<< Ireland Information Guide:Multimedia
As of January 2003, we have TeX markup for mathematical formulas on Ireland Information Guide. It generates either PNG images or simple HTML markup, depending on user prefs and the complexity of the expression. In the future, as more browsers are smarter, it will be able to generate enhanced HTML or even MathML in many cases.
Math markup goes inside <math> ... </math>. Line breaks within these tags are fine, and aren't rendered. They're a good idea to keep the raw markup clear (for instance, a line break after each term or row of a matrix).
Discussion, bug reports and feature requests should go to the Wikitech-l mailing list or to Ireland Information Guide:TeX requests.
For style issues regarding the typesetting of math, see Ireland Information Guide:WikiProject Mathematics. In particular, please avoid using this feature as part of a line of regular text, as the formulas don't align properly and the font is too large.
Regarding color, notice that this page is a special page (its name begins with "Ireland Information Guide:") and therefore when using some skins it has a blue or yellow background. Normal Ireland Information Guide pages are white, just like the formulas, so don't worry.
| Table of contents |
(see also Ireland Information Guide:Special characters)
| Feature | Syntax | How it looks rendered |
|---|---|---|
| std. functions (good) | \sin x + \ln y +\operatorname{sgn} z | <math>\sin x + \ln y +\operatorname{sgn} z<math> |
| std. functions (wrong) | sin x + ln y + sgn z | <math>sin x + ln y + sgn z\,<math> |
| Modular arithm. | s_k \equiv 0 \pmod{m} | <math>s_k \equiv 0 \pmod{m}<math> |
| Derivatives | \nabla \partial x dx \dot x \ddot y | <math>\nabla \ \partial x \ dx \ \dot x\ \ddot y<math> |
| Sets | \forall x \not\in \varnothing \subseteq A \cap B \cup \exists \{x,y\} \times C | <math>\forall x \not\in \varnothing \subseteq A \cap B \cup \exists \{x,y\} \times C<math> |
| Logic | p \land \bar{q} \to p\lor \lnot q | <math>p \land \bar{q} \to p\lor \lnot q<math> |
| Root | \sqrt{2}\approx 1.4 | <math>\sqrt{2}\approx 1.4<math> |
| \sqrt[n]{x} | <math>\sqrt[n]{x}<math> | |
| Relations | \sim \simeq \cong \le \ge \equiv \not\equiv \approx \ne | <math> \sim \ \simeq \ \cong \ \le \ \ge \ \equiv \ \not\equiv \ \approx \ \ne<math> |
| Geometric | \triangle \angle \perp \| 45^\circ | <math>\triangle \ \angle \perp \| \ 45^\circ<math> |
| Arrows |
\leftarrow \rightarrow \leftrightarrow |
<math>\leftarrow\ \rightarrow\ \leftrightarrow<math> <math>\longleftarrow\ \longrightarrow<math> <math>\mapsto\ \longmapsto<math> <math>\nearrow\ \searrow\ \swarrow\ \nwarrow<math> <math>\uparrow\ \downarrow\ \updownarrow<math> |
|
\Leftarrow \Rightarrow \Leftrightarrow |
<math>\Leftarrow\ \Rightarrow\ \Leftrightarrow<math> <math>\Longleftarrow\ \Longrightarrow\ \Longleftrightarrow<math> <math>\Uparrow\ \Downarrow\ \Updownarrow<math> |
|
| Special | \oplus \otimes \pm \mp \hbar \dagger \ddagger \star * \ldots \circ \cdot \times \bullet \infty \vdash \models | <math>\oplus \otimes \pm \mp \hbar \dagger \ddagger \star * \ldots<math> <math>\circ \cdot \times \bullet\ \infty \ \vdash \ \models<math> |
| Feature | Syntax | How it looks rendered | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superscript | a^2 | <math>a^2<math> | <math>a^2 \,\!<math> |
| Subscript | a_2 | <math>a_2<math> | <math>a_2 \,\!<math> |
| Grouping | a^{2+2} | <math>a^{2+2}<math> | <math>a^{2+2} \,\!<math> |
| a_{i,j} | <math>a_{i,j}<math> | <math>a_{i,j} \,\!<math> | |
| Combining sub & super | x_2^3 | <math>x_2^3<math> | |
| Derivative (good) | x' | <math>x'<math> | <math>x' \,\!<math> |
| Derivative (wrong in HTML) | x^\prime | <math>x^\prime<math> | <math>x^\prime \,\!<math> |
| Derivative (wrong in PNG) | x\prime | <math>x\prime<math> | <math>x\prime \,\!<math> |
| Derivative dots | \dot{x}, \ddot{x} | <math>\dot{x}, \ddot{x}<math> | |
| Underlines & overlines | \hat a \bar b \vec c \widehat {d e f} \overline {g h i} \underline {j k l} | <math>\hat a \ \bar b \ \vec c \ \widehat {d e f} \ \overline {g h i} \ \underline {j k l}<math> | |
| Sum | \sum_{k=1}^N k^2 | <math>\sum_{k=1}^N k^2<math> | |
| Product | \prod_{i=1}^N x_i | <math>\prod_{i=1}^N x_i<math> | |
| Limit | \lim_{n \to \infty}x_n | <math>\lim_{n \to \infty}x_n<math> | |
| Integral | \int_{-N}^{N} e^x\, dx | <math>\int_{-N}^{N} e^x\, dx<math> | |
| Line Integral | \oint_{C} x^3\, dx + 4y^2\, dy | <math>\oint_{C} x^3\, dx + 4y^2\, dy<math> | |
| Feature | Syntax | How it looks rendered | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fractions | \frac{2}{4} or {2 \over 4} | <math>\frac{2}{4}<math> | ||||
| Binomial coefficients | {n \choose k} | <math>{n \choose k}<math> | ||||
| Small Fractions | \begin{matrix} \frac{2}{4} \end{matrix} | <math>\begin{matrix} \frac{2}{4} \end{matrix}<math> | ||||
| Matrices | \begin{matrix} x & y \\ z & v \end{matrix} | <math>\begin{matrix} x & y \\ z & v \end{matrix}<math> | ||||
| \begin{vmatrix} x & y \\ z & v \end{vmatrix} | <math>\begin{vmatrix} x & y \\ z & v \end{vmatrix}<math> | |||||
| \begin{Vmatrix} x & y \\ z & v \end{Vmatrix} | <math>\begin{Vmatrix} x & y \\ z & v \end{Vmatrix}<math> | |||||
| \begin{bmatrix} 0 & \cdots & 0 \\ \vdots &
\ddots & \vdots \\ 0 & \cdots & 0\end{bmatrix} |
<math>\begin{bmatrix} 0 & \cdots & 0 \\ \vdots
& \ddots & \vdots \\ 0 & \cdots & 0\end{bmatrix} <math> |
|||||
| \begin{Bmatrix} x & y \\ z & v \end{Bmatrix} | <math>\begin{Bmatrix} x & y \\ z & v \end{Bmatrix}<math> | |||||
| \begin{pmatrix} x & y \\ z & v \end{pmatrix} | <math>\begin{pmatrix} x & y \\ z & v \end{pmatrix}<math> | |||||
| Case distinctions | f(n) = \left \{ \begin{matrix} n/2, & \mbox{if }n\mbox{ is
even} \\ 3n+1, & \mbox{if }n\mbox{ is odd} \end{matrix} \right. |
<math>f(n) = \left \{ \begin{matrix} n/2, & \mbox{if }n\mbox{ is even} \\ 3n+1, & \mbox{if }n\mbox{ is odd} \end{matrix} \right. <math> | ||||
| Multiline equations | \begin{matrix}f(n+1) & = & (n+1)^2 \\ \ & = & n^2 + 2n + 1 \end{matrix} | <math>\begin{matrix}f(n+1) & = & (n+1)^2 \\ \ & = & n^2 + 2n + 1 \end{matrix}<math> | ||||
| Alternative multiline equations (using tables) |
{|
|-
|<math>f(n+1)</math>
|<math>=(n+1)^2</math>
|-
|
|<math>=n^2 + 2n + 1</math>
|}
|
|
| Feature | Syntax | How it looks rendered | |
|---|---|---|---|
| \alpha \beta \gamma \Gamma \phi \Phi \Psi\ \tau \Omega | <math>\alpha\ \beta\ \gamma\ \Gamma\ \phi\ \Phi\ \Psi\ \tau\ \Omega<math> | ||
| x\in\mathbb{R}\sub\mathbb{C} | <math>x\in\mathbb{R}\subset\mathbb{C}<math> | ||
| (vectors) | \mathbf{x}\cdot\mathbf{y} = 0 | <math>\mathbf{x}\cdot\mathbf{y} = 0<math> | |
| boldface (greek) | \boldsymbol{\alpha} + \boldsymbol{\beta} + \boldsymbol{\gamma} | <math>\boldsymbol{\alpha} + \boldsymbol{\beta} + \boldsymbol{\gamma}<math> | |
| \mathfrak{a} \mathfrak{B} | <math>\mathfrak{a} \mathfrak{B}<math> | ||
| Script | \mathcal{ABC} | <math>\mathcal{ABC}<math> | |
| \aleph \beth \gimel \daleth | <math>\aleph\ \beth\ \gimel\ \daleth<math> | ||
| non-italicised characters | \mbox{abc} | <math>\mbox{abc}<math> | <math>\mbox{abc} \,\!<math> |
| mixed italics (bad) | \mbox{if} n \mbox{is even} | <math>\mbox{if} n \mbox{is even}<math> | <math>\mbox{if} n \mbox{is even} \,\!<math> |
| mixed italics (good) | \mbox{if }n\mbox{ is even} | <math>\mbox{if }n\mbox{ is even}<math> | <math>\mbox{if }n\mbox{ is even} \,\!<math> |
| Feature | Syntax | How it looks rendered |
|---|---|---|
| Not good | ( \frac{1}{2} ) | <math>( \frac{1}{2} )<math> |
| Better | \left ( \frac{1}{2} \right ) | <math>\left ( \frac{1}{2} \right )<math> |
You can use various delimiters with \left and \right:
| Feature | Syntax | How it looks rendered |
|---|---|---|
| Parentheses | \left ( A \right ) | <math>\left ( A \right )<math> |
| Brackets | \left [ A \right ] | <math>\left [ A \right ]<math> |
| Braces | \left \{ A \right \} | <math>\left \{ A \right \}<math> |
| Angle brackets | \left \langle A \right \rangle | <math>\left \langle A \right \rangle<math> |
| Bars and double bars | \left | A \right | and \left \| B \right \| | <math>\left | A \right | and \left \| B \right \|<math> |
|
Delimiters can be mixed, |
\left [ 0,1 \right ) |
<math>\left [ 0,1 \right )<math> |
| Use \left. and \right. if you don't want a delimiter to appear: |
\left . \frac{A}{B} \right \} \to X | <math>\left . \frac{A}{B} \right \} \to X<math> |
Note that TeX handles most spacing automatically, but you may sometimes want manual control.
| Feature | Syntax | How it looks rendered |
|---|---|---|
| double quad space | a \qquad b | <math>a \qquad b<math> |
| quad space | a \quad b | <math>a \quad b<math> |
| text space | a\ b | <math>a\ b<math> |
| text space without PNG conversion | a \mbox{ } b | <math>a \mbox{ } b<math> |
| large space | a\;b | <math>a\;b<math> |
| medium space | a\>b | [not supported] |
| small space | a\,b | <math>a\,b<math> |
| no space | ab | <math>ab\,<math> |
| negative space | a\!b | <math>a\!b<math> |
If you must, it is possible to force the formula to render as PNG, without affecting the display of the formula, by adding \, (small space) at the end of the formula (where it is not rendered). This will force PNG if the user is in "HTML if simple" mode, but not for "HTML if possible" mode (math rendering settings in Preferences).
You can also use \,\! (small space and negative space, which cancel out) anywhere inside the math tags. This does force PNG in "HTML if possible" mode, unlike \,.
This could be useful to keep the rendering of formulae in a proof consistent, for example, or to fix formulae that render incorrectly in HTML (at one time, a^{2+2} rendered with an extra underscore), or to demonstrate how something is rendered when it would normally show up as HTML (as in the examples above).
For instance:
| Syntax | How it looks rendered |
|---|---|
| a^{2+2} | <math>a^{2+2}<math> |
| a^{2+2} \, | <math>a^{2+2} \,<math> |
| a^{\,\!2+2} | <math>a^{\,\!2+2}<math> |
| \int_{-N}^{N} e^x\, dx | <math>\int_{-N}^{N} e^x\, dx<math> |
| \int_{-N}^{N} e^x\, dx \, | <math>\int_{-N}^{N} e^x\, dx \,<math> |
| \int_{-N}^{N} e^x\, dx \,\! | <math>\int_{-N}^{N} e^x\, dx \,\!<math> |
This has been tested with most of the formulae on this page, and seems to work perfectly.
You might want to include a comment in the HTML so people don't "correct" the formula by removing it:
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