Essential Mathematical Notation for Markdown Documents

Inline and Display Formulas

Inline formulas are enclosed in single dollar signs: $E = mc^2$. Display formulas use double dollar signs: $$\int_a^b f(x)dx$$.

For Typora users, enable inline math support via: File → Preferences → Markdown → Markdown Extensions → Check "Inline Math"

Common Mathematical Symbols

Superscripts and Subscripts

Notation Example Syntax
Vector $\vec{v}$ \vec{v}
Mean $\bar{x}$ \bar{x}
Estimate $\hat{\theta}$ \hat{\theta}
First derivative $\dot{x}$ \dot{x}
Second derivative $\ddot{x}$ \ddot{x}
Superscript $x^n$ x^n
Subscript $x_i$ x_i

Fractions and Roots

Expression Syntax
$\frac{a}{b}$ \frac{a}{b}
$\sqrt{x}$ \sqrt{x}
$\sqrt[n]{x}$ \sqrt[n]{x}

Mathematical Operators

Summation and Integration

  • Summation: $\sum_{i=1}^{n} a_i$ (\sum_{i=1}^{n} a_i)
  • Limit: $\lim_{x \to \infty} f(x)$ (\lim_{x \to \infty} f(x))
  • Integral: $\int_{0}^{\infty} e^{-x} dx$ (\int_{0}^{\infty} e^{-x} dx)
  • Double integral: $\iint_D f(x,y) dA$ (\iint_D f(x,y) dA)

Set Operations

  • Union: $A \cup B$ (A \cup B)
  • Intersection: $A \cap B$ (A \cap B)
  • Subset: $A \subset B$ (A \subset B)
  • Element: $x \in A$ (x \in A)
  • Empty set: $\emptyset$ (\emptyset)

Brackets and Matrices

  • Binomial: $\binom{n}{k}$ (\binom{n}{k})
  • Matrix:
\begin{pmatrix}
a & b \\
c & d
\end{pmatrix}

Relational Operators

Operator Symbol Syntax
Not equal $\neq$ \neq
Less then or equal $\leq$ \leq
Greater then or equal $\geq$ \geq
Approximately equal $\approx$ \approx
Plus/minus $\pm$ \pm
Multiplication $\times$ \times
Division $\div$ \div

Complex Mathematical Expressions

Matrix Equation

$$
\begin{bmatrix}
1 & x_1 & x_1^2 \\
1 & x_2 & x_2^2 \\
1 & x_3 & x_3^2
\end{bmatrix}
\begin{bmatrix}
a_0 \\ a_1 \\ a_2
\end{bmatrix}
=
\begin{bmatrix}
y_1 \\ y_2 \\ y_3
\end{bmatrix}
$$

System of Equations

$$
\begin{cases}
a_0 + a_1x_1 + a_2x_1^2 = y_1 \\
a_0 + a_1x_2 + a_2x_2^2 = y_2 \\
a_0 + a_1x_3 + a_2x_3^2 = y_3
\end{cases}
$$

Greek Alphabet

Lowercase Syntax Uppercase Syntax
$\alpha$ \alpha $A$ A
$\beta$ \beta $B$ B
$\gamma$ \gamma $\Gamma$ \Gamma
$\delta$ \delta $\Delta$ \Delta
$\epsilon$ \epsilon $E$ E

Text Formatting and Spacing

Font Styles

  • Bold: $\mathbf{Sample}$ (\mathbf{Sample})
  • Italic: $\mathit{Sample}$ (\mathit{Sample})
  • Sans-serif: $\mathsf{Sample}$ (\mathsf{Sample})

Spacing

  • Thin space: $a,b$ (a\,b)
  • Medium space: $a;b$ (a\;b)
  • Quad space: $a\quad b$ (a\quad b)
  • Double quad: $a\qquad b$ (a\qquad b)

Annotated Formulas

$$
f(x) = \begin{cases}
\frac{x}{2}, & \text{if $x$ is even} \\
3x+1, & \text{if $x$ is odd}
\end{cases}
$$

Tags: Markdown mathematical-notation Latex technical-writing documentation

Posted on Thu, 14 May 2026 12:12:20 +0000 by MnilinM