# How can I make a diagonal division symbol?

So I want to make the four elementary arithmetic symbols in math-mode, but I don't like the way the divison-symbol looks. I want it to look like you rotated the subtraction-symbol 45 degrees, and I find / looking too long.

I'd like it to look like the one on the bottom here. One way of doing it was by using \usepackage{graphicx} and inserting \rotatebox{45}{$\_\!\_\!\_$}, but this isn't very convenient and I was hoping there may be a better way of making this.

• In this context, you would usually want the division symbol ÷ rather than a slash. – J. C. Salomon Jan 18 '15 at 17:46
• @J.C.Salomon Part of my motivation for using this new sign is to replace it with a symbol looks like a tilted minus-symbol, just as the multiplication-symbol looks like a tilted addition-symbol. Besides, there is no generally accepted division symbol as ) and : could also be used, I just feel it looks better to use a symbol that resembles a fraction, instead of using some weird symbol which doesn't resemble any of the other symbol. – Frank Vel Jan 18 '15 at 18:33

Detexify doesn't give any usable suggestions.

My best result was \newcommand{\division}{\mkern-\medmuskip\rotatebox[origin=c]{45}{\scalebox{0.9}{$-$}}\mkern-\medmuskip}

It gives you the same rounded corners as the default division line has.

edit: notice that this division in my opinion looks horrible for capital variables.

• I haven't tried Detexify before, but it gave me $\diagup$; is there a way to make this symbol shorter? Other than that your solution is certainly better than my current. – Frank Vel Jan 17 '15 at 15:29
• You could use \scalebox to shrink it and the fiddle with the spacing, but I couldn't make it prettier than my answer. – Jonas Nyrup Jan 17 '15 at 19:46
• I can't seem to get \scalebox to work with $\diagup$, \scalebox{0.6}{\diagup} is just erroring. What am I doing wrong? – Frank Vel Jan 17 '15 at 22:39

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