Typing algebraic expressions: LaTeX or something else?

[TheThirdOfHerName]

DS2 is about to start his A-level courses, which include Maths & Further Maths.

Due to hypermobility in his hands & wrists, he finds it painful to write for long periods of time. In his GCSEs, he was allowed to type in exams with lots of writing (English etc.)

He has a chromebook in lessons and would like to type his class notes on this. He's worried that Word is not going to be up to the job of typing algebraic expressions for A-level.

Can anyone recommend (preferably free or very reasonably priced) software that would work for this?

Hello there. I did a quick google. Has your DS explored symbols in Word? I asked 'how do I type algebraic symbols in word'. There were a number of articles including YouTube videos. Would that be of any use?

Thank you GnomedePlume
He has worked out how to type equations in Word but says it's a bit time-consuming. It would possibly work for homework, but he's worried about keeping up when everyone else is quickly scrawling down something from the whiteboard.

Equation editor in Word? Press ALT then n then e then i as a keyboard shortcut.

Thank you noblegiraffe
Do you use LaTeX? If so, do you find it quicker to use than writing equations in Word?
When making notes in class he'll need to be quite quick. He can touch type quickly and accurately (was taught at primary school) but says that typing equations in Word is taking longer.

LaTeX is definitely the way to go. Treat it like a programming language to get the best out of it. dd is away for a couple of days but after the weekend give me a nudge and I'll chat to her about which version she uses. She intends to write up her university notes with it as her hand writing is quite illegible. w

If he can get the hang of it, he will have instantly professional looking reports too.

Is he allowed to use the camera on his phone to photograph the more tricky formulas for transcribing afterwards?

Also has he looked at

www.penwatch.net/cms/word_math_symbols/

He's right that Word is possible but time consuming. LaTeX takes some getting used to so he'll want to practice before term starts, but all my science friends used it at university so it'll give him a head start there. Plenty of people work on projects to make more user-friendly interfaces for LaTeX as well, though I don't know enough to recommend one.

LaTex for me if it is a long term thing. Word is fine but fiddly.

DS takes photos of what’s on the whiteboard in class in all subjects as his note taking is poor and painfully slow

Doesn’t answer your question The third but may help if word is slowing him down.

+1 for Latex. Yes,there's a learning curve but it will be far quicker and less fiddly than word. Don't know how to use it on a Chromebook though. It will also be incredibly useful if he does a stem subject at uni or college.

LaTeX is easier to use than Word for mathematical and scientific documentation. It isn't only the equation formatting. It's somehow the way of thinking being behind the way the program works being more logical.

However as pp have said there is a learning curve so your DS would be wise to get going now before term starts. Installing LaTeX can be a pita. He would be wise to try to produce a few simple documents and maybe make a sort of template document he can use for making notes and another for homeworks, something like that?

Am happy to help if I can, I used it for years.

Thank you all. He is planning to do a four-year Physics course at university so could potentially use LaTeX for that too.

He is quick at picking up new things (programming languages etc) so should hopefully be able to get the hang of it if he starts learning now.

Thank you for the tip about setting up a template.

I will also remind him that he can take photos of the whiteboard if pressed for time.

Best wishes for his studies TheThird, DD2 is about to embark on a Chemical Physics degree having also thought about the idea of Physics or maths degree. There's a lot of maths which ever so I hope he's able to get to grips with the software quickly.

DD says LaTeX is a love/hate thing. She hates it but if your ds likes it it would be best for him.
If he doesn't like it she has TextHelp Read and Write with Equatio add-on in her DSA software bundle but she hasn't actually used it yet. She thinks there is also a maths add on to Dragon (speech to text software) but that won't be much use in class.

Thank you all, this is really helpful.
DS2 has picked a topic and has set himself a task to prepare a revision summary.

Good luck to him. I remember using LaTex for a theoretical physics dissertation years back and agree that Word's equation editor just won't cut it for A level maths. He'll need to develop ways of working that suit his needs and LaTex should give him a decent chance. Hope he has a good year!

Update: he has produced a revision summary of a Maths A-level subtopic using LaTeX. He says teaching himself how to do it was fairly straightforward; it helped that he is familiar with html.

He says that in class he will use a combination of typing in Word, handwriting and taking photos of the board. Then at home he will make neat notes on each topic using LaTeX, which will have the double benefit of giving him legible notes and also giving him practice in using it ready for university.

Thank you all for your help. It was a very specific question but I should have known that Mn would be able to help.

That sounds like an excellent plan. Revisiting notes and bringing them into order means that from the start he will be aware of where he has understood and where he needs to get further clarification.