Symbol help in word 2008

[thenamesguy]

Hi
I just had a quick question I was hoping someone could help me with. I'm in college and my professor makes notes available online but when I download them the symbols come out wrong. For example when there is supposed to be a multiplication symbol it comes out as a hand pointing down or sometimes I get weird mailboxes and things like that. I know he uses a pc but I didn't think there should be issues between the two? I don't know. If you have any helpful information it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[arjen92]

what font is he using? it could be that he is using a not so common font and that you're font misses some of the symbols. (so he should use verdana or something like that).