my %hash;             # the % sigil denotes a hash
$hash{'element'} = 1; # the $ sigil denotes a scalar value (the 'element' element of %hash)

##</code><code>##

$A{c} = 9;
$A{d} = 16;
$A{f} = 36;

##</code><code>##

$a{c} = 9;
$a{d} = 16;
$a{f} = 36;