What is the origin of symbols for arithmetic operators?

Or I would be overjoyed to know even the earliest known use of the common symbols for +, -, the multiplication symbol, and the division symbol (the line between two dots, which I don’t know how to render here).

The multiplication symbol’s interesting, too… when did all those alternatives to that stylized x spring up? If it’s as long ago as I think it is (since we’ve been using x to signify an unknown), why are we still stuck with it today? And did the x symbol pre-date the letter?

OOOPS! Two windows open to the SDMB is more than I can handle. Sorry, mods.

Earliest Uses of Various Mathematical Symbols has a comprehensive review of their history.

Off to GQ.