# Using MathJax in the forum (testing)

**URL:** <https://discourse.processing.org/t/using-mathjax-in-the-forum-testing/19970>\
**Category:** Site Feedback\
**Created:** [April 20, 2020, 6:12pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/using-mathjax-in-the-forum-testing/19970 "2020-04-20T18:12:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![quark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/quark/32/26_2.png) [@quark](https://discourse.processing.org/u/quark)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 6:12pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/using-mathjax-in-the-forum-testing/19970/1 "2020-04-20T18:12:03Z")

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@jeremydouglass has recently enabled MathJax for this forum. MathJax allows formulae to be shown as if written in a maths context. So something like `x^4+y^3-x^2*y=0` can be displayed inline like this x^4+y^3-x^2\*y=0 or displayed like this

x^4+y^3-x^2\*y=0

For simple formulae simply enclose the equation between dollar signs $…$ to make it inline with text or display by gating with $$…$$ e.g.  
$$  
x^4+y^3-x^2\*y=0  
$$

If you want to use the dollar symbol in your discussion then you need to put back-slash in front like this  
\$. In this context the backslash is called the escape character and says that the character immediately following should be treated literally.

For more complicated formulae there is a sophisticated markup which I will try and demonstrate here when I get a chance but this [guide](https://math.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/5020/mathjax-basic-tutorial-and-quick-reference) looks quite good.

EDIT: the this post has been edited based on comments regarding the double dollar syntax provided by @jeremydouglass in the next post.

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**Author:** ![jeremydouglass](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/jeremydouglass/32/20_2.png) [@jeremydouglass](https://discourse.processing.org/u/jeremydouglass)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 8:00pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/using-mathjax-in-the-forum-testing/19970/3 "2020-04-20T20:00:07Z")

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Thanks so much for suggesting and looking into this, @quark.

The `$$` setting is enabled, but it looks like they are gate fields that need to be on their own line:

```auto
$$
x^4 + y^3 - x^2 * y = 0
$$

```

x^4 + y^3 - x^2 \* y = 0

It seems fussier than markdown, and I sometimes see the re-render hang in the editor preview window… possibly also due to slow render time? But elegant output.

```auto
> It can also be mixed with block quotes.
> $$
> x^4 + y^3 - x^2 * y = 0
> $$
> like this.

```

> It can also be mixed with block quotes…
> 
> x^4 + y^3 - x^2 \* y = 0
> 
> …like this.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![quark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/quark/32/26_2.png) [@quark](https://discourse.processing.org/u/quark)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 7:25am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/using-mathjax-in-the-forum-testing/19970/4 "2020-04-21T07:25:16Z")

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Thanks @jeremydouglass that’s great I will edit earlier posts

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![quark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/quark/32/26_2.png) [@quark](https://discourse.processing.org/u/quark)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 2:18pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/using-mathjax-in-the-forum-testing/19970/5 "2020-04-21T14:18:54Z")

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In another discussion the poster added this image to represent the derivative of another function

![equation](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/2X/3/34d067d4296ceec108e1f313a019697371869ab4.png)

In MathJax this looks like

y' = {-4x^2 + 2xy\over 3y^2 - x^2}

and the markup to do it is

$$  
y’ = {-4x^2 + 2xy\over 3y^2 - x^2}  
$$