Who invented mathematical symbols?

Mathematical symbols evolved over centuries and were not invented by a single individual. The use of symbols in mathematics can be traced back to ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians and Babylonians, who utilized symbols for numbers and operations. The modern system of mathematical notation began to take shape in the 16th and 17th centuries, with notable contributions from mathematicians like René Descartes and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, who introduced symbols for operations and variables.