The following table includes geometric, trigonometric,
probability, and aditional algebraic notation.
Type-set formatting
Text-only formatting
Notes
sin(x)
sin(x)
Put parentheses around the argument of any function, including
sine and cosine.
sin2(x)
sin^2(x)
If you're squaring the sine, put the power on the sine.
sin(2x)
sin(2x)
Use parentheses to make clear that you mean "sine of
2x",
not "the square of the sine of x".
°
degrees °
To indicate "degrees", either write the word out
or (on a PC), hold down the "ALT" key and type "0176" to insert the character
directly.
theta @
As long as you define yourself, it's okay to use "@"
for "theta". Otherwise, spell it out, or pick a Latin letter.
beta ß
You can (on a PC) insert a character similar to "beta"
by holding down the "ALT" key and typing "0223" on the numeric keypad.
Otherwise, spell out the name, or replace "beta" in your exercise with a Latin
letter.
pi
Do not use "m" or "n" to stand for "pi",
since m and n are variables and pi is a number. Instead, spell out the name. (And please
spell it correctly. It's "pi", not "pye" or "pie".) You may
find it helpful to use parentheses, as in "sin[(2/3)(pi)]".
i
i
When writing complex numbers, just use the "i" as usual.
e
e
The natural exponential e is a commonly-known value, just like
pi. You don't have define what e is in your post.
cis(x)
cos(x) + isin(x) cis(x)
Not everybody is familiar with the "cis" notation.
If you use it, define it first, so they know you mean what is shown in the first line.
angle A <A
If you use the "less-than sign, angle name" format,
define what you mean. Otherwise, you'll leave people wondering what, exactly, is less than
A.
measure of A m(A)
If you use "m(A)", state that this means "the measure of angle A".
m-choose-n mCn
Most tutors are familiar with the "mCn" abbreviation for
the formula for combinations, but it wouldn't hurt to define it if you use it.
m-permute-n mPn
Most tutors are familiar with the "mPn" abbreviation for
the formula for permuations, but it wouldn't hurt to define it if you use it.
(2, 3)
(2,3)
Use parentheses around points. Other symbols (or no symbols)
mean other things.
[2, inf.) [2, infinity)
The abbreviation "inf." in the context of intervals
(and limits) is commonly understood to mean "infinity", but you can spell
it out completely, if you'd like. Just don't try to approximate the "infinity"
symbol with two lower-case O's, as this is very confusing.
<2, 3>
You can use the "less than" and "greater than"
signs for vectors.
u-dot-v u * v
As long as you define the asterisk to mean the dot product,
you can use this for dotting two vectors. Use generous spacing.
u-cross-v u × v
Don't use the letter "X" between the vectors, as
this will be confused as being a third vector. Instead, either spell out "cross"
or else (on a PC) hold down the "ALT" key and type "0215" on the numeric
keypad, using generous spacing so your meaning is clear.
AT
A^T
Write the transpose of a matrix using superscript notation.
A–1
A^(-1)
Write the inverse of a matrix using superscript notation.
[[1 2 3] [4 5 6] [7 8 9]]
Matrices are just about impossible to format with text. The
bracket design, using outer brackets for the matrix and inner brackets for the rows, has
arisen from graphing-calculator notation. Be sure to say what you mean by this, and try to
use "CODE" or "PRE" tags or a fixed-width font.
||1 2 3| |4 5 6| |7 8 9||
Determinants are also hard to format with only text. Use bars
(the "pipe" character, shown as a broken line on your keyboard, somewhere above
the "Enter" key) to delineate the rows.
|A|
det(A) |A|
If you use the absolute-value-bar notation for the determinant,
state what you mean.
sum[i=1,n][a_i] sigma[1,n][a_i]
Whatever notation you use for a summation, be sure to define
what you mean by restating the first summation in words.
Stapel, Elizabeth. "Formatting Math as
Text: Other Math Notation." Purplemath. Available from http://www.purplemath.com/modules/mathtext3.htm.
Accessed
![matrix [[1 2 3][4 5 6][7 8 9]]](format/format27.gif)
![sum[i=1,n][a_i]](format/format29.gif){kind=small}
