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− | ==How can I get a left bracket without a right bracket?==
| + | {{DISPLAYTITLE:{{AOo}} Math FAQ}}__NOTOC__{{Documentation/FAQTOC}}{{Note| A useful first resource is the '''[[Documentation/Reference/Math_commands|OpenOffice Math Syntax Reference]]'''.}} |
− | Since brackets have a grouping function they must always match and
| + | Search the FAQs: <googlefaq/> |
− | be correctly nested.
| + | This list is ordered by popularity. The most popular FAQs are at the top. But also have a look at the bottom to find any new entries. |
| | | |
− | To get a single bracket without a matching bracket partner you
| + | Below the list you can find some more FAQs that have special characters in the title. |
− | have to escape the bracket with a backslash. For example to get a "[" | + | |
− | without a corresponding "]" you should enter "'''\['''".
| + | |
| | | |
− | Thus to typeset the interval [3;8) you should enter <font color="brown">'''\[3 ";" 8\)'''</font>. The quotation marks around the semicolon ensures that it
| + | <DPL> |
− | is not typeset in italic. (You're right, this has nothing to do with
| + | category=Documentation/FAQ/Formula |
− | brackets!)
| + | ordermethod=counter |
| + | order=descending |
| + | replaceintitle=/Documentation.*\//, |
| + | secseparators=<br> |
| + | </DPL> |
| | | |
− | For scalable brackets it is essential that '''left''' and
| + | <div style="background-color:#EEE;border:solid 1pt #AAA;padding:10px;margin-top:20px"> |
− | '''right''' matches, since the content that the brackets | + | ===Add a new FAQ entry=== |
− | encloses must be well defined.
| + | <inputbox> |
| + | bgcolor=#EEE |
| + | type=create |
| + | default=Documentation/FAQ/Formula/<FAQ_TITLE> |
| + | preload=Documentation/FAQ_Template |
| + | buttonlabel=Add new FAQ |
| + | break=no |
| + | </inputbox> |
| + | '''Instructions''' |
| + | * Do '''not ask questions''' here, but '''give answers'''. |
| + | * If you have a '''question to ask''', go to the [https://forum.openoffice.org/en/forum/ User Forum]. |
| + | * Replace ''<FAQ_TITLE>'' part in the input box above by the title you would like to give the FAQ item and click '''Add New FAQ''' |
| + | </div> |
| | | |
− | In this case you can use the invisible bracket '''none''' to
| |
− | get a single bracket. For example to get a scalable "["
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− | without a corresponding "]" you should enter <font color="brown">'''left [
| |
− | ... right none'''</font>.
| |
| | | |
− | Thus to typeset
| + | [[Category: Documentation/FAQ]] |
− | [[Image:001a.gif]]you | + | [[Category:User FAQ]] |
− | should enter<font color="brown">''' x=left lbrace binom -5 3 right none'''</font>.
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− | | + | |
− | ==I enter <font color="brown">'''x^*'''</font> to typeset x<SUP>*</SUP>, but get an error message. Why?==
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− | | + | |
− | The problem is that<font color="brown">''' * '''</font>is a binary operator, that is
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− | there has to be an expression on both sides of the symbol.
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− | | + | |
− | You either have to enter the expression<font color="brown">''' x^{{}*{}} '''</font>to avoid the
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− | error message, or you could type <font color="brown">''' x^"*"'''</font> as well, where the quotes
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− | will interprete the asterisk not as a binary operator but as a "standalone" symbol.
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− | | + | |
− | If you use this construction a lot you might want to define the
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− | symbol as a userdefined symbol. See <A HREF="012.html">FAQ #012</A>.
| + | |
− | If you have defined the * as a userdefined symbol, say<font color="brown">''' %ast'''</font>,
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− | you can enter<font color="brown">''' x^%ast'''</font>.
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− | | + | |
− | This answer applies to a lot of other symbols as well. Some operators, such as +, are unary, that is there only has to be an expression to the right of the symbol. To typeset x<SUP>+</SUP> you can enter<font color="brown">''' x^{+{}}<'''</font> or, of course, <font color="brown">'''x^"+"'''</font>.
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− | | + | |
− | | + | |
− | ==When I enter one of the symbols '''<font color="brown">#</font>,<font color="brown"> &</font> ,<font color="brown">|</font>,<font color="brown">^</font>''' or <font color="brown">'''_'''</font> I get an unexpected result or an error message. How can I use these symbols?==
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− | | + | |
− | These symbols all have a special meaning in ''Math'':
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− | | + | |
− | *The symbol<font color="brown">''' # '''</font>is used in stacks and matrices.
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− | *The symbols<font color="brown">''' & '''</font>and<font color="brown">''' | '''</font>are used for logical and and logical or.
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− | *The symbols<font color="brown">''' ^ '''</font>and<font color="brown">''' _ '''</font>are used for
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− | subscripts and superscripts.
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− | | + | |
− | | + | |
− | To use them in your formula you can put them in quotation marks,
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− | which means that you insert them as text.
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− | | + | |
− | If you want to use the symbol "|" you should consider
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− | whether the construction you need is one of the the following:
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− | | + | |
− | *<font color="brown">'''a divides b '''</font>is used to typeset a| b.
| + | |
− | *<font color="brown">'''abs a '''</font>is used to typeset |a|.
| + | |
− | | + | |
− | ==When I enter<font color="brown">''' 3xy '''</font>the number 3 comes out in italics. Is this a bug?==
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− | | + | |
− | Not really. What happens here is, that Math uses multi-letter
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− | variables, which are common in some disciplines, like economy. The
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− | rule is that a variable consists of a sequence of letters, numbers
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− | and dots (the first character can not be a dot).
| + | |
− | | + | |
− | So when you enter 3xy this is considered a variable - and
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− | variables are typeset in italics. The only odd thing here is, that a
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− | variable can start with a number.
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− | | + | |
− | The correct way to enter the expression if you mean 3 times x
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− | times y is<font color="brown">''' 3 x y '''</font>(with spaces between the characters).
| + | |
− | | + | |
− | ==How do I align my equations at the equality sign?==
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− | | + | |
− | Currently ''Math'' does not have an alignment construction.
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− | Instead you can use a matrix.
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− | | + | |
− | For example to typeset the equation
| + | |
− | [[Image:005a.gif]]
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− | | + | |
− | you should enter the following:
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− | <pre>
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− | matrix{
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− | alignr x+y # {}={} # alignl 2 ##
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− | alignr x # {}={} # alignl 2-y
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− | }
| + | |
− | </pre>
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− | The empty braces around = are necessary because = is a binary
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− | operator and thus needs an expression on each side.
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− | | + | |
− | You can reduce the spacing around = if you change the inter-column
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− | spacing of the matrix:
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− | | + | |
− | | + | |
− | *Select '''Format-Spacing'''
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− | *Click ''''Category'''' and choose'''Matrixes''' in the pop-up menu.
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− | *Now enter<font color="brown">''' 0% '''</font>under ''''Column spacing''''.
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− | | + | |
− | | + | |
− | Here is another example using a different solution:
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− | | + | |
− | To typeset the equation
| + | |
− | | + | |
− | [[Image:005b.gif]]
| + | |
− | | + | |
− | the trick is to use <font color="brown">'''phantom'''</font> as follows:
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− | | + | |
− | <pre>""3(x+4)-2(x-1)=3 x+12-(2 x-2) newline
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− | ""phantom {3(x+4)-2(x-1)}=3 x+12-2 x+2 newline
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− | ""phantom {3(x+4)-2(x-1)}=x+14</pre>
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− | | + | |
− | <P STYLE="margin-top: 0.2cm; margin-bottom: 0.21cm; font-weight: medium">
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− | The effect of the empty quotation marks is to left justify the line -
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− | a line starting with text (even an empty text) will always be left
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− | justified.</P>
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− | | + | |
− | You can replace<font color="brown">''' "" '''</font>with <font color="brown">'''alignl'''</font>.
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− | | + | |
− | ==I want to use a binary operator (like <font color="brown">'''union'''</font> or<font color="brown"> '''otimes'''</font>) as a large operator (like <font color="brown">'''int'''</font> or <font color="brown">'''sum'''</font>). How can I do that?==
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− | | + | |
− | You have to define the symbol you want to use as a user-defined
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− | symbol first. See <A HREF="012.html">FAQ #012</A> for instructions;
| + | |
− | most of the symbols used by ''Math'' are part of the StarMath
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− | font.
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− | | + | |
− | Let's say you have defined the union symbol as the user-defined
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− | symbol <font color="brown">'''%union'''</font>. You can then enter for example
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− | | + | |
− | <pre>oper%union from i in I A_i</pre>
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− | | + | |
− | in order to typeset the formula
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− | | + | |
− | [[Image:006a.gif]]
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− | | + | |
− | <em>Note</em>: In build 633 this doesn't work if there is a space before
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− | <font color="brown">'''%union'''</font> (this is a bug in the parser).
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− | <P>Any user-defined symbol can be used as a large operator if it is
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− | preceded with<font color="brown">''' oper '''</font>as in the example.</P>
| + | |
− | | + | |
− | ==How do I typeset functions, such as max, det, that ''Math'' does not know about?==
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− | | + | |
− | ''Math'' has a number of standard functions built-in, such as
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− | cos, log etc.
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− | | + | |
− | These functions are typeset in an upright shape according to
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− | typographical traditions.
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− | | + | |
− | To typeset other functions this way you can simply preceed the
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− | function with<font color="brown">''' func'''</font>. Example:
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− | | + | |
− | *To typeset max(''a,b'') you should enter<font color="brown">''' func
| + | |
− | max(a,b)'''</font>.
| + | |
− | | + | |
− | ==How do I change the fonts used in my formula?==
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− | ''Math'' uses 7 different text fonts to typeset formulas -
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− | in addition to symbol fonts (mainly the StarMath font).
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− | | + | |
− | The basic fonts are:
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− | | + | |
− | *''Variables''. Variables (such as<font color="brown">''' x'''</font>, <font color="brown">'''a'''</font> etc.) are usually typeset in italics; the default is Times New Roman, italics.
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− | *''Functions''. Functions (such as<font color="brown">''' cos'''</font>, <font color="brown">'''log'''</font> etc.) are usually typeset in upright shape; the default is Times New Roman.
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− | *''Numbers''. Numbers (such as<font color="brown">''' 217'''</font> are usually typeset in upright shape; the default is Times New Roman.
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− | *''Text''. Text (such as<font color="brown">''' "abc"'''</font>) is usually typeset in upright shape; the default is Times New Roman.
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− | *''Serif'' is an additional, serifed font. The default is Times New Roman.
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− | *''Sans'' is an additional, sans serif font. The default is Helvetica/Arial.
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− | *''Fixed'' is an additional fixed with font. The default is Courier.
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− | | + | |
− | | + | |
− | You can read about how to use these fonts in [[FAQ:Formula#How_do_I_change_the_fonts_used_in_my_formula?]].
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− | | + | |
− | To change one of the fonts follow these steps:
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− | | + | |
− | *Select '''Format-Fonts...'''.
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− | *Click ''''Modify'''' and select the font you wish to modify in the pop-up menu.
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− | *Select the font in the list. You can also check one or both the checkboxes ''''Bold'''' and ''''Italic''''.
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− | *Close the dialog with ''''OK''''.
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− | | + | |
− | | + | |
− | This will change the font for the current formula. The next time
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− | you want to use the same font it will already be in the list box; you
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− | don't have to click modify again.
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− | | + | |
− | To change the default fonts follow these steps:
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− | | + | |
− | *Select '''Format-Fonts'''.
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− | *Choose the seven fonts as described above.
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− | *Click ''''Default''''.
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− | | + | |
− | This will save your settings as the default fonts to be used in a
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− | new formula.
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− | | + | |
− | To change the base size of the formula select '''Format-Font Size...'''
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− | and enter the size you want. All other font sizes are relative to the
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− | base size. The default is 12 pt.
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− | | + | |
− | This will change the base size for the current formula. To change
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− | the default base size you should click ''''Default'''' before you close the
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− | dialog.
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− | | + | |
− | ==How do I change the font of a subformula?==
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− | You can use one of the following font attributes:
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− | | + | |
− | | + | |
− | *<font color="brown">'''italic a '''</font>typesets<font color="brown">''' a '''</font>in italic shape.
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− | *so does<font color="brown">''' ital a'''</font>>.
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− | *<font color="brown">'''nitalic a '''</font>typesets<font color="brown">''' a '''</font>in upright shape (abbreviation for not italic).
| + | |
− | *<font color="brown">'''bold a '''</font>typesets<font color="brown">''' a '''</font>in boldface.
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− | *<font color="brown">'''nbold a '''</font>typesets<font color="brown">''' a '''</font>with normal weight (abbreviation for not bold).
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− | | + | |
− | | + | |
− | In addition ''Math'' uses a set of three generic font families,
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− | which are used as follows:
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− | | + | |
− | *<font color="brown">'''font serif a '''</font>typesets<font color="brown">''' a '''</font>in a serifed font, usually Times.
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− | *<font color="brown">'''font sans a '''</font>typesets<font color="brown">''' a '''</font>in a sans serif font, usually Helvetica or Arial.
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− | *<font color="brown">'''font fixed a '''</font>typesets<font color="brown">''' a '''</font>in a fixed font, usually Courier.
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− | | + | |
− | | + | |
− | Font attributes can be combined as in this example:
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− | | + | |
− | *Enter<font color="brown">''' bold font sans A '''</font>to get <B><FONT FACE="Arial, sans-serif">A</FONT></B>.
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− | | + | |
− | You can apply font attributes to an entire subformula if you group
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− | it with<font color="brown">''' { } '''</font>or other brackets. Example:
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− | | + | |
− | | + | |
− | *Enter<font color="brown">''' a b bold {c d} e '''</font>to typeset ab<B>cd</B>e.
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− | | + | |
− | When several font attributes are applied, the innermost takes
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− | precedence as shown in this example:
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− | | + | |
− | *Enter<font color="brown">''' bold {a b nbold c d} '''</font>to get <B>ab</B>c<B>d</B>.
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− | | + | |
− | | + | |
− | To change the fonts used in ''Math'' see [[FAQ:Formula#How_do_I_change_the_fonts_used_in_my_formula.3F]]
| + | |
This list is ordered by popularity. The most popular FAQs are at the top. But also have a look at the bottom to find any new entries.
Below the list you can find some more FAQs that have special characters in the title.