¿How to type mathematical symbols?

Question

Level 1

8 points

¿How to type mathematical symbols?

Does anyone know any simple method of typing common mathematical symbols without having to using the laborious method of using the language and text menu in system preferences?

I am mainly interested in how to type squares and cubes as well as square roots and cube roots.
After that, I would like to be able to type out complex ratios such as (a+b)(c-d) "divided by" x(y+z) instead of the right hand slash. ( in other words, it would look something like and underscore)

LaTeXIT found at Apple Downloads is worthless unless someone proves me wrong, thanks all.

iMac early 2009, 20 inch with 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor and 4 GB 1067 MHz DDR3 Memory, Mac OS X (10.6.1), All software is up to date, have Mobile Me, and Apple Care, etc

Posted on Nov 15, 2009 5:18 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 15, 2009 5:29 PM in response to Daood

If you are using Word 2008 (maybe 2003 too), then select insert symbol from the Insert menu to do some things. Also, check out the symbol font. I'll get back to you on roots, exponents, etc.

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Answer 2

Nov 15, 2009 5:28 PM in response to Daood

If you want full formatting (ie, not just in-line characters) you will need to use a specialized program such as LaTeX. To make entering symbols easier, you can enable the "language and Text" system menu and use either keyboard shortcuts in the keyboard viewer, or use the chrarcter palette to locate the math symbols.

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Answer 3

Nov 15, 2009 5:32 PM in response to Daood

Lets see if these work...

⊇⋶∢∫∛∜∠≈∑

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Answer 4

Nov 15, 2009 5:38 PM in response to Daood

Ah, see my post above, and now I recall. If you are using Word, then type, for example, a2. Then highlight 2 and go Format > Font and, for example, choose superscript.

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Answer 5

Daood Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 15, 2009 5:47 PM in response to donv_the_ghost

I have a much older version of Word. How about Apple Pages 2009? Will that work?
The long and short for me is I really don't want to have a bunch of applications open just to type out ordinary math symbols. Any other ideas, such as a different keyboard?

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Answer 6

Daood Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 15, 2009 5:49 PM in response to Topher Kessler

I downloaded this application 3 times today, and it seems to just confuse both me and my computer. I was hoping to find something much simpler. Any ideas?

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Answer 7

Nov 15, 2009 5:57 PM in response to Daood

Try what I mentioned in Pages using analogs to my instructions. I don't use Pages, but I would bet that you can do pretty much the exact same things. For one thing, the symbol font should be available. And, there is bound to be a way of doing superscripts, etc.

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Answer 8

Daood Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 15, 2009 6:00 PM in response to donv_the_ghost

I will try Pages hopefully tonight sometime, and reply later. Thanks for your attentiveness!

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Answer 9

Daood Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 15, 2009 6:38 PM in response to Daood

Pages does not work. Next I will try Word 1993

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Answer 10

J.C

Level 4

1,601 points

Nov 15, 2009 6:48 PM in response to Daood

Hi Daood,

I highly recommend Mathtype ( http://www.dessci.com/en/). Mathtype can do the complex ratios easily as well as square roots, cube roots etc.

The other alternative is to open the Keyboard preference pane in System Preferences and check the box which says "Show Keyboard & Character Viewer in menu bar" and then click on the flag in the menu bar and select "Show Character Viewer" you will find all the Mathematical Symbols under the Symbols drop down menu. However this method only allows for simple mathematical expressions.

Hope this helps
J.C

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Answer 11

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,940 points

Nov 15, 2009 7:00 PM in response to Daood

http://m10lmac.blogspot.com/2008/12/typing-equations-and-formulas.html

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Answer 12

Daood Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 15, 2009 7:25 PM in response to J.C

Thanks JC, I will try this approach later tonight.

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Answer 13

Daood Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 15, 2009 7:27 PM in response to Daood

I tried both Word and Pages. Word only has square root and no way to add a power to a number, plus special symbols window is very tiny. There is another post on this thread by JC which looks promising, so check it out. I will and respond later tonight.

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Answer 14

Daood Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 15, 2009 8:01 PM in response to J.C

JC-downloaded the trial version, this is the best advice yet. Albeit I cannot determine how to create a square or cube, I will need to take time more time and review the tutorials. Thanks.

Now just how did you post that screen shot? I tried, but no luck.
Be in touch and thanks again

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Answer 15

J.C

Level 4

1,601 points

Nov 15, 2009 8:47 PM in response to Daood

Now just how did you post that screen shot? I tried, but no luck.
Be in touch and thanks again

Ali Brown has posted a very good guide on how to include images on Apple Discussions: http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=9602915#9602915

J.C

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