VINCULUM

VINCULUM, in algebra, a character in form of a line or stroke drawn over a factor, divisor, or dividend, which is compounded of several letters or quantities, to connect them, and shews that they are to be multiplied or divided &c. together by the other term.

Thus $d\; \backslash times\; a\; +\; b\; -\; c$ shows that $d$ is to be multiplied in $a\; +\; b\; -\; c$.