Math

Math shows an equation the way a textbook prints it: fractions stacked, powers raised, symbols in their places. You type it in LaTeX, the plain-text notation scientists and engineers use for writing math, and Tesria draws it. Use it wherever a formula matters: a pricing model, engineering notes, a statistics report, a physics lesson.

If LaTeX is new to you, don’t worry. The handful of pieces further down this page cover most everyday formulas.

Insert it

Type this	To get
/math	An equation on its own line
/inline	Math inside a sentence

Type the command at the start of a line, or after a space, and press Enter. Or choose + on the toolbar, then Math or Inline math.

Each starts with a sample, e = mc^2 or x^2. Double-click it to type your own. If you had text selected, the math takes its place. There is no shortcut with dollar signs: typing $x$ stays as ordinary text.

Inline or on its own line

Inline: part of a sentence

Use inline math for a short symbol or expression that belongs in what you are saying. It sits in the line like a word.

The area of a circle is $A = \pi r^2$ , so doubling the radius $r$ makes the circle four times as large.

On its own line: an equation to study

Use an equation on its own line for a formula readers need to look at closely, or one that is tall, such as a fraction or a sum. It is centered, with space above and below.

Savings with compound interest grow to

A = P\left(1 + \frac{r}{n}\right)^{nt}

where $P$ is the amount put in, $r$ the yearly interest rate, $n$ how many times a year interest is added, and $t$ the number of years.

Most pages mix the two, as that example does: the equation on its own line, and its letters explained inline in the sentence after it.

A few pieces of LaTeX

Each of these is typed as shown on the left and drawn as on the right.

Type	You get
`x^2`	$x^2$
`x_1`	$x_1$
`\frac{a}{b}`	$\frac{a}{b}$
`\sqrt{2}`	$\sqrt{2}$
`\pi, \alpha, \Delta`	$\pi, \alpha, \Delta$
`\times, \div, \pm`	$\times, \div, \pm$
`\le, \ge, \ne, \approx`	$\le, \ge, \ne, \approx$
`\sum_{i=1}^{n} x_i`	$\sum_{i=1}^{n} x_i$
`\int_0^1 x\,dx`	$\int_0^1 x\,dx$
`\text{cost} = 12 \times n`	$\text{cost} = 12 \times n$

Put anything longer than one character in braces. x^{10} raises the whole 10; x^10 raises only the 1.

KaTeX, which draws the math, lists every command it knows on its website.

Changing and removing it

Double-click the math to change its LaTeX. Press Enter or click away to keep the change; Escape leaves it as it was.
Inline and Own line, beside the LaTeX while you edit it, move the math into the sentence or onto a line of its own.
A mistake shows in place. If the LaTeX cannot be drawn, for example because a brace is missing, the message saying why appears where the math would be, until you fix it.
To remove it, click it once to select it and press Delete.

Good practice

Explain the letters. A formula is only useful to readers who know what each letter stands for.
Keep numbers in text as text. “Prices rise 3% a year” needs no math; save it for real formulas.
One equation to a line. Several on one line are hard to read and harder to refer to.

Chart draws the numbers in a table, when a picture says more than a formula.
Code block shows code, or LaTeX you want readers to copy rather than see drawn.
Diagram (Mermaid) draws flowcharts and other diagrams from text.

Applies to	Tesria 0.5 and later
Updated	September 24, 2026
Changes	Revised.