Mathematical Wordprocessing
Here is a quick guide to some of the methods of preparing high-quality text
involving mathematics.
Formats
- DOC
-
The proprietary format used by Word. Most people have it, and there are
free viewers for most operating systems (although they do not always display
figures and mathematics correctly).
- RTF
-
The Rich Text Format is compatible with Word as well as numerous other
wordprocessing programs. Folks who don't use Word often have no trouble with
RTF.
- PostScript
-
Adobe's original typesetting language. Easily generated by TeX, and by many
graphics programs, including Maple and Mathematica. Can often be generated
simply by using a PS printer driver and printing to a file.
- PDF
-
Essentially a compressed replacement for PostScript. Requires a commercial
converter from most formats, although it is easy to convert PostScript to PDF
using freeware. The widespread availablity of Adobe Acrobat Reader makes this
the most portable format for sharing mathematical text online.
- HTML
-
The language of the web. Unfortunately lacks much ability to typeset math.
- MathML
-
MathML will eventually be the gold standard for mathematical web design, but
it's not yet fully developed, and many browsers don't yet support it.
It can be generated automatically from TeX, Maple, and Mathematica, and by the
MathType package for Word.
Software
All of the software discussed below is available in the computer lab in the
MLC in Kidder Hall, which also has Scientific Workplace, a frontend to both
Maple and TeX.
- TeX
-
Developed by a mathematician, this is the gold standard for mathematical
typesetting. The learning curve can be steep, however, as it is essentially a
programming language. There are several frontends which are easy to use, but,
whereas TeX itself is free, most of the frontends are not. However, if you
plan to be a mathematician, you should learn to use TeX at some point.
-
Advantages:
total control over format; easy to convert to PDF
-
Disadvantages:
steep learning curve; not WYSIWYG
- Word
-
Word handles simple mathematics quite well, and complex mathematics with a
little patience.
-
Advantages:
widely available; easy to use; WYSIWYG
-
Disadvantages:
math formatted as objects, not text;
proprietary format;
difficult to convert to PDF
- Maple
-
Really a computer algebra system, but sessions can contain formatted text as
well.
-
Advantages:
export as TeX, HTML (with or without MathML), and RTF
-
Disadvantages:
not widely available; somewhat cumbersome for text
- Mathematica
-
Really a computer algebra system, but sessions can contain formatted text as
well.
-
Advantages:
export as TeX, HTML (with or without MathML)
-
Disadvantages:
not widely available; somewhat cumbersome for text