STEM Content Tools for Writing Equations

Before we jump into adding equations to various documents or Canvas pages, let's take a moment to look at various tools that are available to write equations. Some of these will be very familiar to you and others will not. Some are free and others are not. Take a moment to look through the options. You do not need to choose an option to use now. Some of them will be demonstrated with the various tools on the next page. Work through the module first and then come back to make a choice. Your department may have purchased access to some of these tools. Ask around before you commit to something like paying $170 a month or spending a summer learning to type in LaTeX. Figure out what will work for you.

Equation editor toolbars

You have probably used an equation editor before. Word and PowerPoint include an equation editor option and the Equation tab opens when an equation is added to the page.

Equation tab in Word

The equation editor allows you to choose various mathematical symbols and structures to add equations to a Word document. Equations entered using the equation editor are easy to navigate using a screen reader in Word and Canvas. Unfortunately, they are not as easy to read in PowerPoint, but we'll talk more about that later.

The Canvas equation editor is similar. You may have clicked the little $LaTeX: \sqrt{x}$ button in the Rich Content Editor toolbar and then used the options to add an equation in Canvas.

The equation editor dialog box in Canvas

You are always welcome to enter equations into Canvas and Word using the equation editors. They will be easy to read for your learners using screen readers.

LaTeX

LaTeX is a markup language that allows users to add complex equations in a variety of situations. You can create entire documents using LaTeX or you can use the equation language to help you type mathematical expressions or equations. Typing in LaTeX is a bit like typing code. You need to know the correct characters to use to produce the equation you want to see. For example, \frac{\big(\frac{n}{2}\big)!-2^{(n+3)}}{8}=3n^4+16(262n+19) is the LaTeX expression for the following equation:

$LaTeX: \frac{\big(\frac{n}{2}\big)!-2^{(n+3)}}{8}=3n^4+16(262n+19)$

The benefit of learning LaTeX is that most technologies allow you to type in LaTeX and then they will turn it into a readable equation.

LaTeX Document Editors

LaTeX document editors, such as Overleaf, can create entire documents using LaTeX. Unfortunately, the output from these editors is not accessible. Do not use LaTeX document editors to create documents or presentations for your learners.

Resources

Learn LaTeX in 30 minutes (They may have exaggerated. Also, don't learn to make an entire document, just learn to type math)
LaTeX Mathematics

Copilot

If you don't know LaTeX but wish you did, I have good news for you: Copilot knows LaTeX. As an employee at SLCC, you have free access to Copilot (Microsoft Copilot AI at SLCC). To use Copilot to turn a picture of an image into LaTeX code, follow these steps:

Take a screenshot of the equation. On a Windows computer, you can use Snipping Tool. On a Mac, you can use the Screenshot tool.
Paste the image into Copilot. After taking a screenshot, the image is automatically copied to your clipboard and all you need to do is paste it into Copilot.
Ask Copilot to turn the equation into LaTeX code. Type "Can you give me the LaTeX code for this equation?" into the Copilot box.
Copy the LaTeX code and paste it into the Word or Canvas equation editor.

Note: Word does not accept multiple lines of LaTeX in one equation editor box. You will need to create separate lines. Some people use matrices without brackets to add multiple lines in Word, but that is not always best. Canvas does accept multiple lines of LaTeX.

Mathpix

Mathpix allows you to take a picture of an equation (handwritten or typed) and turn it into a variety of math languages (LaTeX, MathML, AsciiMath, etc.). It works quickly and efficiently. There is a free version that includes 10 images. So, if you don't have many equations to convert, then this is a good option for you to use. It is currently pretty cheap per month, so if you plan to do all of your conversions in a month or two, this is a good deal.

Resources

MathType

MathType is a Wiris product that allows you to use a more advanced equation editor in Word, Google Docs, and Canvas. You can personalize the toolbar with your most frequent expressions. It also archives your equations so that you can use them later. There is a free 30 day trial. After that you can pay less than $100 per year. MathType is used by publishers like McGraw Hill to format equations. It is considered by many to be easy to use.

Resources

Equatio

Equatio offers an advanced equation editor and graph editor (teaming up with Desmos). The equation editor predicts what you want, accepts handwriting and turns it into a typed equation, and offers speech to text. It works in Microsoft 365, Google, and Canvas. It even works in PowerPoint by adding alt text to an image. However, it is the most expensive tool we have on this list, coming in around $200 per year. There is a free 30 day trial available.