α
Alpha in Mathematics
In Mathematics, the Alpha symbol (α) is commonly used. Learn how to copy and use it in your technical documents.
Unicode
U+03B1
HTML Entity
α
LaTeX Sequence
\alpha
Primary Field
MathematicsMathematics Application
Alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet, is one of the most reused symbols in science. It denotes angles and angular acceleration, coefficients in equations, the significance level in statistics (often 0.05), the fine‑structure constant in physics, and alpha particles (helium nuclei) in nuclear physics.
How to type Alpha (α)
- Fastest: click α on the keyboard above — it copies to your clipboard, ready to paste into Word, Google Docs, email or a forum.
- Unicode: the code point is shown in the panel above; on Windows you can also use Alt‑X after the hex code in Word.
- LaTeX: use the command shown above inside math mode.
- Anywhere: because it’s standard Unicode, it keeps its exact form across apps and devices.
Frequently asked questions
What does α mean in statistics?
It is the significance level — the probability of a Type I error (a false positive), commonly set to 0.05.
Is α used for angles?
Yes. Along with β and θ, alpha is a standard label for angles in geometry and trigonometry.
Write mathematical and scientific expressions
Need to pair this symbol with other operators?