Math Guide

The OpenOffice.org Equation Editor

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Copyright
This document is !opyright 2""#$2"%" by its contributors as listed
in the section titled Authors. &ou may distribute it and'or modify it
under the terms of either the ()* (eneral Public +icense, version , or
later, or the !reative !ommons -ttribution +icense, version ,." or
later. -ll trademar.s within this guide belong to their legitimate
owners.
Authors
Daniel !arrera
-gnes /el0unce
Peter 1upfer
Ian +aurenson
2anet 3. 4wisher
2ean 5ollis 6eber
3ichele 7arri
Feedback
Please direct any comments or suggestions about this document to8
authors9user:fa;.openoffice.org
Publication date and software version
Published 2< 3arch 2"%". /ased on =pen=ffice.org ,.2.
You can download
an editable version of this document from
http://oooauthors.org/english/userguide3/published/
Contents
What is Math?................................................................................4
(etting started......................................................................................<
Entering a formula.........................................................................5
The Formula >lements window............................................................#
?ight:clic. menu...................................................................................@
3ar.up..................................................................................................A
(ree. characters..................................................................................A
Customizations............................................................................10
Formula editor as a floating window..................................................%"
5ow can I ma.e a formula biggerB....................................................%%
Formula layout.............................................................................12
/rac.ets are your friends...................................................................%2
>;uations over more than one line....................................................%,
5ow do I add limits to my sum'integralB...........................................%,
/rac.ets with matrices loo. uglyC......................................................%<
5ow do I ma.e a derivativeB..............................................................%<
5ow do I align my e;uations at the e;uals signB...............................%#
Numering e!uations..................................................................1"
Math #omman$s % &eferen#e.......................................................1'
*nary ' binary operators....................................................................%A
?elational operators...........................................................................%D
4et operations.....................................................................................2"
Functions............................................................................................2%
=perators............................................................................................22
-ttributes............................................................................................2,
3iscellaneous.....................................................................................2#
/rac.ets..............................................................................................2E
Formats...............................................................................................2@
!haracters $ (ree..............................................................................2A
!haracters $ 4pecial...........................................................................2A
OOo3_boo_template 3
What is Math?
3ath is =pen=ffice.org (==oFs component for writing mathematical
e;uations. It is most commonly used as an e;uation editor for teGt
documents, but it can also be used with other types of documents or
stand:alone. 6hen used inside 6riter, the e;uation is treated as an
obHect inside the teGt document.
Note
The e;uation editor is for writing e;uations in symbolic form, as
in e;uation %. If you want to evaluate a numeric value, see the
!alc "uide.
df ( x)
dx
=ln( x)+tan
1
( x
2
) (%
Getting started
To insert an e;uation, go to (nsert ) *+e#t ) Formula.
The e;uation editor opens at the bottom of the screen, and the floating
Formula >lements window (called I4electionJ before 3ath ,.2 may
appear. &ou will also see a small boG with a gray border in your
document, where the formula will be displayed, as shown in Figure %.
#igure $. Equation Editor% #ormula Elements window% and
location of resulting equation.
& OOo3_boo_template
ntering a for!ula
The e;uation editor uses a mar.up language to represent formulas. For
eGample, 'beta creates the (ree. character beta ( . This mar.up is
designed to read similar to >nglish whenever possible. For eGample, a
over b produces a fraction8
a
b
.
&ou can enter a formula in three ways8
K 4elect a symbol from the Formula >lements window.
K ?ight:clic. on the e;uation editor and select the symbol from the
conteGt menu.
K Type mar.up in the e;uation editor.
The conteGt menu and the Formula >lements window insert the
mar.up corresponding to a symbol. This provides a convenient way to
learn the ==o 3ath mar.up.
Note
!lic. on the document body to eGit the formula editor.
Double:clic. on a formula to enter the formula editor again.
"he For!ula le!ents window
The simplest method for entering a formula is the Formula >lements
window, shown in Figure %.
#igure (. )*mbols are divided into categories
Note
In ==o 3ath before L,.2.", the Formula >lements window was
called the 4election window.
Entering a formula +
The Formula >lements window is divided into two main parts.
K The to, shows the symbol categories. !lic. on these to change
the list of symbols.
K The ottom shows the symbols available in the current category.
"ip
&ou can hide or show the Formula >lements window with -ie.
) Formula Elements.
Example 1: 54
For this eGample we will enter a simple formula8 54 . =n the Formula
>lements window (Figure ,8
% 4elect the top:left button of the categories (top section.
2 !lic. on the multiplication symbol.
#igure 3. )electing the multiplication s*mbol
6hen you select the multiplication symbol on the Formula >lements
window, two things happen8
K The e;uation editor shows the mar.up8 <?> times <?>
K The body of the document shows a gray boG li.e this8
OO
#igure &. ,esult of selecting the multiplication s*mbol
- OOo3_boo_template
The MBN symbols shown in Figure < are placeholders that you can
replace by other teGt, for eGample 5 and 4. The e;uation will update
automatically, and the result should resemble Figure #.
#igure +. ,esult of entering + and & ne.t to the times operator
"ip
To .eep the e;uation from updating automatically, select -ie.
)Auto/,$ate $is,lay. To update a formula manually, press #/
or select -ie. ) /,$ate.
#ight$click !enu
-nother way to access mathematical symbols is to right:clic. on the
e;uation editor. This pops up the menu shown in Figure E. The items in
this menu correspond eGactly to those in the Formula >lements
window.
#igure -. ,ight0clic menu
Entering a formula 1
Markup
&ou can type the mar.up directly in the e;uation editor. For eGample,
you can type 5 times 4 to obtain 54 . If you .now the mar.up, this
can be the fastest way to enter a formula.
"ip
The formula mar.up resembles the way the formula reads in
>nglish.
/elow is a short list of common e;uations and their corresponding
mar.up.
Display Command Display Command
a=b
a O b
. a
s;rt PaQ
a
2
aR2
a
n
aSn

f ( x) dx
int f(G dG

a
n
sum aSn
ab
a MO b

infinity
ab
a times b
xy
G cdot y
Greek characters
(ree. characters ( o , , y , 0 , etc are common in mathematical
formulas. These characters are not available in the #ormula Elements
window or the right0clic menu. Fortunately, the mar.up for (ree.
characters is simple8 Type a T sign followed the name of the character,
in >nglish.
K To write a lowercase character, type the name of the character in
lowercase.
K To write an uppercase character, type the name of the character
in uppercase.
4ee the table below for some eGamples.
Lowercase Uppercase
%alpha - o %ALPHA - A
%beta - %BETA - B
%gamma - y %GAMMA - I
%psi - %PSI - 1
%phi - %PHI - 4
%theta - 0 %THETA - O
2 OOo3_boo_template
Note - complete table of (ree. characters is provided on page 2A.
-nother way to enter (ree. characters is by using the 4ymbols catalog
window. !hoose 0ools ) Catalog. This window is shown in Figure @.
*nder )*mbol set, select 1ree2 and double:clic. on a (ree. letter
from the list.
#igure 1. )*mbols catalog 0 used for entering "ree characters
Example 2: 3.14159
For this eGample we will suppose that8
K 6e want to enter the above formula (the value of pi rounded to #
decimal places.
K 6e .now the name of the (ree. character (pi.
K /ut we do not .now the mar.up associated with the symbol.
3te, 18 Type % followed by the teGt pi. This displays the (ree.
character .
3te, 28 =pen the Formula >lements window (-ie. ) Formula
Elements.
3te, 48 The symbol is a relation, so we clic. on the ?elations
button. If you hover the mouse over this button you see the tooltip
,elations (Figure A.
Figure D shows the 4election window after clic.ing the ?elations
button. The symbol we want is circled.
Entering a formula /
#igure 2. Tooltip indicates
the ,elations button.
#igure /. 3fter selecting ,elations.
3te, 48 !lic. on the a b symbol. The e;uation editor now shows the
mar.up %pi<?> simeq <?>.
3te, 58 Delete the MBN teGt and add 3!4!5" at the end of the
e;uation. 6e end up with the mar.up %pi simeq 3!4!5". The result
is shown in Figure %".
#igure $4. #inal result
Custo!i%ations
For!ula editor as a floating window
The formula editor can cover a large part of the 6riter window. To turn
the formula editor into a floating window, do this8
% 5over the mouse over the editor frame, as shown in Figure %%.
2 5old down the !ontrol .ey and double:clic..
$4 OOo3_boo_template
#igure $$. 5old down the !ontrol e* and
double0clic on the border of the math editor
to turn it into a floating window.
Figure %2 shows the result. &ou can doc. the floating window again by
using the same steps. 5old down the !ontrol .ey and double:clic. the
window frame.
#igure $(. Equation editor as a floating window.
&ow can ' !ake a for!ula bigger?
This is one of the most common ;uestions people as. about ==o 3ath.
The answer is simple, but not intuitive8
% 4tart the formula editor and choose Format ) Font size.
#igure $3. !hanging the font si6e for a formula.
!ustomi6ations $$
2 4elect a larger font si0e under 7ase si6e (top:most entry, as
shown in Figure %,.
#igure $&. Edit 7ase si6e 8top9 to mae a formula bigger.
The result of this change is illustrated in Figure %<.
#igure $+. ,esult of changing the base font si6e.
For!ula layout
The most difficult part of using ==o 3ath comes when writing
complicated formulas. This section provides some advice.
(rackets are your friends
==o 3ath .nows nothing about order of operation. &ou must use
brac.ets to state the order of operations eGplicitly. !onsider the
following eGample.
Markup Result
# $%e& ' ( !
2
x
+1
# $%e& )' ( !*
2
x+1
$( OOo3_boo_template
)uations over !ore than one line
4uppose you want to type an e;uation covering more than one line. For
eGample8
x=3
y=1
&our first reaction would be to simply press the Enter .ey. 5owever, if
you press the Enter .ey, though the mar.up goes to a new line, the
resulting e;uation does not. &ou must type the newline command
eGplicitly. This is illustrated in the table below.
Markup Result
' + 3
, + !
x=3 y=1
' + 3 -e.li-e
, + !
x=3
y=1
&ow do ' add li!its to !y su!*integral?
The sum and int commands can (optionally ta.e the parameters from
and to. These are used for lower and upper limits respectively. These
parameters can be used singly or together. +imits for integrals are
usually treated as subscripts and superscripts.
Markup Result
s/m 0&$m 1 + ! t$ - a21

k =1
n
a
k
i-t 0&$m 3 t$ ' 04t5 6t
or
i-t237' 04t5 6t

0
x
f (t ) dt or

0
x
f ( t ) dt
i-t 0&$m 8e 0

f
s/m t$ i-0i-it, #7)9-*

2
n
Note
For more details on integrals and sums, see page 22.
#ormula la*out $3
(rackets with !atrices look ugly+
For bac.ground, we start with an overview of the matriG command.
Markup Result
mat&i' ) a : b :: ; : 6 *
a b
c d
Note
?ows are separated by two UFs and entries within each row are
separated by one U.
The first problem people have with matrices is that brac.ets do not
scale with the matriG8
Markup Result
4 mat&i' ) a : b :: ; : 6 * 5 (
a b
c d
)
==o 3ath provides scalable brac.ets. That is, the brac.ets grow in
si0e to match the si0e of their contents. *se the commands left8 and
right9 to ma.e scalable brac.ets.
Markup Result
le0t4 mat&i' ) a : b :: ; : 6 * &ight5
(
a b
c d
)
"ip *se left: and right; to obtain s;uare brac.ets.
&ow do ' !ake a derivative?
3a.ing derivatives essentially comes down to one tric.8 Tell OOo it<s a
fraction.
In other words, you have to use the over command. !ombine this with
either the letter d (for a total derivative or the partial command (for a
partial derivative to achieve the effect of a derivative.
Note
)otice that we have to use braces (s;uiggly brac.ets to ma.e
the derivative.
$& OOo3_boo_template
Markup Result
)60* $%e& )6'*
df
dx
)pa&tial 0* $%e& )pa&tial ,*
f
y
)pa&tial7# 0* $%e& )pa&tial t7#*

2
f
t
2
&ow do ' align !y e)uations at the e)uals sign?
==o 3ath does not have a command for aligning e;uations on a
particular character, but you can use a matriG to do this, as shown
below.
Markup Result
mat&i')
alig-& '(, : )*+)* : alig-l # ::
alig-& ' : )*+)* : alig-l #9,
*
x+y = 2
x = 2y
The empty braces around O are necessary because O is a binary
operator and thus needs an eGpression on each side.
&ou can reduce the spacing around O if you change the inter:column
spacing of the matriG8
% 6ith the e;uation editor open, choose Format ) 3,a#ing from
the menu bar.
#igure $-: !hanging spacing in a matri. formula
#ormula la*out $+
2 In the 4pacing dialog (Figure %E, clic. the Category button and
select Matri#es in the drop:down menu.
, >nter 05 for !olumn spacing and clic. *6.
Nu!bering e)uations
>;uation numbering is one of ==o 3athFs best hidden features. The
steps are simple, but obscure8
% 4tart a new line.
2 Type 0- and then press #3.
The fn is replaced by a numbered formula8
E=mc
2
(2
)ow you can double:clic. on the formula to edit it. For eGample, here
is the ?iemann 7eta function8
( z )=

n=1

1
n
z

(,
&ou can reference an e;uation (Ias shown in >;uation (2J with these
steps8
% !hoose (nsert ) Cross%referen#e from the menu bar.
2 =n the !ross0references tab (Figure %@, under T*pe, select Te.t.
, *nder )election, select the e;uation number.
< *nder #ormat, select ,eference.
!lic. (nsert.
DoneC If you later add more e;uations to the paper before the
referenced e;uation, all the e;uations will automatically renumber and
the cross:references will update.
$- OOo3_boo_template
#igure $1. =nserting a cross0reference to an equation number
"ip
To insert the e;uation number without parenthesis around it,
choose >umbering instead of ,eference under #ormat.
>umbering equations $1
Math co!!ands $ #eference
,nary * binary operators
Operation Command Display
Vsign V%
+1
$sign $%
1
V'$ sign V$%
!1
$'V sign
+1
1
/oolean not neg a
a
-ddition V a V b
a+b
Dot product a cdot b
ab
3ultiplication (W a times b
ab
3ultiplication (asteris. a X b
ab
/oolean YandF a and b
ab
4ubtraction ($ a $ b
ab
Division (as a fraction a over b
a
b
Division (as an operator a div b
a-b
Division (with a slash a ' b
a/ b
/oolean YorF a or b
a\b
!oncatenation a circ b
ab
$2 OOo3_boo_template
#elational operators
Operation Command Display
Is e;ual a O b
a=b
Is not e;ual a MN b
a=2
-pproGimately a approG 2
a-2
Divides a divides b
ab
Does not divide a ndivides b
a|b
+ess than a M 2
a2
(reater than a N 2
a>2
4imilar to or e;ual a sime; b
ab
Parallel a parallel b
a|b
=rthogonal to a ortho b
ab
+ess than or e;ual to a leslant b
a<b
(reater than or e;ual to a geslant b
ab
4imilar to a sim b
ab
!ongruent a e;uiv b
a=b
+ess than or e;ual to a MO b
ab
(reater than or e;ual to a NO b
a>b
Proportional a prop b
ab
Toward a toward b
a-b
-rrow left a dlarrow b
a=b
Double arrow left and right a dlrarrow b
a=b
-rrow right a drarrow b
a=b
?ath commands 0 ,eference $/
-et operations
Operation Command Display
Is in a in /
a-B
Is not in a notin /
aB
=wns - owns b
A-b
>mpty set emptyset Y
Intersection - intersection /
AiB
*nion - union /
AB
Difference - setminus /
A\ B
Zuotient - slash /
A/ B
-leph aleph
4ubset - subset /
AB
4ubset or e;ual to - subsete; /
AIB
4uperset - supset /
AB
4uperset or e;ual to - supsete; /
AB
)ot subset - nsubset /
AvB
)ot subset or e;ual - nsubsete; /
AIB
)ot superset - nsupset /
A=B
)ot superset or e;ual - nsupsete; /
AIB
4et of natural numbers set) N
4et of integers set7 Z
4et of rational numbers setZ O
4et of real numbers set? R
4et of compleG numbers set! C
(4 OOo3_boo_template
Functions
Operation Command Display
>Gponential func eRPaQ
e
a
)atural logarithm ln(a
ln (a)
>Gponential function eGp(a
exp(a)
+ogarithm log(a
log(a)
Power aRPbQ
a
b
4ine sin(a
sin( a)
!osine cos(a
cos(a)
Tangent tan(a
tan(a)
!otangent cot(a
cot (a)
4;uare root s;rtPaQ . a
-rcsine arcsin(a
arcsin(a)
-rc cosine arccos(a
arccos(a)
-rctangent arctan(a
arctan(a)
-rc cotangent arccot(a
arccot (a)
n
th
root nrootPaQPbQ
a
.
b
5yperbolic sine sinh(a
sinh(a)
5yperbolic cosine cosh(a
cosh(a)
5yperbolic tangent tanh(a
tanh(a)
5yperbolic cotangent coth(a
coth (a)
-bsolute value absPaQ
a
-rc hyperbolic sine arsinh(a
arsinh(a)
-rc hyperbolic cosine arccosh(a
arcosh(a)
-rc hyperbolic tangent arctanh(a
artanh(a)
-rc hyperbolic cotangent arccoth(a
arcoth(a)
Factorial factPaQ a!
?ath commands 0 ,eference ($
.perators
-ll operators can be used with the limit functions (IfromJ and ItoJ.
Operation Command Display
+imit limPaQ
lim a
4um sumPaQ

a
Product prodPaQ
]
a
!oproduct coprodPaQ ]
a
*pper and lower bounds
shown with integral
int from PrS"Q to PrStQ a

r
0
r
t
a
Integral intPaQ

a
Double integral iintPaQ
]
a
Triple integral iiintPaQ
_
a
+ower bound shown with
summation symbol
sum fromP,Qb

3
b
!ontour integral lint a
|
a
Double curved integral llint a
]
a
Triple curved integral lllint a
]
a
*pper bound shown with
product symbol
prod toP,Q r
]
3
r
(( OOo3_boo_template
Attributes
Operation Command Display
-cute accent acute a
a
(rave accent grave a ` a
?everse circumfleG chec. a
` a
/reve breve a
a
!ircle circle a a
Lector arrow vec a a
Tilde tilde a a
!ircumfleG hat a
a
+ine above bar a
a
Dot dot a `
a
6ide vector arrow widevec abc

abc
6ide tilde widetilde abc

abc
6ide circumfleG widehat abc

abc
Double dot ddot a
a
+ine over overline abc
abc
+ine under underline abc
abc
+ine through overstri.e abc
acb
Triple dot dddot a
a
Transparent (useful to get a
placeholder of a given si0e
phantom a
/old font bold a
a
Italic font
%
ital IaJ
a
?esi0e font si0e %E ;v
qv
Following item in sans serif font
2
font sans ;v
qv
Following item in serif font font serif ;v
qv
Following item in fiGed font font fiGed ;v
qv
% *n;uoted teGt that is not a command is considered to be a variable. Lariables are, by
default, italici0ed.
2 There are three custom fonts8 sans serif (without .ic.s, serifs (with .ic.s, and fiGed
(non:proportional. To change the actual fonts used for custom fonts and the fonts
used for variables (un;uoted teGt, numbers and functions, use Format ) Fonts.
?ath commands 0 ,eference (3
Operation Command Display
3a.e color of following teGt cyan
,
color cyan ;v
qv
3a.e color of following teGt yellow color yellow ;v
qv
3a.e color of following teGt white color white ;v
qv
3a.e color of following teGt green color green ;v
qv
3a.e color of following teGt blue color blue ;v
qv
3a.e color of following teGt red color red ;v
qv
3a.e color green returns to default
color blac.
color green W ;v X qv
/race items to change color of more
than one item
color green PW ;vQ X qv
, For all coloring, the color will apply only to the teGt immediately following the
command until the neGt space is encountered. In order to have the color apply to
more characters, place the teGt you want in color in curly brac.ets.
(& OOo3_boo_template
Miscellaneous
Operation Command Display
Infinity infinity

Partial partial

)abla nabla
\
There eGists eGists

For all forall
\
5 bar hbar
h
+ambda bar lambdabar \
?eal part re
Imaginary part im 5
6eierstrass p wp
+eft arrow leftarrow
-
?ight arrow rightarrow
-
*p arrow uparrow
!
Down arrow downarrow
.
Dots at bottom dotslow
.
Dots at middle dotsaGis

Dots vertical dotsvert

Dots diagonal upward dotsup
.
Dots diagonal downward dotsdown

?ath commands 0 ,eference (+
(rackets
Operation Command Display
?ound /rac.ets (a
(a)
4;uare /rac.ets [b\
b|
Double 4;uare /rac.ets ldbrac.et c rdbrac.et
jc[
4ingle line lline a rline
a
Double line ldline a rdline
|a|
/races lbrace w rbrace
w
-ngle /rac.ets langle d rangle
d ,
=perator /rac.ets langle a mline b rangle
a b,
(roup brac.ets (used for
program control
PaQ
a
4calable round brac.ets
(add the word IleftJ before
a left brac.et and IrightJ
before a right brac.et
left ( stac.Pa U b U 0Q
right
(
a
b
z
)
4;uare brac.ets scalable
(as above
left [ stac.P G U yQ right \

x
y
|
Double s;uare brac.ets
scalable
left ldbrac.et c right
rdbrac.et
j c[
+ine scalable left lline a right rline a
Double line scalable left ldline d right rdline |d|
/race scalable left lbrace e right rbrace e
-ngle brac.et scalable left langle f right rangle f ,
=perator brac.ets scalable
left langle g mline h right
rangle
g h,
=ver brace scalable
PThe brace is aboveQ
overbrace a
hebraceis ab!ve
a
*nder brace scalable
Pthe brace is
belowQunderbrace PfQ
the braceis bel!w
_
f
(- OOo3_boo_template
For!ats
Operation Command Display
+eft superscript a lsupPbQ
a
b
!enter superscript a csupPbQ
a
b
?ight superscript aRPbQ
a
b
+eft subscript a lsubPbQ
a
b
!enter subscript a csubPbQ
a
b
?ight subscript aSPbQ
a
b
-lign character to left (teGt
is aligned center by default
stac. P 5ello world U alignl
(a Q
"ell! w!rld
(a)
-lign character to center
stac.P5ello world U
alignc(aQ
"ell! w!rld
(a)
-lign character to right
stac. P 5ello world U
alignr(aQ
"ell! w!rld
(a)
Lertical stac. of 2 binomPaQPbQ
a
b
Lertical stac., more than 2 stac.Pa U b U 0Q
a
b
z
3atriG
matriGP
a U b UU
c U d
Q
a b
c d
>;uations aligned at ]O]
(using ]matriG]
matriGP
a U ^O^ U alignlPbQ UU
PQ U ^O^ U alignlPcV%Q
Q
a #b
#c
>;uations aligned at ]O]
(using ]phantom]
stac.P
alignlPaQ O b U
alignlPphantomPaQ O cV%Q
Q
a #b
#c
)ew line asld.fHo newline sad.fH
asldkf$!
sadkf$
4mall gap (grave stuff _stuff
st%ff st%ff
+arge gap (tilde stuff`stuff
st%ff st%ff
?ath commands 0 ,eference (1
Characters / Greek
T-+P5- A
T/>T- B T!5I X
TD>+T-
A
T>P4I+=) E
T>T- "
T(-33-
I
TI=T- &
T1-PP- ' T+-3/D-
A
T3* ( T)* ) T=3>(-
D
T=3I!?=) * TP5I
4
TPI
I
TP4I
1
T?5= + T4I(3-
2
TT5>T-
O
T*P4I+=)

TWI

T7>T- ,
Talpha
o
Tbeta

Tchi

Tdelta

Tepsilon

Teta

Tgamma
y
Tiota

T.appa

Tlambda

Tmu

Tnu

Tomega

Tomicron

Tphi

Tpi

Trho

Tsigma

Ttau

Ttheta
0
Tupsilon

Tvarepsilon

Tvarphi

Tvarpi

Tvarrho
Tvarsigma

Tvartheta

TGi

T0eta

Characters / -pecial
Tand Tangle Telement - Tidentical =
Tinfinite Tnoelement Tnote;ual = Tor \
Tperthousand Tstrictlygreaterthan Tstrictlylessthan Ttendto -
(2 OOo3_boo_template
'nde0
?ath commands 0 ,eference (/