# Using the Equations Editor to Insert Mathematical Equations

STACK

If you would like to assess students mathematically with sophisticated dynamic questions, Myplace now includes the STACK plugin. More information can be found here.

Equations can be added to Myplace by the Atto text editor. This is the editor used to create quiz questions and answers, as well as labels to put text on the class page.

# Instructions

## Step 1 - Open the extended toolbar

Click the highlighted button to open the extended toolbar for the atto editor.

## Step 2 - Open the equation editor

Click the highlighted button to open the equation editor.

## Step 3 - Build the equation

### 3.1 The Four Top Tabs

First of all, let's look at the four top tabs of the equation editor. These select between four sets of buttons that will conveniently add common mathematical symbols to your equation.

#### 3.1.3 The Greek Symbols Tab

The advanced tab provides prebuilt common mathematical structures. If one of these is reasonably close to the equation you want to add, you can use it as a starting point and edit it in the edit equation box described below.

### 3.2 The Edit Equation Box

Here you can type directly the equation you want, using TeX format.

Detailed documentation for the LaTeX project

You can also edit symbols placed by the tabs above.

### 3.3 The Equation Preview Box

As it says in the note below the preview box, the down arrow (highlighted here) indicates where the next symbol, inserted from the top tabs or typed into the edit box, will be placed.

You can double click the equation in this preview box to get a closer look.

Insert your equation into Myplace with the Save equation button.

## Step 4 - Worked Example

Suppose you would like to insert Cauchy's Integral Formula, but have no special knowledge of TeX.

You can start by simply typing into the Edit equation box:

f(a)=

Your text will be converted to formula script.

The advanced box provides a template of the kind of fraction we want next. Click it to insert the fraction.

The editor will insert the \frac keyword with variables.

You can now edit a, b and c as you like.

Here is the edited fraction. Don't be concerned about the red underline, if you have one (you might not) - that's the browser checking your work against the dictionary.

We still need the pi symbol. First of all, click between the 2 and the i to ensure pi is place correctly. The arrow in the preview box will show where the next symbol will go.

It was placed there simply by clicking between 2 and i in the editor box.

Pi, or any other Greek letter, can be inserted from the Greek Symbols tab.

Next, we need the integral. The Advanced tab has a suitable symbol. All you need to do is edit the part between the curly brackets.

You will need another fraction. You can insert one from the Advanced tab as before, or just type directly, copying the \frac syntax.

Finish the equation.

(Hint: take care of how your brackets are nested! If you like, you can add some spaces in the editor box to make it a little clearer, the editor will ignore spaces and even new lines. In fact, if you want to add a space, you have to precede it with a '\' backslash.)

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