View source for Documentation/AOO4 User Guides/Getting Started/Getting Started with Math/Entering a Formula/Example 1

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==== Example 1:<math>5\times 4</math> ====
For this example we will enter a simple formula:<math>5\times 4</math>. On the Elements window:

# Select the top-left button of the categories (top) section.
# Click on the multiplication symbol.

[[Image:AOO41GS09_003.png|300px|center]]
<center>''Figure 204. Selecting the multiplication symbol''</center>

When you select the multiplication symbol on the Elements window, two things happen:

* The equation editor shows the markup: <nowiki><?> times <?></nowiki>

* The body of the document shows a gray box like this: ❑×❑

[[Image:AOO41GS09_004.png|300px|center]]
<center>''Figure 205. Result of selecting the multiplication symbol''</center>

The <nowiki><?></nowiki> symbols shown in Figure 205 are placeholders that you can replace by other text, for example 5 and 4. The equation will update automatically, and the result should resemble Figure 206.

{{Tip| To keep the equation from updating automatically, choose {{menu|View|AutoUpdate Display}} from the menu bar. To update a formula manually, press {{key|F9}} or pick {{menu|View|Update}}.}}

[[Image:AOO41GS09_005.png|400px|center]]
<center>''Figure 206. Result of entering 5 and 4 next to the times operator''</center>

=== Right-click (Context) Menu ===
Another way to access mathematical symbols is to right-click on the equation editor. This pops up the menu shown in Figure 207. The items in this menu correspond exactly to those in the Elements window.

[[Image:AOO41GS09_006.png|400px|center]]
<center>''Figure 207. Right-click (Context) Menu''</center>

=== Markup ===
You can type the markup directly in the equation editor. For example, you can type 5 times 4 to obtain <math>5\times 4</math>. If you know the markup, this can be the fastest way to enter a formula.

{{Tip| The formula markup resembles the way the formula reads in English.}}

Below is a short list of common equations and their corresponding markup.

{| style="border-spacing:0;"
! Display
! Command
! Display
! Command
|-
| style="background-color:transparent;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| <math>a=b</math>
| style="background-color:transparent;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| a = b
| style="background-color:transparent;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| <math>\sqrt{a}</math>
| style="background-color:transparent;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| sqrt {a}
|-
| style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| <math>{a}^{2}</math>
| style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| a^2
| style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| <math>{a}_{n}</math>
| style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| a_n
|-
| style="background-color:transparent;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| <big>∫</big>f(x)dx 
| style="background-color:transparent;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| int f(x) dx
| style="background-color:transparent;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| <math>\sum {a}_{n}</math>
| style="background-color:transparent;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| sum a_n
|-
| style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| <math>a\le b</math>
| style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| <nowiki>a <= b</nowiki>
| style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| <math>\infty </math>
| style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| infinity
|-
| style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| <math>a\times b</math>
| style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| a times b
| style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| <math>x\cdot y</math>
| style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| x cdot y
|}

=== Greek Characters ===
Greek characters (<math>\alpha ,\beta ,\gamma ,\theta </math>, and so on) are common in mathematical formulas. ''These characters are not available in the Elements window or on the right-click menu''. Fortunately, the markup for Greek characters is simple: Type a % sign followed by the name of the character, in English. (In localized versions of OpenOffice, these names are localized.)

* To write a ''lowercase'' character, type the name of the character in lowercase.
* To write an ''uppercase'' character, type the name of the character in uppercase.

A complete table of Greek characters is provided in the ''Math Guide''. See the table below for some examples.

{| style="border-spacing:0;"
! Lowercase
! Uppercase
|-
| style="background-color:transparent;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| %alpha<math>\rightarrow \alpha </math>
| style="background-color:transparent;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| %ALPHA → <math>\Alpha </math>
|-
| style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| %beta <math>\rightarrow \beta </math>
| style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| %BETA → <math> \Beta </math>
|-
| style="background-color:transparent;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| %gamma<math>\rightarrow \gamma </math>
| style="background-color:transparent;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| %GAMMA<math>\rightarrow \Gamma </math>
|-
| style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| %psi  <math>\rightarrow \psi </math>
| style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| %PSI  <math>\rightarrow \Psi </math>
|-
| style="background-color:transparent;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| %phi  <math>\rightarrow \phi </math>
| style="background-color:transparent;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| %PHI  <math>\rightarrow \Phi </math>
|-
| style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| %theta<math>\rightarrow \theta </math>
| style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top:none;border-bottom:0.002cm solid #000000;border-left:none;border-right:none;padding:0.097cm;"| %THETA<math>\rightarrow \Theta </math>
|}

Another way to enter Greek characters is by using the Symbols catalog window. Choose {{menu|Tools|Catalog}}. Under ''Symbol set'', select '''Greek''' and double-click on a Greek letter from the list. The markup name of the character is shown below the list window.

[[Image:AOO41GS09_007.png| 400px|center]]
<center>''Figure 208. Symbols catalog used for entering Greek characters and some special symbols.''</center>

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[[Category:Getting Started (Documentation)]]