Entering a Formula

Getting Started with OpenOffice 4

Chapter 8: Getting Started with Math

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• What is Math?
• Getting Started
• Entering a formula
  • Example 1
  • Example 2
• Customization
• Formula layout
• Numbering equations

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Entering a Formula

The equation editor uses a markup language to represent formulas. For example, %beta creates the Greek character beta ($\beta$). This markup is designed to read similar to English whenever possible. For example, a over b produces a fraction: ${\frac {a}{b}}$.

You can enter a formula in three ways:

• Select a symbol from the Elements window.
• Right-click on the equation editor and select the symbol from the context menu.
• Type markup in the equation editor.

Figure 202. Equation Editor, Elements window, and location of resulting equation.

The context menu and the Elements window insert the markup corresponding to a symbol. This provides a convenient way to learn the Math markup.

Click on the document body to exit the formula editor. Double-click on a formula to enter the formula editor again.

The Elements Window

The simplest method for entering a formula is to use the Elements window.

Figure 203. Symbols are divided into categories

The Elements window is divided into two main parts.

• The top shows the symbol categories. Click on these to change the list of symbols.
• The bottom shows the symbols available in the current category.

You can hide or show the Elements window with View → Elements.