Vinculum

A vinculum is a horizontal line placed over a mathematical expression, used to indicate that it is to be considered a group.

Examples of its use include the case of a group of infinitely repeating digits, for example,

<math>\frac{1}{3} = 0.333333\dots = 0.\overline{3}<math>

It is also used in the notation of a radical to indicate the radicand whose root is being indicated. In the case of

<math>\sqrt[n]{ab+2}<math>

the quantity <math>ab+2<math> is the radicand, and thus has a vinculum over it.

The vinculum is also sometimes used in Boolean algebra, where it serves to indicate a group of expressions whose logical result is to be NOTed, as in

<math>\overline{AB}<math>