Math Input Panel: frequently asked questions

Math Input Panel recognizes high school and college-level math. This includes the following:

• Numbers and letters

• Arithmetic

• Calculus

• Functions

• Sets

• Set theory

• Algebra

• Combinatorics

• Probability and statistics

• Geometry

• Vectors and 3-D analytic geometry

• Mathematical logic

• Axioms, theorems, and definitions

• Applied mathematics

Individual variables are recognized with italics, and mathematical constants are recognized in roman text. For example, sin (italic) represents the multiplication of the variables s, i, and n, but sin (no italic) represents the sine function.

Handwriting recognized as the multiplication of variables (left); handwriting recognized as a mathematical function (right)

Also, i (italic) represents a variable, but i (no italic) is the imaginary unit.

There are two possible reasons:

• The insertion point might not be active in the program that you want to insert the recognized math into.

• The program that you want to insert the recognized math into might not support Mathematical Markup Language (MathML). MathML is used to describe both the structure and the content of mathematical expressions. Math Input Panel uses MathML to format recognized math expressions.

Math Input Panel recognizes only well-formed math expressions. If you're writing a well-formed math expression, try one of the following:

• Correct symbols that are recognized incorrectly. For information about how to do that, see Use Math Input Panel to write and correct math equations.

• If your symbols are too close together, leave more room between them.

  

  Tip

  If your writing is too crowded, you can select a symbol or part of the expression, and then move it by dragging the edge of the rectangle that surrounds the selected handwriting. For more information about how to select writing in Math Input Panel, see Use Math Input Panel to write and correct math equations.