. The braille transcriber needs to identify the inkprint symbols and know how to render them in Nemeth Code braille. For example, if the same math symbol might have two different meanings, this would not matter; both instances would be brailled the same. This is in contrast to the International Braille Music Code, where the braille depends on the meaning of the inkprint music. Thus a knowledge of music is required to produce braille music.

Table of Nemeth braille codes

General signs

Symbol*,...
Braille ⠈ (braille pattern dots-4) ⠼ (braille pattern dots-3456) ⠠ (braille pattern dots-6) ⠄ (braille pattern dots-3) ⠄ (braille pattern dots-3) ⠄ (braille pattern dots-3)

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Number signs

SymbolNumber
prefix
Decimal
point
Thousands
separator
0123456789
Braille ⠼ (braille pattern dots-3456) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠠ (braille pattern dots-6) ⠴ (braille pattern dots-356) ⠂ (braille pattern dots-2) ⠆ (braille pattern dots-23) ⠒ (braille pattern dots-25) ⠲ (braille pattern dots-256) ⠢ (braille pattern dots-26) ⠖ (braille pattern dots-235) ⠶ (braille pattern dots-2356) ⠦ (braille pattern dots-236) ⠔ (braille pattern dots-35)

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Operators

Symbol+-×·÷. (decimal)i√ (radical index)
Braille ⠬ (braille pattern dots-346) ⠤ (braille pattern dots-36) ⠈ (braille pattern dots-4) ⠡ (braille pattern dots-16) ⠡ (braille pattern dots-16) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠌ (braille pattern dots-34) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠜ (braille pattern dots-345) ⠣ (braille pattern dots-126)
Symbolinner √ (1st)inner √ (2nd)end 1st √end 2nd √long division/ !
Braille ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠻ (braille pattern dots-12456) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠻ (braille pattern dots-12456) ⠕ (braille pattern dots-135) ⠌ (braille pattern dots-34) ⠯ (braille pattern dots-12346)

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Parentheses and brackets

Symbol()[]{}
Braille ⠷ (braille pattern dots-12356) ⠾ (braille pattern dots-23456) ⠈ (braille pattern dots-4) ⠷ (braille pattern dots-12356) ⠈ (braille pattern dots-4) ⠾ (braille pattern dots-23456) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠷ (braille pattern dots-12356) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠾ (braille pattern dots-23456)

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Fractions

Symbol simplecomplexhypercomplexfraction in mixed number
openlinecloseopenlinecloseopenlinecloseopenlineclose
Braille ⠹ (braille pattern dots-1456) ⠌ (braille pattern dots-34) ⠼ (braille pattern dots-3456) ⠠ (braille pattern dots-6) ⠹ (braille pattern dots-1456) ⠠ (braille pattern dots-6) ⠌ (braille pattern dots-34) ⠠ (braille pattern dots-6) ⠼ (braille pattern dots-3456) ⠠ (braille pattern dots-6) ⠠ (braille pattern dots-6) ⠹ (braille pattern dots-1456) ⠠ (braille pattern dots-6) ⠠ (braille pattern dots-6) ⠌ (braille pattern dots-34) ⠠ (braille pattern dots-6) ⠠ (braille pattern dots-6) ⠼ (braille pattern dots-3456) ⠸ (braille pattern dots-456) ⠹ (braille pattern dots-1456) ⠸ (braille pattern dots-456) ⠌ (braille pattern dots-34) ⠸ (braille pattern dots-456) ⠼ (braille pattern dots-3456)

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Other modifiers

Symbol :
Braille ⠈ (braille pattern dots-4) ⠌ (braille pattern dots-34) ⠠ (braille pattern dots-6) ⠡ (braille pattern dots-16) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠄ (braille pattern dots-3) ⠄ (braille pattern dots-3) ⠄ (braille pattern dots-3)

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Symbol° %
Braille ⠠ (braille pattern dots-6) ⠿ (braille pattern dots-123456) ⠸ (braille pattern dots-456) ⠿ (braille pattern dots-123456) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠡ (braille pattern dots-16) ⠈ (braille pattern dots-4) ⠴ (braille pattern dots-356) ⠈ (braille pattern dots-4) ⠜ (braille pattern dots-345)

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Braille indicators

SymbolPunctuationSuperscriptSubscriptBaselineOmissionCancel (close)Cancel (open)Run OverDirectly OverDirectly UnderBeginningTermination
Braille ⠸ (braille pattern dots-456) ⠘ (braille pattern dots-45) ⠰ (braille pattern dots-56) ⠐ (braille pattern dots-5) ⠿ (braille pattern dots-123456) ⠻ (braille pattern dots-12456) ⠪ (braille pattern dots-246) ⠐ (braille pattern dots-5) ⠣ (braille pattern dots-126) ⠩ (braille pattern dots-146) ⠐ (braille pattern dots-5) ⠻ (braille pattern dots-12456)

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Comparison signs

Symbol><
Braille ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠂ (braille pattern dots-2) ⠐ (braille pattern dots-5) ⠅ (braille pattern dots-13) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠂ (braille pattern dots-2) ⠱ (braille pattern dots-156) ⠐ (braille pattern dots-5) ⠅ (braille pattern dots-13) ⠱ (braille pattern dots-156) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠂ (braille pattern dots-2) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠅ (braille pattern dots-13) ⠐ (braille pattern dots-5) ⠅ (braille pattern dots-13) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠅ (braille pattern dots-13)

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Symbol
Braille ⠱ (braille pattern dots-156) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠂ (braille pattern dots-2) ⠱ (braille pattern dots-156) ⠐ (braille pattern dots-5) ⠅ (braille pattern dots-13) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠅ (braille pattern dots-13) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠂ (braille pattern dots-2) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠅ (braille pattern dots-13) ⠐ (braille pattern dots-5) ⠅ (braille pattern dots-13)

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Symbol><<>>=<<=>
Braille ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠂ (braille pattern dots-2) ⠐ (braille pattern dots-5) ⠐ (braille pattern dots-5) ⠅ (braille pattern dots-13) ⠐ (braille pattern dots-5) ⠅ (braille pattern dots-13) ⠐ (braille pattern dots-5) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠂ (braille pattern dots-2) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠂ (braille pattern dots-2) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠅ (braille pattern dots-13) ⠐ (braille pattern dots-5) ⠅ (braille pattern dots-13) ⠐ (braille pattern dots-5) ⠅ (braille pattern dots-13) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠅ (braille pattern dots-13) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠂ (braille pattern dots-2)

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Symbol=~±
Braille ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠅ (braille pattern dots-13) ⠌ (braille pattern dots-34) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠅ (braille pattern dots-13) ⠌ (braille pattern dots-34) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠂ (braille pattern dots-2) ⠌ (braille pattern dots-34) ⠐ (braille pattern dots-5) ⠅ (braille pattern dots-13) ⠈ (braille pattern dots-4) ⠱ (braille pattern dots-156) ⠈ (braille pattern dots-4) ⠱ (braille pattern dots-156) ⠈ (braille pattern dots-4) ⠱ (braille pattern dots-156) ⠈ (braille pattern dots-4) ⠱ (braille pattern dots-156) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠅ (braille pattern dots-13) ⠬ (braille pattern dots-346) ⠤ (braille pattern dots-36) ⠤ (braille pattern dots-36) ⠬ (braille pattern dots-346)

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Geometry

SymbolParallelPerpendicularAngleRight angle
Braille ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠇ (braille pattern dots-123) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠏ (braille pattern dots-1234) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠪ (braille pattern dots-246) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠪ (braille pattern dots-246) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠗ (braille pattern dots-1235) ⠻ (braille pattern dots-12456)

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SymbolArc downArc upTrapezoidSquareRectangleParallelogram
Braille ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠁ (braille pattern dots-1) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠄ (braille pattern dots-3) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠟ (braille pattern dots-12345) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠲ (braille pattern dots-256) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠗ (braille pattern dots-1235) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠛ (braille pattern dots-1245)

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SymbolRhombusIsosceles trapezoidTriangleRight triangleCircleEllipse
Braille ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠓ (braille pattern dots-125) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠵ (braille pattern dots-1356) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠞ (braille pattern dots-2345) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠞ (braille pattern dots-2345) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠗ (braille pattern dots-1235) ⠻ (braille pattern dots-12456) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠉ (braille pattern dots-14) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠑ (braille pattern dots-15)

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Arrows

Symbol
Braille ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠒ (braille pattern dots-25) ⠒ (braille pattern dots-25) ⠕ (braille pattern dots-135) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠪ (braille pattern dots-246) ⠒ (braille pattern dots-25) ⠒ (braille pattern dots-25) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠪ (braille pattern dots-246) ⠒ (braille pattern dots-25) ⠒ (braille pattern dots-25) ⠕ (braille pattern dots-135)

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Symbol
Braille ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠕ (braille pattern dots-135) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠒ (braille pattern dots-25) ⠒ (braille pattern dots-25) ⠈ (braille pattern dots-4) ⠕ (braille pattern dots-135) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠠ (braille pattern dots-6) ⠪ (braille pattern dots-246) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠶ (braille pattern dots-2356) ⠶ (braille pattern dots-2356) ⠕ (braille pattern dots-135)

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Trig functions

FunctionSineCosineTangent
Braille ⠎ (braille pattern dots-234) ⠊ (braille pattern dots-24) ⠝ (braille pattern dots-1345) ⠉ (braille pattern dots-14) ⠕ (braille pattern dots-135) ⠎ (braille pattern dots-234) ⠞ (braille pattern dots-2345) ⠁ (braille pattern dots-1) ⠝ (braille pattern dots-1345)

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FunctionSecantCosecantCotangentLogarithm
Braille ⠎ (braille pattern dots-234) ⠑ (braille pattern dots-15) ⠉ (braille pattern dots-14) ⠉ (braille pattern dots-14) ⠎ (braille pattern dots-234) ⠉ (braille pattern dots-14) ⠉ (braille pattern dots-14) ⠕ (braille pattern dots-135) ⠞ (braille pattern dots-2345) ⠇ (braille pattern dots-123) ⠕ (braille pattern dots-135) ⠛ (braille pattern dots-1245)

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Set theory

Symbol{}
Braille ⠈ (braille pattern dots-4) ⠑ (braille pattern dots-15) ⠈ (braille pattern dots-4) ⠢ (braille pattern dots-26) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠬ (braille pattern dots-346) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠩ (braille pattern dots-146) ⠸ (braille pattern dots-456) ⠦ (braille pattern dots-236) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠷ (braille pattern dots-12356) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠾ (braille pattern dots-23456)

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Symbol
Braille ⠸ (braille pattern dots-456) ⠐ (braille pattern dots-5) ⠅ (braille pattern dots-13) ⠸ (braille pattern dots-456) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠂ (braille pattern dots-2) ⠸ (braille pattern dots-456) ⠐ (braille pattern dots-5) ⠅ (braille pattern dots-13) ⠱ (braille pattern dots-156) ⠸ (braille pattern dots-456) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠂ (braille pattern dots-2) ⠱ (braille pattern dots-156)

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Misc. signs

Symbol
Braille ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠉ (braille pattern dots-14) ⠸ (braille pattern dots-456) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠬ (braille pattern dots-346) ⠻ (braille pattern dots-12456) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠉ (braille pattern dots-14) ⠸ (braille pattern dots-456) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠡ (braille pattern dots-16) ⠻ (braille pattern dots-12456) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠲ (braille pattern dots-256) ⠸ (braille pattern dots-456) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠡ (braille pattern dots-16) ⠻ (braille pattern dots-12456)

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SymbolIntersecting lines@DittoTally mark+--+
Braille ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠊ (braille pattern dots-24) ⠈ (braille pattern dots-4) ⠁ (braille pattern dots-1) ⠠ (braille pattern dots-6) ⠄ (braille pattern dots-3) ⠸ (braille pattern dots-456) ⠬ (braille pattern dots-346) ⠐ (braille pattern dots-5) ⠤ (braille pattern dots-36) ⠤ (braille pattern dots-36) ⠐ (braille pattern dots-5) ⠬ (braille pattern dots-346)

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Symbol|| | (modulus). dot
Braille ⠳ (braille pattern dots-1256) ⠈ (braille pattern dots-4) ⠱ (braille pattern dots-156) ⠱ (braille pattern dots-156) ⠸ (braille pattern dots-456) ⠇ (braille pattern dots-123) ⠱ (braille pattern dots-156) ⠳ (braille pattern dots-1256) ⠳ (braille pattern dots-1256) ⠡ (braille pattern dots-16)

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Polygons

SymbolPentagonHexagonHeptagonOctagonNonagon-agon
Braille ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠢ (braille pattern dots-26) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠖ (braille pattern dots-235) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠶ (braille pattern dots-2356) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠦ (braille pattern dots-236) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠔ (braille pattern dots-35) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) + (Nemeth Braille of )


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Triangles

SymbolAcuteRightIsoscelesObtuseScalene
Braille ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠞ (braille pattern dots-2345) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠁ (braille pattern dots-1) ⠻ (braille pattern dots-12456) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠞ (braille pattern dots-2345) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠗ (braille pattern dots-1235) ⠻ (braille pattern dots-12456) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠞ (braille pattern dots-2345) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠊ (braille pattern dots-24) ⠻ (braille pattern dots-12456) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠞ (braille pattern dots-2345) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠕ (braille pattern dots-135) ⠻ (braille pattern dots-12456) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠞ (braille pattern dots-2345) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠎ (braille pattern dots-234) ⠻ (braille pattern dots-12456)

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Other signs

SymbolAcute angleRight angleObtuse angleHexagon star§
Braille ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠪ (braille pattern dots-246) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠁ (braille pattern dots-1) ⠻ (braille pattern dots-12456) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠪ (braille pattern dots-246) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠗ (braille pattern dots-1235) ⠻ (braille pattern dots-12456) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠪ (braille pattern dots-246) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠕ (braille pattern dots-135) ⠻ (braille pattern dots-12456) ⠫ (braille pattern dots-1246) ⠎ (braille pattern dots-234) ⠈ (braille pattern dots-4) ⠠ (braille pattern dots-6) ⠏ (braille pattern dots-1234) ⠈ (braille pattern dots-4) ⠠ (braille pattern dots-6) ⠎ (braille pattern dots-234)

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Symbolref. indicator<i><b>letter signcomposite function|det| matrix
Braille ⠈ (braille pattern dots-4) ⠻ (braille pattern dots-12456) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠸ (braille pattern dots-456) ⠰ (braille pattern dots-56) ⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠡ (braille pattern dots-16) ⠠ (braille pattern dots-6) ⠳ (braille pattern dots-1256) ⠮ (braille pattern dots-2346) ⠈ (braille pattern dots-4) ⠙ (braille pattern dots-145)

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Greek letters and Latin letters

Greek and Latin letters are based on the assignments of International Greek Braille.

Symbolsmall Latin letterscapital Latin letterssmall Greek letterscapital Greek letters
Braille (Braile of the letter)⠠ (braille pattern dots-6) + (Braile of the letter)⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) + (Braile of the letter)⠨ (braille pattern dots-46) ⠠ (braille pattern dots-6) + (Braile of the letter)

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See also

References

  1. "The History of Nemeth Code". Retrieved 2012-04-26.
  2. "Braille Mathematical Notations". 2008-07-22. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
  3. 1 2 "The Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics and Science Notation 1972 Revision" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-04-26.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 "Nemeth Braille (Mathematics Braille)". Archived from the original on 2012-04-21. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
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