You’ve been able to extend the usability with the LaTeX code editor, but there was undoubtedly room for improvement. The old math tool has been a widely used and popular feature although being pretty basic. The result is a beautiful editor with a bunch of cool and useful features that our team has worked hard on to make happen! For all the work of using an equation editor I’m not familiar with, I rather type the equation in Word and then copy-paste or insert a screenshot of it into the Google application.A long-awaited new feature has been released in the form of the completely overhauled Math tool. If you are looking to add more complex equations into a Google application, you can use the Equatio add-on. Here are the most common math symbols I found in Google applications: If I need something not on the list below, I type it into Microsoft Word, and then copy and paste it into the Google application.
Whether you’re using Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, or Forms, you can also use keyboard shortcuts to add symbols.
(If you figure them out on a PC without crazy codes, let me know! I’ve been looking for shortcuts for PC users on my Chromebook, and sadly, these just don’t work.)
Sadly, these next shortcuts only apply to Mac users.
Math Symbols Keyboard Shortcuts in Google For more complex equations and geometry notation, however, you will likely still need to use the mouse. On a PC, type “alt” + “=.” From here you can add a forward slash (/) to make fractions and use the caret (^) to add an exponent. But, did you know that you can open up the equation editor too! That’s right! On a Mac, type “control” + “=”, and the math equation editor will pop up. Simply being able to add these symbols, without your hands having to leave the keyboard, is amazing enough. There are many, many more shortcuts available! Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Access the Equation Editor Here are a few of my favorite, most commonly used math symbols:Ĭan you tell I’m a geometry teacher? Here are few more symbols that you may find helpful: Hit the spacebar, and voila! Your desired symbol magically appears. You type the backslash (\), and then the word of the symbol you want. Generally, the shortcuts are very simple.
Need step-by-step Math AutorCorrect directions for your device? Be sure to grab the free download: The Math Teacher’s Guide to Math Symbol Keyboard Shortcuts! The Symbols Keyboard Shortcuts Make sure that you have the box checked that says “Use Math AutoCorrect outside of math regions.” Once you have that done, you’re ready to use all the math symbols keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft Word. The key is to set up your Math AutoCorrect. Luckily, you will only have to follow this step once. Setting up Microsoft Word for Math Symbols Keyboard Shortcutsīefore you can type your math symbols, you need to follow a few steps to set up Microsoft Word. So much time was wasted inserting symbols and formatting basic equations.) Thankfully, I figured out the math symbols keyboard shortcuts that saved my life. It’s even worse for the geometry teachers with all of the required symbols and notation. If I had a dollar for every time my right hand moved back to the keyboard just to not be aligned properly, I’d be rich. As a math teacher, do you find that inserting equations and symbols is frequently slowing you down? Making worksheets, notes, activities, and assessments takes longer because we are frequently moving our hands from the keyboard to the mouse and back again.