Math Guide

Entering a formula
The equation editor uses a markup language to represent formulas. For example,
%beta creates the Greek character beta (

). This markup is designed to read similar
to English whenever possible. For example, a over b produces a fraction:
a
b
.
You can enter a formula in three ways:
• Select a symbol from the Elements window.
• Right-click on the equation editor and select the symbol from the context
menu.
• Type markup in the equation editor.
The context menu and the Elements window insert the markup corresponding to a
symbol. This provides a convenient way to learn the OOo Math markup.
Note
Click on the document body to exit the formula editor.
Double-click on a formula to enter the formula editor again.
The Elements window
The simplest method for entering a formula is the Elements window.
Figure 2: Symbols are divided into categories
The Elements window is divided into two main parts.
• The top shows the symbol categories. Click on these to change the list of
symbols.
• The bottom shows the symbols available in the current category.
Tip
You can hide or show the Elements window with View > Elements.
Entering a formula 5