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Is there an easy-to-use equation editor for Mac?

K

K-Funk

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 24, 2007
110
25
I'd like to be able to insert mathematical formulas into Word or Pages. I don't necessarily need professional-looking output -- I'm not presenting this stuff to anyone.

All the Latex editors seem really complicated. I've tried Lyx but I keep getting error messages. I'd prefer not to have to download 10 different programs.

I've heard AppleWorks has an equation editor -- is it very good? I need to be able to do multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and statistics (e.g., integrals, derivatives, summations, matrices, etc.)

Thanks for your help!
 
MathType

If you''re considering buying something, look at MathType. I haven't used the current version, but MathType used to be the standard for easy-to-use and excellent results. See <http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathtype/>.

It has a download trial version.
 
observer said:
If you''re considering buying something, look at MathType. I haven't used the current version, but MathType used to be the standard for easy-to-use and excellent results. See <http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathtype/>.

It has a download trial version.
Click to expand...

I think you just need TeX...it seemed fairly straight forward for me to install. There are some great quick help web sites out there, with the easy of how to make equations in TeX also.

Other than that, MathType sounds like a good alternative.

Brian
 
It sounds like you want LaTeX, see [guide]Installing LaTeX on a Mac[/guide] for how to install it as you might not have installed it properly, though if you've downloaded the MacTex package (linked from the guide) you should have done that fine.

LaTeXiT is a pretty good equation editor, and has most the commands you might want.

FWIW I use TeXShop and LaTeXiT mostly, with TeXShop for writing documents "properly" in LaTeX.
 
IIRC, if you have MS Office, it includes the program "Equation Editor" that you can use to generate equations to insert into Word
 
Macky-Mac said:
IIRC, if you have MS Office, it includes the program "Equation Editor" that you can use to generate equations to insert into Word
Click to expand...

True, but its a horrible, horrible application, and incredibly difficult to use effectively.
 
OK, thanks. Sounds like I should go with Latex.

Does anyone have experience with AppleWorks' equations editor? Is it better than Word's?
 
K-Funk said:
OK, thanks. Sounds like I should go with Latex.

Does anyone have experience with AppleWorks' equations editor? Is it better than Word's?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what you are using the Equation editor for, but if it is for professional publication, as a scientist, I would highly suggest LaTeX or LaTeXit. These are intended for publication equation editing. The one on Word, while fine, is limited, and not in a format that makes for a good publication equation. No publisher wants to ga back and re-type set equations if they don' t have to.

If it's just for a school paper, while the professional look of LaTeX is better in all cases, the Word or AppleWorx would probably do.

Best,

Brian
 
K-Funk said:
I'd like to be able to insert mathematical formulas into Word or Pages. I don't necessarily need professional-looking output -- I'm not presenting this stuff to anyone.
Click to expand...
There is no reason for your equations not to look professional. The two top stand-alone WYSIWYG editors originated on the Mac. They are MathEQ, which was born as Expressionist, and MathType, which is Equation Editor's big brother. A relatively new entry from Korea is MathMagic Personal Edition.

K-Funk said:
All the Latex editors seem really complicated. I've tried Lyx but I keep getting error messages. I'd prefer not to have to download 10 different programs.
Click to expand...
LyX is a teTeX-based visual document processor, not an equation editor. LaTeXiT is a free teTeX-based equation editor with simultaneous preview.

K-Funk said:
I've heard AppleWorks has an equation editor -- is it very good? I need to be able to do multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and statistics (e.g., integrals, derivatives, summations, matrices, etc.)
Click to expand...
AppleWork's equation editor is essentially the same as Word's equation editor. Both versions of Equation Editor are cut-down versions of MathType by Design Science.

I am of several minds as to what to recommend in your case. I don't like Equation Editor and its big brother, MathType. Back when it was still Expressionist, MathEQ was criticized in a review for producing equations that were too perfect. Amazing :rolleyes: A purchase of MathEQ buys two licenses, but it is copy-protected. It is my favorite editor, but I don't like the copy-protection. MathMagic Personal Edition looks great. If it is not copy-protected, then it is probably the one I would recommend for the casual user.

Without question, the standard for mathematical typesetting is LaTeX. The professional journals of some mathematics and scientific professional organizations require that papers be submitted to them as .tex (LaTeX mark-up) with .epsf graphics. This allows them to flow each paper into their layouts without worrying about formatting issues. Word and WordPerfect files are a headache and may require retyping to format properly. That said, the vast majority of scientific papers are submitted as Word documents.

To use LaTeXiT, you must also install teTeX. It is part of the MacTeX distribution of teTeX. MacTeX installs everything at once. At free, you cannot beat the price.
 
Wow, MisterMe, thanks so much for the advice. I'm about to start economics grad school, so I guess I'd better get accustomed to Latex.
 
Since the balance of this post is leaning toward TeX, I'll point out these:

LaTeX Equation Editor
LaTeXiT
TeXFoG

Someday, a really nice person will combine LaTeX Equation Editor and TeXFoG.

Ciao.
 
Easy to use? Try openoffice.

I spent all day looking for a good eqution editor, tried latex oolatex and some demos, but look no more THIS IS THE BEST ANSWER:

Openoffice for mac (and neoffice) comes with an integrated equation editor. You can create complex equations and the interface is not too complex. As far as i know it is the best free equation editor for non pcs. You can use it with IWORKS capturing the equation from the screen as an image and then pasting it in your documnent, with the same quality. In openoffice you can paste it in other documents. The equation comes in pdf format.

information http://plan-b-for-openoffice.org/glossary/term/equation-editor

download http://www.openoffice.org/

Try also Dmath. It is a complement adressed to people who regularly use the formula editor of OpenOffice, StarOffice (maths students, teachers...) and NeoOffice.

http://www.dmaths.org/documentation/doku.php?id=presentation:en+

In a chemist and i use lots of formulas in my iwork documents. Apologies for my bad english. Viva mac!
 
Speaking of equation editors, maybe someone could tell me why at times the one that is implemented in MS Word tends to lose all the data that was typed. I mean the equations are not longer visible in the document after saving. Only double clicking and editing the equation again makes it visible again the document.
 
oachyrochy said:
Hi,

This is my first contribution and hope you find it useful. I am a graduate student and use LaTex extensively writing papers. I am using this online equation editor on my iPad.....
...
Click to expand...
This forum has areas dedicated to the iPad. This is not one of them.
 
Thank you Talmy.... This is exactly what I meant. It is a web service and hence can run from any browser despite the used hardware...
 
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