What symbol is commonly used in bilateral tolerance?

• A. Slash (/) symbol
• B. Greater than (>) symbol
• C. Plus/minus (±) symbol
• D. Equals (=) symbol

Answer: (C)

In the context of tolerancing, the plus/minus (±) symbol is widely used to indicate bilateral tolerance. Bilateral tolerance allows for variation in both directions from a nominal dimension. For example, if a dimension is specified as 20 ± 0.5 mm, this means that the actual dimension can range from 19.5 mm to 20.5 mm.

The use of the plus/minus symbol informs the manufacturer and the inspector about how much deviation is acceptable, thus ensuring that parts can be produced and function correctly within these tolerances. This clarity is crucial in engineering and manufacturing to ensure parts fit together properly and maintain the desired function.