MathType Web introductory tutorials

This tutorial introduces the basic techniques you need to create and edit formulas with MathType. You will learn how to open the editor, create a simple formula, work with symbols and templates, create a piecewise function, and use the contextual tab for alignment.

The examples may be more complex than the formulas you use every day, but the editing techniques are the same at any level.

Tutorial overview

This tutorial is divided into four parts:

• Tutorial 1. Create and edit your first equation
• Tutorial 2. Build a trigonometric expression
• Tutorial 3. Create a piecewise function
• Tutorial 4. Use the contextual tab

Tutorial 1. Create and edit your first equation

In this tutorial, you will learn how to open MathType, create a basic equation, insert it into your content, and edit it later.

Open MathType

MathType works in many different environments. In most cases, you can open it by clicking the MathType icon in the host editor toolbar.

Look for this icon:

If the icon is not visible, try one of the following:

1. Expand the host application's toolbar. Some applications show a simplified toolbar by default.
2. Look for another icon related to equations or mathematical notation. Some integrations use a different icon.

Create a basic equation

When MathType opens, you can use the toolbar tabs, symbols, templates, and keyboard input to create formulas.

1. Hover over a tab, symbol, or template to see its tooltip and shortcut, if available.
2. Use expander buttons to access additional symbols that are not shown directly in the toolbar.
3. Type mathematical characters from the keyboard when appropriate.
4. Use MathType templates for structures such as fractions, roots, superscripts, and subscripts.

MathType automatically applies mathematical spacing. For example, when you type x+y, MathType adds the correct spacing around the plus sign.

When you are finished, insert the equation using the button provided by your integration. Depending on the application, this button may be labeled Accept, OK, Insert, or something similar.

Edit an existing equation

To edit an equation:

1. Select the equation in the host editor.
2. Click the same MathType icon used to create the equation.
3. Edit the formula in MathType.
4. Click Accept, OK, or the equivalent button to save the changes.

Tutorial 2. Build a trigonometric expression

In this tutorial, you will create a formula using function names, Greek letters, a fraction, a square root, and a superscript.

You will create this equation:

Begin typing

1. Open MathType.
2. Type tan.

MathType recognizes tan as a function name and displays it in upright text instead of italic text.

Insert a Greek letter

1. Open the Greek letters tab.
2. Click the theta symbol.

The expression should now include tan θ.

Insert the equals sign, plus-minus sign, and fraction

1. Type = from the keyboard.
2. Open the General tab.
3. Insert the ± symbol.
4. Insert the fraction template.

Type the numerator

1. Insert the square root template into the numerator.
2. Type 1 - cos inside the square root.
3. Insert the superscript template.
4. Type 2.
5. Press the right arrow key to exit the superscript while remaining inside the radicand.
6. Insert θ using the Greek letters tab.

Type the denominator

1. Press the down arrow key to move into the denominator.
2. Type cos.
3. Insert θ.

If you are working in an application such as an LMS, blog, or HTML editor, click OK, Accept, or the equivalent button to insert the formula.

Tutorial 3. Create a piecewise function

In this tutorial, you will create a piecewise function and learn how to use templates for multi-line mathematical expressions.

You will create this piecewise function:

Type the left side

Start by typing the left side of the expression, up to the equals sign.

Use the piecewise function template

Instead of typing a single brace manually, use the piecewise function template. This avoids issues with automatic formatting and gives you the correct structure for entering each condition.

1. Insert the piecewise function template.
2. Use the right and down arrow keys to move between template slots.
3. Type the expressions and conditions.
4. Use the ≥ symbol from the General tab when needed.

When finished, the expression should look like this:

Format text inside the function

By mathematical typesetting conventions, the word if should not be italicized. To change it:

1. Select the word if.
2. Click the Automatic italic button in the General tab.
3. Repeat for the second occurrence.

Additional tips

• Functions with more than two parts: Use the contextual tab to add more rows. 
  
• Systems of equations: Systems of equations require similar techniques, but the alignment is different. You will learn more about this in the next tutorial. 
  

Tutorial 4. Use the contextual tab

In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the contextual tab to adjust mathematical structures and align systems of equations.

The contextual tab appears at the far right of the MathType toolbar. Its available options change depending on where the cursor is placed.

The contextual tab is useful for tasks such as:

• Changing interval notation.
• Adjusting brackets and fences.
• Controlling matrix alignment.
• Aligning systems of equations.

Type the equations

Type the first equation, press Enter, and type the second equation.

Align at the relation symbol

1. Place the cursor anywhere in either line.
2. Open the contextual tab.
3. Click Relation align.

MathType aligns the equations using the first relation symbol in each line, such as =, ≠, ∼, or ≤.

Create a matrix for complete alignment

In some cases, relation alignment is not enough. To align variables, operators, relation symbols, and results more precisely, use a matrix.

For the example shown here, use a 2×3 matrix:

• First column: coefficient, variable, and operator symbol.
• Second column: coefficient, variable, and relation symbol.
• Third column: result.

When both rows are typed, the expression should look like this:

Align the columns

1. Click inside the first column.
2. Open the contextual tab.
3. Click Align right.
4. Repeat for the remaining columns.

After aligning all columns, the expression should look like this:

Reduce column spacing

To make the aligned equations look more natural, reduce the spacing between columns.

1. Click inside a column.
2. Use the column spacing controls in the contextual tab.
3. Repeat for each column except the one on the far right.

The spacing applies to the right of the current column. A value of 0px usually produces a compact result.

The final result should look like this:

What to do next

After completing these tutorials, you should be able to create, edit, format, and align basic formulas in MathType.

Continue learning with these related articles:

• Using MathType
• Toolbar and icons
• Autoformat
• MathML coverage by MathType