# Question mark over equals sign [duplicate]

I'd like to have output an equals sign that has a small question mark over the top of it. (I'm proving an equation, but it is not obvious until the final step that the equation is true.)

Do I need to create a special symbol myself (via a macro, etc.), or is there already one defined?

• Jan 20 '11 at 5:02
• @Caramdir: I'm voting to close as duplicate. Jan 20 '11 at 7:08
• That's only a duplicate if you already know that the answer is "set one above the other yourself". Oct 31 '16 at 20:09
• This is Unicode U+225F, and with the unicode-math package, a sutable font, and XeLaTeX or LuaLaTeX can be accessed as \questeq. Nov 1 '19 at 23:35
• @krlmlr below is correct that the solution from the duplicate/linked question is better. To save time for those who Googled to get here (like me), the solution from the linked question uses amsmath and then, within the math environment, the following command: a\overset{?}{=} b. Jun 24 at 10:08

Use the following command within the math environment ($<command>$):
\stackrel{?}{=}.
• On point. Nothing more, nothing less. I define \newcommand{\?}{\stackrel{?}{=}} to make things go faster. Jan 20 '11 at 4:52
• @jimi- it gave an error, ! Missing $inserted. <inserted text>$ l.5 \?
• @Aku: It has to be used within the math environment for it to work and that's where I assumed you were working, anyway ;) If you typed $l.5 \?, then I think you're simply missing the closing $ symbol! Otherwise, it should work fine. Jan 20 '11 at 17:47
• Note that the linked question mentions \overset from amsmath which is preferable over \stackrel according to Philippe Goutet. Care to edit your reply? (I googled for "question mark over equals sign" and hence don't think the question should be closed as duplicate ;-) ) Apr 10 '12 at 14:32