Math

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Many people start with TeX because they want to set formulae. Simple math typesetting exists since PlainTeX and these commands work in ConTeXt as in LaTeX. Advanced math was introduced to TeX by AMS (American Mathematical Society); nowadays AMSTeX and LaTeX are united. But how can one use advanced math with ConTeXt?

• There are two different math modules on CTAN, nath and amsl.
• It is also possible to use most LaTeX equations in ConTeXt with a relatively small set of supporting definitions.
• The "native" ConTeXt way of math is MathML, an application of XML - rather verbose but mighty.
• And there's a new math module in the distribution.

Simple Math

ConTeXt supports inline math (mathematical formulas set within ordinary paragraphs as part of the text) and display math (mathematics set on lines by themselves, often with equation numbers). Inline math is enclosed in "$" signs, while display math is enclosed in a \startformula / \stopformula pair.

Inline math is set as $c^2 = a^2 + b^2$, and display math as
\placeformula
\startformula
c^2 = a^2 + b^2.
\stopformula

This, when typeset, produces the following:

The \placeformula command is optional, and produces the equation number; leaving it off produces an unnumbered equation.

ConTeXt's base mathematics support is built on the mathematics support in plain TeX, thus allowing quite complicated formulas. (There are also some additional macros, such as the \text command for text-mode notes within math.) For instance:

A more complicated equation:
\placeformula
\startformula
{{\theta_{\text{ConTeXt}}}^2 \over x+2}
 = \pmatrix{a_{11}&a_{12}&\ldots&a_{1n}\cr
            a_{21}&a_{22}&\ldots&a_{2n}\cr
            \vdots&\vdots&\ddots&\vdots\cr
            a_{n1}&a_{n2}&\ldots&a_{nn}\cr}
   \pmatrix{b_1 \cr b_2 \cr \vdots \cr b_n}
 + \sum_{j=1}^\infty z^j
   \left( \sum_{\scriptstyle n=1 \atop \scriptstyle n \ne j}^\infty Z_j^n \right)
\stopformula

which produces

Here you can try it "live" (PDF interface!).

MathAlignment is covered on a separate page.

Number Formatting

There's a special command, \digits, and a own manual about formatting numbers, see Pasting digits together

Math Fonts

• Bold Math
• Euler in ConTeXt (using Euler math font) by Adam Lindsay

Science

• Esp. for physics there’s the units module.
• Additions to MathML are PhysML and ChemML.
• Chemistry
• There's a module for chemical structure formulae: PPCHTeX (works also with LaTeX). It's based on Metapost and MetaFun.