The symbol "\pm" represents "plus or minus" in mathematics and science. It indicates that a value can be either positive or negative. For example, if a measurement is given as 5 \pm 2, it means the actual value could be 3 or 7. This notation is often used to express uncertainty or variability in measurements. In statistics, "\pm" is commonly used to show the margin of error in data. For instance, if a survey result states 60\% \pm 5\%, it suggests that the true percentage could range from 55\% to 65\%. This helps convey the reliability of the data presented.