This maybe a simple or the opposite type of question, what is this , "¹2"?

[SirHope]

I came across this math number, "¹2". What does ¹2 mean ?

[CountryBoy]

That is certainly not a standard notation. My thought is that it was suppose to be "12" but got formatted incorrectly or that is the number "2" with an explanation in footnote "1".  What was the context?   

[write4u]

13 hours ago, SirHope said:

I came across this math number, "¹2". What does ¹2 mean ?

  1/2? 

If it is a proper number, it is merely a value, symbolized as a number, no more no less. All human mathematics are symbolic representation of natural relational values. That's why they work so well.

Everything in the the universe has a relational (relative) value.  Humans have discovered the relationships and symbolized them in a form of shorthand that allows us to understand and communicate the interactions of these values and use them to our own convenience. I's really not very complicated, there are just enormous quantities of values, therein lies the difficulty.

Max Tegmark proposes that, in principle, the entire Universe and its functionality can be explained by some 32 numbers (values) and a handful of universal constants (natural laws), even as the list is not yet complete.

Edited February 3, 2021 by write4u

[OceanBreeze]

It is a way of writing 2 with a 10 carry in adding up a column of numbers.

For example, if the column consists of 8 + 3 + 1 = 12

You can write ¹2 to remind you to carry ten to the next column.

I have never used this technique myself but have seen it used by students of basic arithmetic.