A History Of Mathematical Notations ◉ «Reliable»

: It identifies three major phases of notation: Rhetorical : Purely verbal math with no symbols. Syncopated : Abbreviations for commonly used words.

: Symbols rarely gained immediate acceptance. Cajori documents the "competition" between rival notations—such as the various ways to denote multiplication—before one eventually became the standard. A History of Mathematical Notations

Florian Cajori's History of Mathematical Notations - MAA.org : It identifies three major phases of notation:

The work is divided into two primary volumes (often bound together in modern editions from Dover Publications ): century-old academic prose difficult

If you find Cajori’s dense, century-old academic prose difficult, these modern alternatives offer a more accessible narrative:

: The book explains how symbols moved across borders, showing how Hindu-Arabic numerals and European algebraic shorthand were influenced by diverse civilizations.