# Help:Mathematics

(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
• Math is handled by the LaTeX typesetting system
• Don’t use equation numbers
• Indent block equations with a colon (see examples below)
• Mediawiki will render HTML characters for short equations, and PNG images for longer ones
• To force image rendering, add a space at the end of the equation with a solidus (backslash) followed by a space

## Examples

Example short equation: $E = mc^2$

Example short equation with forced image rendering, using a space at the end of the equation:

$E = mc^2 \$

Longer equations render as images regardless; here's the Aki-Richards equation:

$R_\mathrm{PP}(\theta) = {(1+\tan^2\theta)\,\frac{\Delta I_\mathrm{P}}{2I_\mathrm{P}}}\ \ -\ \ {8\left(\frac{V_\mathrm{S}}{V_\mathrm{P}}\right)^2\sin^2\theta\,\frac{\Delta I_\mathrm{S}}{2I_\mathrm{S}}} \ \ - \ \ {\left[\frac{1}{2}\tan^2\theta - 2\left(\frac{V_\mathrm{S}}{V_\mathrm{P}}\right)^2\sin^2\theta\right]\frac{\Delta\rho}{\rho}}$

## Style

• Constants and names or label are roman (i.e. upright, not italic): VP. Use \mathrm{P} in LaTeX math.
• Pi, e, the differential d, and lots of other symbols are usually roman
• Variables are italic (the default character style in LaTeX math)
• Vectors are roman and bold (use \mathbf{} — it's best to avoid \vec{}, which uses the arrow notation)
• Use the built-in LaTeX functions for \sin, \log, etc.