How to insert math symbols in pages using mojave

In Pages v6.1 through v7.3, you can use the built-in equation editor by pressing option+cmd+e. You can enter LaTEX, or MathML syntax to produce a division symbol:

\mathsf{A\;\div\;B} produces the following inline equation. I use spacing operators (\;) for styling:

If all you want is an inline division symbol, you can just enter \div in the equation editor.

You can also use the fee-based MathType, or free MathType Lite to produce inline equations or math symbols.

There is more information about how to use the built-in equation editor here, and click the blahtex link there to get the direct PDF download of the blahtex manual that shows the supported operators.

Plan B. One-time setup. Text replacement via System Preferences : Keyboard panel : Text.

Click the + symbol to add a text replacement sequence:

Replace With

dv ___

Enter dv and tab over to the With field:

Enter control+cmd+Spacebar to open the Emoji's & Symbols panel. In its search window, enter the word “div” without the quotes, and in the center panel, you will see the division symbol. Double-click that division symbol, and it will be entered into the With field in the text replacement panel. Press return. You can close the System Preference panel.

In Pages : Edit menu : Substitutions : √ Text Replacment

must be selected before you can type dv, and have a floating panel show the division symbol as below:

Any key press will insert the division symbol. Clicking the Esc button, or the x in that replacement pop-up will cancel the replacement.

If all you want is to insert this symbol ÷, just type option + "/". It's in all the standard fonts.

Your menu bar art the top probably has the special symbols button. (Mine is next to the time of day.) There are lots of math symbols there, which you insert just by double-clicking them.

Which keyboard are you using?

As lawrenceofdurham has pointed out, on the English/American keyboards it is option / = ÷

There is logic to Apple's mapping of characters the / character is actually the official division character on the numeric keypad. Holding down the option key is the way to get alternate characters for all keys.