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# How To Enter Equations Quickly In Class?

#### timothy posted more than 3 years ago | from the napkins-and-a-digital-camera dept.

823

AdmiralXyz writes "I'm a university student, and I like to take notes on my (non-tablet) computer whenever possible, so it's easier to sort, categorize, and search through them later. Trouble is, I'm going into higher and higher math classes, and typing "f_X(x) = integral(-infinity, infinity, f(x,y) dy)" just isn't cutting it anymore: I need a way to get real-looking equations into my notes. I'm not particular about the details, the only requirement is that I need to keep up with the lecture, so it has to be fast, fast, fast. Straight LaTeX is way too slow, and Microsoft's Equation Editor isn't even worth mentioning. The platform is not a concern (I'm on a MacBook Pro and can run either Windows or Ubuntu in a virtual box if need be), but the less of a hit to battery life, the better. I've looked at several dedicated equation editing programs, but none of them, or their reviews, make any mention of speed. I've even thought about investing in a low-end Wacom tablet (does anyone know if there are ultra-cheap graphics tablets designed for non-artists?), but I figured I'd see if anyone at Slashdot has a better solution."

cancel ×

### LyX (4, Informative)

#### sl3xd (111641) | more than 3 years ago | (#29915847)

I used LyX quite a bit; the equation editor is pretty quick to work with (better than MS Equation Editor or similar addons).

LyX is generally much faster than straight LaTeX - and there's a much shallower learning curve.

Additionally, LyX works on pretty much whatever platform you want to use.

### Re:LyX (-1, Offtopic)

#### igb (28052) | more than 3 years ago | (#29916003)

there's a much shallower learning curve.

I get really annoyed by people getting this the wrong way around. If something's easy to learn, it has a steep learning curve: your ability rises rapidly over time, repetition or whatever your measure of effort is. If something is difficult, it has a shallow learning curve: your ability increases slowly against time, repetition or whatever. Yes, I know steep learning curve'' sounds all difficult and stuff, but you'd expect that Slashdot readers would at least think about that particular metaphor a little more carefully.

### Re:LyX (5, Informative)

#### gardyloo (512791) | more than 3 years ago | (#29916071)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_curve#Common_terms [wikipedia.org]

You'd think that people would learn that language isn't always sensical, and that terms may have multiple --- even mutually contradictory --- meanings. Hope that's not too inflammatory a hope.

### Re:LyX (4, Insightful)

#### Steve Franklin (142698) | more than 3 years ago | (#29916183)

Yes, indeed. Actually, it makes perfect sense. "Steep" is a metaphor based on climbing a hill, where the steeper it is the harder it is to get to the top. Does this really escape some folks?

### Re:LyX (4, Insightful)

#### dgatwood (11270) | more than 3 years ago | (#29916319)

Even though we both have similar concepts of what the learning curve is referring to, I think the GP's interpretation is backwards, at least from a user interface design perspective. If the learning curve is steep, that means you learn a lot at the very beginning, which means that you have to learn a lot just to get started. Otherwise, you wouldn't have bothered to learn all that stuff up front. Thus, a steep learning curve means that the UI is relatively hard to learn, even if it doesn't take you a huge amount of time.

The ideal learning curve for software is actually fairly linear; the amount you learn at the beginning should be minimal because the UI should be discoverable enough and familiar enough (relative to other software) that you don't need to learn anything of substance to start using it at a basic level. As you get into it more, you should continue to discover things that make your life easier.

### Paper (1)

#### Carik (205890) | more than 3 years ago | (#29915969)

Why not use a paper notebook in class, and just enter the equations into the computer later?

If you absolutely insist on a technical solution, how about:

- using macros. Use something like OO.o's auto expand feature (whatever they call it), so that when you type exp-1 it translates to ^-1, or intl expands to integral.

- using shorthand. Find a set of shorthand layouts that work for you, then run search and replace later to make them what they're actually supposed to be. The same examples as above work -- just without the macros.

To be honest, though, you're probably best off either using pencil and paper or just improving your typing speed.

### Amazing new technology (2, Funny)

#### Anonymous Coward | more than 3 years ago | (#29915971)

There's this amazing new technology that utilizes droplets of colored pigmentation that adhere via cohesion to sheets of a fibrous cellulose material. Ask your chemistry professor about it.

### MapleSoft (0)

#### Anonymous Coward | more than 3 years ago | (#29915975)

Try to use Maple vs 12 or higher. It parses the equations beautifully.

--M

### Latexit (0)

#### Anonymous Coward | more than 3 years ago | (#29915977)

Try Latex it http://pierre.chachatelier.fr/programmation/latexit_en.php it's a great free program for making equations in latex on the mac

### TeX to the rescue (5, Funny)

#### Florian Weimer (88405) | more than 3 years ago | (#29915981)

f_X(x) = integral(-infinity, infinity, f(x,y) dy)

Just type $$f_X(x) = \int_\infty^\infty f(x,y) dy$$ instead.

### Re:TeX to the rescue (4, Funny)

#### melikamp (631205) | more than 3 years ago | (#29916307)

Say, you are doing probability and have to write a bunch of integrals over the real line. Then you can prepare this:

\newcommand{\fX}{f_X(x)}
\newcommand{\intii}{\mathop{\int_{-\infty}^\infty}}

or

\newcommand{\intR}{\mathop{\int_{\mathbb R}}}

and later use

$\fX = \intii f(x,y)dy$

### Re:TeX to the rescue (1)

#### budhaboy (717823) | more than 3 years ago | (#29916345)

you forgot the minus sign on the lower bound.

### Digital Camera? (1)

#### n1ckml007 (683046) | more than 3 years ago | (#29915989)

I sometimes take a digital camera (phone) picture of notes or operating hours.

### Pen, paper, TeX. (2, Insightful)

#### zunger (17731) | more than 3 years ago | (#29915991)

I had this issue for years. Ultimately I never found anything within a factor of 5 for speed of simple pen and paper. The next best thing was LaTeX; with practice you can type that remarkably fast. (Especially if you pre-define macros relevant to whatever you're doing) The GUI-based solutions uniformly stank.

I've never found any system for digitizing handwritten equations; for a long time, my hope was that such software (preferably with LaTeX output) and a tablet would be a good solution. But the market for such things is small, and a few minutes of design work convinced me that implementing it was a lot more trouble than it would ever be worth.

### One Option (1)

#### thePsychologist (1062886) | more than 3 years ago | (#29916013)

Pencil and paper.

Forget the computer for mathematics classes. You will never get as fast with any sort of computer technology as you will with paper. If you want to jot down a quick calculation, or more importantly, draw a diagram, paper and pencil are painless and easy, and as a result you'll spend more time focusing on what's really important: what the professor is saying and doing on the board.

I'm a math major just graduated and taking graduate courses in mathematics currently so I've had much experience here. I've tried to take notes with a computer. I am very quick with LaTeX. You can even define your own macros specific to what the professor is likely to write and even then I think a computer for taking notes in a math course is useless.

### Feynman says (0)

#### Anonymous Coward | more than 3 years ago | (#29916171)

how about using a better mathematical notation system...like Iverson's apl or j
you must admit math notation isn't the most succinct syntax out there.

when you memorize latter - put into a file/database etc....

### Livescribe Pulse (1)

#### mtrachtenberg (67780) | more than 3 years ago | (#29916179)

Livescribe Pulse. I've never used it but the advertising makes it look like just what you want.

### That's why I didn't do math (0)

#### Dunbal (464142) | more than 3 years ago | (#29916181)

Trouble is, I'm going into higher and higher math classes, and typing "f_X(x) = integral(-infinity, infinity, f(x,y) dy)" just isn't cutting it anymore: I need a way to get real-looking equations into my notes.

Teehee - math nerds.

That's why I liked biology:

"I'm getting higher and higher in my biology classes. Writing notes to my good looking classmates just isn't cutting it anymore: I need a way to get into the pants of delicious looking women"...

### Just do like me (0)

#### Anonymous Coward | more than 3 years ago | (#29916205)

Don't take notes and save it all inside your brain.

### Bamboo? (0)

#### Anonymous Coward | more than 3 years ago | (#29916219)

I think I did see some lower-end tablets out there, called Bamboo or some such. I want to say I saw them for $50 -$100 US, but don't quote me on that.

### Pulse Smart Pen (1)

#### frankmu (68782) | more than 3 years ago | (#29916221)

livescribe.com sells the Pulse Smart Pen. It can also record the lecture while transcribing your handwriting. the best thing however, is to get last years notes, and bring it with you. then you can read along. professors usually have the same script year after year.

### Alternate keymap/charset (1)

#### Zerth (26112) | more than 3 years ago | (#29916223)

If the set of symbols you need is less than the number of keys on your keyboard, set up an alternate keymap/charset, or a bunch of macros in the editer of your choice.

### Tried Rapid Pi? (1)

#### uberjeep (1667223) | more than 3 years ago | (#29916227)

It's a plugin for Word. All of these things need practice, but you do get faster and you can use cut and paste if you're doing ODEs or whatever.

### Sandbox (1)

#### similar_name (1164087) | more than 3 years ago | (#29916263)

I know some people think pencil and paper but that is just too high tech for my blood. I'd go with a good ol' sandbox.

Or you could go for an etch a sketch if you still want the cool high tech look.

### I use Mathematica in class. (2, Informative)

#### VGVL (1557555) | more than 3 years ago | (#29916273)

I've been using Wolfram Mathematica to take class notes and exams for years. By using the keyboard shortcuts you can easily keep up with the class. You can also have instant interactive graphs which will be much easier to understand than anything a professor could draw on a board, although it's not like my professors write on the board as they use Mathematica or Matlab to teach the class as well. This is at a private university in Mexico.

### KISS, just pen and paper (0)

#### Anonymous Coward | more than 3 years ago | (#29916293)

What's wrong with pen and paper? Why make your life so hard. You still have to write your examination answers using pen and paper right? [ unless you have an online examination ]

### Mac's Typography; in short: transcribe your notes (4, Interesting)

#### zentechno (800941) | more than 3 years ago | (#29916321)

Firstly, the Mac has an incredibly rich simple character set. This is NOT coincidental, as Apple copied their editing capabilities from the publishing industry decades ago. E.g. in TextEdit type alt-b and you'll see a '' integral symbol (looks correct as I type it, hopefully the post wont change it). If you can learn these keyboard shortcuts (learning-curve arguments aside), you *may* be able to type these directly into your mac in class, BUT... If you take notes by hand, then transcribe them into your mac using these short cuts, or simply via the Mac's Font (e.g. TextEdit --> commant-T) and characters (e.g. via the gear drop-down in the Font) pane, you're doing yourself a much bigger favor.

### Perhaps (1)

#### Laser Lou (230648) | more than 3 years ago | (#29916329)

.. you should stick with typing text, as you have been. By translating those equations to text form, you may be helping yourself understand them better.

### LaTeX (0)

#### patrickthbold (1351131) | more than 3 years ago | (#29916333)

Obviously pencil and paper is what everyone does, and for good reason. But if you really need your notes typeset and you don't have any time to do it after class, you should just use LaTeX. You can set up some macros for some commonly used things. You just need to be able to type fast an acurately. You said that LaTeX is too slow, but really you are just slow at typing in LaTeX. Practice and you should be able to get your speed up.
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