Insert Equations into the Live Editor

To describe a mathematical process or method used in your code, insert equations into your live script or function. Only text lines can contain equations. If you insert an equation into a code line, MATLAB^® places the equation into a new text line directly under the selected code line.

Live script with text and two equations that describe the calculations being performed in the code below

There are two ways to insert an equation into a live script or function.

Insert an equation interactively — You can build an equation interactively by selecting from a graphical display of symbols and structures.
Insert a LaTeX equation — You can enter LaTeX commands and the Live Editor inserts the corresponding equation.

Insert Equation Interactively

To insert an equation interactively:

Go to the Insert tab and click Equation.
A blank equation appears.
Build your equation by selecting symbols, structures, and matrices from the options displayed in the Equation tab. View additional options by clicking the drop-down arrow to the right of each section.
When adding or editing a matrix, a context menu appears, which you can use to delete and insert rows and columns. You also can use the context menu to change or remove matrix delimiters.
Format your equation using the options available in the Text section. Formatting is only available for text within the equation. Numbers and symbols cannot be formatted. The formatting option is disabled unless the cursor is placed within text that can be formatted.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Equation Editing

The equation editor provides a few shortcuts for adding elements to your equation:

To insert symbols, structures, and matrices, type a backslash followed by the name of the symbol. For example, type \pi to insert a π symbol into the equation. To discover the name of a symbol or structure, hover over the corresponding button in the Equation tab. You can also type backslash in the equation editor to bring up a completion menu of all supported names.

Note
Although the \name syntax closely resembles LaTeX command syntax, entering full LaTeX expressions is not supported when inserting equations interactively.
To insert subscripts, superscripts, and fractions, use the symbols ‘_’, ‘^’ or ‘/’. For example:
- Type x_2 to insert $x_{2}$ into the equation.
- Type x^2 to insert $x^{2}$ into the equation.
- Type x/2 to insert $\frac{x}{2}$ into the equation.
To insert a new column into a matrix, type a ‘,’ at the end of the last cell in a matrix row. To insert a new row, type a semicolon ‘;’ at the end of the last cell in a matrix column.
To insert the common symbols listed in this table, type a combination of other symbols.

Keyboard Input Symbol Keyboard Input Symbol Keyboard Input Symbol
| | ∥ => ⇒ != ≠
|= ⊧ <--> ⟷ !< ≮
|– ⊢ <-> ↔ !> ≯
–| ⊣ <= ≤ !<= ≰
-> → >= ≥ !>= ≱
<- ← <> ≠
<-- ⟵ ~= ≠

Keyboard Input	Symbol	Keyboard Input	Symbol	Keyboard Input	Symbol
\| \|	∥	=>	⇒	!=	≠
\|=	⊧	<-->	⟷	!<	≮
\|–	⊢	<->	↔	!>	≯
–\|	⊣	<=	≤	!<=	≰
->	→	>=	≥	!>=	≱
<-	←	<>	≠
<--	⟵	~=	≠

Insert LaTeX Equation

To insert a LaTeX equation:

Go to the Insert tab, click Equation, and select LaTeX Equation.
Enter a LaTeX expression in the dialog box that appears. For example, you can enter \sin(x) = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty}{\frac{(-1)^n x^{2n+1}}{(2n+1)!}}.
The preview pane shows a preview of equation as it would appear in the live script.
To include a description of the LaTeX equation when exporting the live script to HTML, add text to the Alt Text field. For example, you can enter the text Maclaurin series for sin(x).
The description specifies alternative text for the equation and is saved as an alt attribute in the HTML document. It is used to provide additional information for the equation if, for example, a user is using a screen reader.
Press OK to insert the equation into your live script.

LaTeX expressions describe a wide range of equations. This table shows several examples of LaTeX expressions and their appearance when inserted into a live script.

LaTeX Expression	Equation in Live Script
`a^2 + b^2 = c^2`	$a^{2} + b^{2} = c^{2}$
`\int_{0}^{2} x^2\sin(x) dx`	$\int_{0}^{2} x^{2} \sin (x) d x$
`\sin(x) = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty}{\frac{(-1)^n x^{2n+1}}{(2n+1)!}}`	$\sin (x) = \sum_{n = 0}^{\infty} \frac{{(- 1)}^{n} x^{2 n + 1}}{(2 n + 1)!}$
`{a,b,c} \neq \{a,b,c\}`	$a, b, c \neq {a, b, c}$
`x^{2} \geq 0\qquad \text{for all}x\in\mathbf{R}`	$x^{2} \geq 0 for all x \in R$
`\matrix{a & b \cr c & d}`	$\begin{matrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{matrix}$

Supported LaTeX Commands

MATLAB supports most standard LaTeX math mode commands. These tables show a list of supported LaTeX commands.

Non-ASCII Letters

Symbol	LaTeX Command	Symbol	LaTeX Command	Symbol	LaTeX Command
ø	`o`	œ	`oe`	å	`aa`
Ø	`O`	Œ	`OE`	Å	`AA`
ł	`l`	æ	`ae`	ß	`ss`
Ł	`L`	Æ	`AE`

Greek/Hebrew Letters

Symbol	LaTeX Command	Symbol	LaTeX Command	Symbol	LaTeX Command
α	`alpha`	ν	`nu`	ξ	`xi`
β	`beta`	ω	`omega`	ζ	`zeta`
χ	`chi`	о	`omicron`	ɛ	`varepsilon`
δ	`delta`	ϕ	`phi`	φ	`varphi`
ε	`epsilon`	π	`pi`	ϖ	`varpi`
η	`eta`	ψ	`psi`	ϱ	`varrho`
v	`gamma`	ρ	`rho`	ς	`varsigma`
ι	`iota`	σ	`sigma`	$ϑ$	`vartheta`
κ	`kappa`	τ	`tau`	א	`aleph`
λ	`lambda`	θ	`theta`
μ	`mu`	υ	`upsilon`
Δ	`Delta`	Φ	`Phi`	Θ	`Theta`
Γ	`Gamma`	Π	`Pi`	ϒ	`Upsilon`
Λ	`Lambda`	Ψ	`Psi`	Ξ	`Xi`
Ω	`Omega`	Σ	`Sigma`

Operator Symbols

Symbol	LaTeX Command	Symbol	LaTeX Command	Symbol	LaTeX Command
*	`ast`	±	`pm`	≀	`wr`
★	`star`	∓	`mp`	∩	`cap`
$\cdot$	`cdot`	⨿	`amalg`	∪	`cup`
◦	`circ`	⊙	`odot`	⊎	`uplus`
•	`bullet`	⊖	`ominus`	⊓	`sqcap`
◇	`diamond`	⊕	`oplus`	⊔	`sqcup`
∖	`setminus`	⊘	`oslash`	∧	`wedge`, `land`
×	`times`	⊗	`otimes`	∨	`vee`, `lor`
÷	`div`	⨁	`bigoplus`	◁	`triangleleft`
⊥	`bot`, `perp`	⨂	`bigotimes`	▷	`triangleright`
⊤	`top`	⨀	`bigodot`	$△$	`bigtriangleup`
∏	`prod`	⨄	`biguplus`	$▽$	`bigtriangledown`
∐	`coprod`	⋂	`bigcap`	⋁	`bigvee`
∑	`sum`	⋃	`bigcup`	⋀	`bigwedge`
∫	`int`, `intop`	∮	`oint`	⨆	`bigsqcup`
⨍	`intbar`

Relation Symbols

Symbol	LaTeX Command	Symbol	LaTeX Command	Symbol	LaTeX Command
≡	`equiv`	<	`lt`	>	`gt`
≅	`cong`	≤	`le`, `leq`	≥	`ge`, `geq`
≠	`neq`, `ne`, `not=`	≮	`not<`	≯	`not>`
∼	`sim`	≺	`prec`	≻	`succ`
≃	`simeq`	≼	`preceq`	≽	`succeq`
≈	`approx`	≪	`ll`	≫	`gg`
≍	`asymp`	⊂	`subset`	⊃	`supset`
≐	`doteq`	⊆	`subseteq`	⊇	`supseteq`
∝	`propto`	⊑	`sqsubseteq`	⊒	`sqsupseteq`
⊧	`models`	∣	`mid`	∊	`in`
⋈	`bowtie`	∥	`parallel`	∉	`notin`
⊢	`vdash`	⇔	`iff`	∍	`ni`, `owns`
⊣	`dashv`

Note

Some commands can be combined with the not command to create the negated version of the symbol. For example, \not\leq creates the symbol ≰. The commands that can be combined include leq, geq, equiv, cong, approx, sim, simeq, models, ni, parallel, succ, succeq, prec, preceq, subset, supset, subseteq, supseteq, sqsubseteq, and sqsupseteq.

Arrows

Symbol	LaTeX Command	Symbol	LaTeX Command	Symbol	LaTeX Command
←	`leftarrow`	→	`rightarrow`	↑	`uparrow`
⇐	`Leftarrow`	⇒	`Rightarrow`	⇑	`Uparrow`
⟵	`longleftarrow`	⟶	`longrightarrow`	↓	`downarrow`
⟸	`Longleftarrow`	⟹	`Longrightarrow`	⇓	`Downarrow`
↩	`hookleftarrow`	↪	`hookrightarrow`	↕	`updownarrow`
↽	`leftharpoondown`	⇁	`rightharpoondown`	⇕	`Updownarrow`
↼	`leftharpoonup`	⇀	`rightharpoonup`	↔	`leftrightarrow`
↙	`swarrow`	↗	`nearrow`	⇔	`Leftrightarrow`
↖	`nwarrow`	↘	`searrow`	⟷	`longleftrightarrow`
↦	`mapsto`	⟼	`longmapsto`	⟺	`Longleftrightarrow`

Brackets

Symbol	LaTeX Command	Symbol	LaTeX Command	Symbol	LaTeX Command
{	`lbrace`	}	`rbrace`	\|	`vert`
[	`lbrack`	]	`rbrack`	‖	`Vert`
〈	`langle`	〉	`rangle`	\	`backslash`
⌈	`lceil`	⌉	`rceil`
⌊	`lfloor`	⌋	`rfloor`
⟦	`llbracket`	⟧	`rrbracket`

Sample	LaTeX Command	Sample	LaTeX Command	Sample	LaTeX Command
	`big`, `bigl`, `bigr`, `bigm`		`bigg`, `biggl`, `biggr`, `biggm`	${a b c}$	`brace`
	`Big`, `Bigl`, `Bigr`, `Bigm`		`Bigg`, `Biggl`, `Biggr`, `Biggm`	$[a b c]$	`brack`

Misc Symbols

Symbol	LaTeX Command	Symbol	LaTeX Command	Symbol	LaTeX Command
∞	`infty`	∀	`forall`	℘	`wp`
∇	`nabla`	∃	`exists`	∠	`angle`
∂	`partial`	∅	`emptyset`	△	`triangle`
ℑ	`Im`	ı	`i`	◊	`lozenge`
ℜ	`Re`	ȷ	`j`	ℏ	`hbar`
ℓ	`ell`	ı	`imath`	′	`prime`
…	`dots`, `ldots`, `hellip`	ȷ	`jmath`	¬	`lnot`, `neg`
$\dots$	`cdots`	:	`colon`	$\sqrt$	`surd`
$⋱$	`ddots`	$\cdot$	`cdotp`	←	`gets`
⋮	`vdots`	$.$	`ldotp`	→	`to`
∵	`because`	∴	`therefore`	∝	`varpropto`
°	`degree`	♧	`clubsuit`	♣	`varclubsuit`
†	`dag`, `dagger`	♡	`heartsuit`	♥	`varheartsuit`
‡	`ddag`, `ddagger`	♢	`diamondsuit`	♦	`vardiamondsuit`
↲	`ldsh`	♤	`spadesuit`	♠	`varspadesuit`
§	`mathsection`

Note

The exists command can be combined with the not command to create the negated version of the symbol. For example, \not\exists creates the symbol ∄.

Text Symbols

Sample	LaTeX Command	Sample	LaTeX Command	Sample	LaTeX Command
£	`pounds`, `textsterling`	¿	`textquestiondown`	❠	`quotedblbase`
¢	`textcent`	¡	`textexclamdown`	‵	`backprime`
€	`texteuro`	«	`flqq`, `guillemotleft`		`space`
¥	`yen`	»	`frqq`, `guillemotright`	‰	`permil`
®	`textregistered`	§	`S`	\	`backslash`
™	`trademark`, `texttrademark`	¶	`P`	¦	`brokenvert`
©	`copyright`

Accents

Symbol	LaTeX Command	Symbol	LaTeX Command	Symbol	LaTeX Command
á	`acute`	$\dot{a}$	`dot`	$\tilde{a}$	`tilde`
$\bar{a}$	`bar`	$\ddot{a}$	`ddot`	$\vec{a}$	`vec`
$\overset{⌣}{a}$	`breve`	$\overset{⃛}{a}$	`dddot`	à	`grave`
$\overset{ˇ}{a}$	`check`	$\overset{⃜}{a}$	`ddddot`	$\hat{a}$	`hat`

Functions

Sample	LaTeX Command	Sample	LaTeX Command	Sample	LaTeX Command
$\arccos$	`arccos`	$\det$	`det`	$\ln$	`ln`
$\arcsin$	`arcsin`	$\dim$	`dim`	$\log$	`log`
$\arctan$	`arctan`	$\exp$	`exp`	$\max$	`max`
$\arg$	`arg`	$\gcd$	`gcd`	$\min$	`min`
$\cos$	`cos`	$hom$	`hom`	$\Pr$	`Pr`
$\cosh$	`cosh`	$\ker$	`ker`	$\sec$	`sec`
$\cot$	`cot`	$\lg$	`lg`	$\sin$	`sin`
$\coth$	`coth`	$\lim$	`lim`	$\sinh$	`sinh`
$\csc$	`csc`	$\lim \inf$	`liminf`	$\sup$	`sup`
$\deg$	`deg`	$\lim \sup$	`limsup`	$\tan$	`tan`

Math Constructs

Sample	LaTeX Command	Sample	LaTeX Command	Sample	LaTeX Command
$\frac{a b c}{x y z}$	`frac`	$\overset{a}{b}$	`stackrel`, `overset`	$\frac{a}{b}$	`over`
$\sqrt{a b c}$	`sqrt`	$\underset{a}{b}$	`underset`	$[\frac{a}{b}]$	`overwithdelims`
$\mod a$	`bmod`	$(\begin{matrix} a \\ b \end{matrix})$	`binom`, `choose`	$\overset{\leftarrow}{a b c}$	`overleftarrow`
$(\mod a)$	`pmod`	$(\begin{matrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{matrix})$	`pmatrix`	$\vec{a b c}$	`overrightarrow`
$\hat{a b c}$	`widehat`	$\begin{matrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{matrix}$	`matrix`	$\overset{\leftrightarrow}{a b c}$	`overleftrightarrow`
$\tilde{a b c}$	`widetilde`	$\begin{matrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{matrix}$	`begin{array}`	$\underline{\begin{matrix} \bar{a b} \\ c d \end{matrix}}$	`hline`
$〈 a b c \|$	`bra`	${\begin{array}{l} a & b \\ c & d \end{array}$	`begin{cases}`	$\sum_{i = 0}^{10}$	`limits`
$\| a b c 〉$	`ket`	${\frac{a}{2} \| b^{2}}$	`left`, `middle`, `right`	$\sum_{i = 0}^{10}$	`nolimits`
$〈 a b \| c d 〉$	`braket`

Note

To create a matrix using the matrix and pmatrix commands, use the & symbol to separate columns, and \cr to separate rows. For example, to create a 2–by–2 matrix, use the expression \matrix{a & b \cr c & d}.

For large operators, MATLAB automatically adjusts the position of limits depending on whether or not there is text inline with the equation. To force the display of the limits above and below the operator, use the limits command. To force the display of the limits adjacent to the operator, use the \nolimits command. For example, the expression \sum\limits_{i=0}^{10} displays the limits of the summation operator above and below the operator. The expression \sum\nolimits_{i=0}^{10} displays the limits of the summation operator adjacent to the operator.

$\sum_{i = 0}^{10}$ $\sum_{i = 0}^{10}$

White Space

Sample	LaTeX Command	Sample	LaTeX Command	Sample	LaTeX Command
$a b$	`negthinspace`	$a b c$	`mathord`	$a [b$	`mathopen`
$a b$	`thinspace`	$a \sum b$	`mathop`	$a] b$	`mathclose`
$a b$	`enspace`	$a + b$	`mathbin`	$a \| b$	`mathinner`
$a b$	`hspace`	$a = b$	`mathrel`	$a b$	`quad`
$a b$	`kern`, `mkern`	$a, b$	`mathpunct`	$a b$	`qquad`

Text Styling

LaTeX Command	Sample	LaTeX Command	Sample	LaTeX Command
`displaystyle`	$ABCDE$	`text`, `textnormal`, `textup`	$ABCDE$	`texttt`
`textstyle`	$A B C D E$	`bf`, `textbf`, `mathbf`	$A B C D E$	`textsf`
`scriptstyle`	$A B C D E$	`it`, `textit`, `mathit`	$A ℬ C D ℰ$	`cal`, `mathcal`
`scriptscriptstyle`	$ABCDE$	`rm`, `textrm`, `mathrm`	$A B ℂ D$	`mathbb`
	$ABCDE$	`hbox`, `mbox`	$A B ℭ D$	`mathfrak`