PRACTICE WITH RADICALS

Using the Equation Editor … … to make math problems look like math problems ! Math on the keyboard: x = [ - b +/ - sqrt (b^2 – 4ac)]/(2a ) Huh ? Math with the equation editor! That’s better!2 4 2 b b ac x a     Let’s say that you want to show an algebraic fraction like Trying to do this with just the keyboard looks “weird” … x / (x + 3) … and it invites mistakes (like not using the parentheses). x / x + 3 means + 3 which is something completely different! 3 x x The next time that you type in the Rich Text Editor, take a look at the middle toolbar.

You will see a smiley face.

To the right of the smiley face is an fx button. That button is the equation editor.

It’s no coincidence that it’s close to a big smile! When you hover over the fraction, 20 different mathematical symbols appear. Don’t panic – we only use a few of them in this class! Since we want the fraction, click on that one . In the first set of braces { }, type what you want on the top of the fraction.

In the second set of braces { } enter what you want on the bottom. D own here , you can see what it will look like in your post. When it looks the way you want it to, Copy to Document. Another commonly used symbol is the exponent. This time let’s try to create the expression:2 6 5 2 x y   Type the x first to start the top of the fraction. Lookin ’ good! Next we’re going to want an exponent which is the first symbol on the row beneath the fraction symbol. Put the 2 for the “squared” in the braces. Notice how the top of our fraction now starts with x -squared. Get out of the braces to add the – 5 or it will be part of the exponent! Once you have the top of the fraction done … … just rinse and repeat for the bottom! We did it! A shortcut is to use the caret symbol (shift -6) on the keyboard to indicate that what follows in the braces is an exponent. Some other popular symbols are the radical symbols to indicate roots. The square root sign is in the third row, fifth column. The sign for other roots is in the fourth row, fifth column. For most purposes, the style to use for text is Upright. Be sure to include the spaces as part of the text! That looks better! Experiment with it until you can get the desired results. The math may still be a challenge … … but now writing the answers shouldn’t be!