Operation Manual

Step 5: Delete the <?> text, press F4 key and type 3.14159 at the end of the equation. We end
up with the markup %pi simeq 3.14159. The result is shown in Figure 269.
Figure 269. Final result
Changing a formula
You can change a formula at any time. To switch into edit mode, double-click on the formula.
To get to the appropriate section in the markup code, do any one of the following:
• In the equation editor, click on the location.
• Select an area of the markup code that you wish to change.
• Click on an element in the preview area; the cursor will automatically move to the
corresponding point in the equation editor.
• Double-click on an element in the preview area; the corresponding section in the equation
editor will be selected.
To be able to work in the upper (preview) area in the stand-alone Math window (Figure 259), the
formula cursor must be activated. Use the Formula Cursor button on the Tools toolbar.
You can change an equation by overwriting selected text or by inserting new markup code at the
cursor position.
Formula layout
The most difficult part of using LibreOffice Math comes when writing complicated formulas. This
section provides some advice.
Brackets are your friends
Math knows nothing about order of operation. You must use brackets to state the order of
operations explicitly. Consider the following examples.
Markup Result Markup Result
2 over x + 1
2
x
+1
2 over {x + 1}
2
x+1
– 1 over 2
−1
2
– {1 over 2}
−
1
2
Chapter 9 Getting Started with Math | 267