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Mathematical formulas |  |
To type mathematical formulas, you need first to enter “math mode” using one of the following methods:
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Insert →Mathematics →Formula or $ -
This entry corresponds to small inline formulas like a2 + b2 = c2 inside a textual paragraph. Note that formulas are typeset specially so they do not take too much vertical space. For example, limits are always displayed on the left. Limits can be displayed below in formulas with
Format →Formula style →on . In formulas, formula style is off by default. -
Insert →Mathematics →Equation or A-$ -
This entry is used for entering bigger displayed equations, like
xn + yn = zn, which are typeset in a paragraph of their own. You may use the shortcut A-* in order to give the equation a number (or to remove the number of an equation). Also, C-tab allows you to switch between inline formulas and displayed equations.
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Insert →Mathematics →Equations or A-& -
This entry allows you to create an
eqnarray* , a three columns wide table-like environment (see creating tables). This environment is typically used for lists of multiple relations likex + 0 = x x + (−x) = 0 x + y = y + x (x + y) + z = x + (y + z) The first column is centered to the right, the second one at the middle and the last one at the left. An other typical use of the
eqnarray* environment is a step by step computation like(ⅇsin x + sin ⅇx)' = (ⅇsin x)' + (sin ⅇx)' = (sin x)' ⅇsin x + (ⅇx)' sin ⅇx = ⅇsin x cos x + ⅇx sin ⅇx, in which many entries of the left column are left open.
In math mode, you have specific commands and key-combinations to type mathematical symbols and formulas. For instance, the F5 prefix can be used in order to enter Greek symbols.
The editor favors typing mathematics with a certain meaning. This feature, which will be developed more in future releases, is useful when communicating with a computer algebra package. At this moment, you should for instance explicitly type the multiplication * between symbols a and b. By default, typing a b will yield ab and not a b.