# How to Input Mathematical Formulas in Scientific Space? --- LaTeX Help

Source: <https://kexue.fm/archives/83>

Machine translated. Refer to the original post to verify accuracy.

---
author: Su Jianlin
date: August 18, 2009
lang: en
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source_url: "https://kexue.fm/archives/83"
title: How to Input Mathematical Formulas in Scientific Space? --- LaTeX Help
---

``` math
\pi=\frac{426880\sqrt{10005}}{\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{(6n)!(545140134n+13591409)}{(n!)^3(3n)!(-640320)^{3n}}}
```

First, I must thank the [ASCIIMath Image Fallback](http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/dlippman/asciimathtex/AMT.html) website; it is they who developed this powerful JS, making it possible to input mathematical formulas on any website. Then, I thank the [Math Development Forum](http://bbs.emath.ac.cn); it is their webmaster **Guo Xianqiang** who perfected this JS file, making it more powerful than ever before.

Scientific Space displays mathematical formulas by calling a JS file. By adding the following code to any website that needs to display mathematical formulas, you can enable support for mathematical formulas:

``` html
<script type="text/javascript" src="JS_FILE_ADDRESS"></script>
```

Please change “JS_FILE_ADDRESS” to your own address. My address is [http://kexue.fm/sci/tex.js](https://kexue.fm/sci/tex.js). <span style="color: red">Since each JS has anti-hotlinking features, it can only be applied to your own website and requires some modifications. Therefore, please do not call my address directly (it will not display any effect). If you have a need, you can leave a message, and I will help you modify it and send it to you.</span>

**<span style="color: blue">In any place in Scientific Space where input is possible, as long as you enter the corresponding mathematical formula code between two dollar signs <span style="color: red">“\$” (which is Shift+4 on the keyboard)</span>, the corresponding mathematical formula will be displayed.</span>**

The called JS will first determine your browser type. If it is **Firefox (Mozilla)** or **Netscape**, since these two browsers support MathML, the LaTeX code will be directly interpreted into **MathML** language to display beautiful mathematical formulas with fast speed. If you use IE or IE-core browsers (including Maxthon, TheWorld, etc.), it will first detect whether the **MathPlayer** plugin is installed in the system. If installed, IE will also support MathML and display formulas via MathML quickly; if the system does not have MathPlayer, the formulas will be interpreted as images for display, which is relatively slower (especially for articles with many formulas).

**<span style="color: red">Therefore, IE users are recommended to install the MathPlayer plugin to speed up formula display! [Click here to download](http://www.dessci.com/getmp). After installation, there will be an English prompt, roughly meaning “Software installed successfully.”</span>**

**Note:** <span style="color: blue">MathPlayer and IE8 will encounter errors. The solution is to select “**Compatibility View**” in the “**Tools**” tab and add this site’s address (http://kexue.fm) to the **Compatibility View websites**. </span>

**<span style="color: red">Something like this (I don’t have IE8 installed now, so I can’t use my own site for the demonstration):</span>**

<figure>
<p><a href="https://kexue.fm/usr/uploads/2009/09/20090904160950.gif">[Image: IE8 Compatibility View Settings (GIF Format)]</a></p>
<figcaption>IE8 Compatibility View Settings</figcaption>
</figure>

<u>**<span style="color: red">Another solution is to upgrade MathPlayer to version 2.2 or higher.</span>**</u>

Now, we can learn LaTeX syntax. Thanks again to the “Math Development Forum”; they have already written a detailed tutorial:  
<http://bbs.emath.ac.cn/thread-212-1-1.html>

**Here, I will only provide a brief explanation:**

\(1\) Basic symbol input: Fractions can be written as <span style="color: blue">4/3</span> or <span style="color: blue">\frac{4}{3}</span> (display effect is $`4/3`$). <span style="color: red">The latter is recommended because the former is only suitable for this space and is not applicable to other websites (such as Wikipedia).</span> Note that if you use the former, 4a/3b should be written as <span style="color: blue">{4a}/{3b}</span>; if you simply write 4a/3b, it will be displayed as $`4a/3b`$. LaTeX uses {} to enclose a quantity.

Square roots can be represented by <span style="color: blue">\sqrt{2}</span> (don’t forget the “\\”, $`\sqrt{2}`$), and $`n`$-th roots can be expressed as <span style="color: blue">\sqrt\[n\]{2}</span> ($`\sqrt[n]{2}`$). Subscripts and superscripts use “^” and “\_” respectively, such as <span style="color: blue">2^3, 4_n</span> ($`2^3, 4_n`$). However, $`2^{33}`$ must be written as <span style="color: blue">2^{33}</span>. Others are similar.

\(2\) Equals and arrow input:  
The basic equal sign is =, and adding “!” before some basic symbols represents “not”; for example, not equal is “!=”. Therefore, if you want to input $`n! = a`$, you should use **a space** to separate ! and =.  
“-\>” and “\<-” are two arrows, “\Rightarrow” and “\<=” are arrows, but “<span style="color: blue">\>=</span>” represents “not less than” ($`\geq`$).

\(3\) For the input of other symbols, please refer to: <http://bbs.emath.ac.cn/thread-212-1-1.html>. I will not go into detail here.

Additionally, here is a web-based mathematical formula editor: <http://www.codecogs.com/components/equationeditor/equationeditor.php>. Beginners can practice LaTeX here.

***<span style="color: orange">When reprinting, please include the address of this article: [https://kexue.fm/archives/83](./00083-How-to-Input-Mathematical-Formulas-in-Scientific-Space-LaTeX-Help.html)</span>***

***<span style="color: orange">For more detailed reprinting matters, please refer to: [Scientific Space FAQ](./06508-Scientific-Space-Browsing-Guide-FAQ.html)</span>***