OpenOffice Math is the formula editor for the OpenOffice suite of productivity software. Use OpenOffice Math to create math objects and insert them into text documents or presentations.
Does Not Calculate
Before starting, understand that OpenOffice Math does no math. A math teacher can use OpenOffice Math to write a test, with beautifully formatted complex equations, but a math student cannot use OpenOffice Math to solve those same equations.
Opening and Closing
OpenOffice Math is called from within an OpenOffice text document by choosing "Insert -> Object -> Formula." This opens a Math window at the bottom of the text document. The user produces a Math object in this window, then clicks outside of the Math window, in the text portion of the document. This closes the Math window and inserts the Math object into the text document.
Create an Object
A markup language is used to create Math objects. Learn the most common expressions in this markup language. The fraction five fourths is written as "5 over 4" (without quotation marks) inside the Math window.
Selection Window
If you do not know or forget the markup language for a certain expression, click on the corresponding symbol in the selection window. You can also right click inside the Math window and choose symbols from a menu.
In the case of a fraction, the corresponding symbol is "a over b." This inserts the text "{} over {}" in the math window. Replace the first {} with 5 and the second {} with 4 and you get the same result as you got by typing in the markup language in the first place.
In the symbol {}, the curly braces are used for grouping, and the produces a small empty box, which is used to indicate that a result is needed. The is unnecessary in this context. It is a cute way of reminding us to enter the two parts of the fraction, producing an empty box over an empty box in the text part of the document. The curly braces, though, are useful. The only way to produce 6/(x + y) is to type "6 over {x + y}".
Resizing Objects
If you want larger or smaller math objects in your text document, you need to produce them as such in the Math window.
There are two ways to do this. One is by choosing "Format -> Font Size," which allows you to choose the base font size, as well as the relative font sizes of text, indexes, functions, operators and limits.
The second is by modifying the size in the Math window, by typing "Size * 2 {}", and then entering your formula within the braces. Any number can be used instead of 2, including 3 or even .75.
Teach Yourself
Save time by memorizing the markup language for the formulas you use most. The less you have to use the selection window, the faster you will edit Math objects.
Tags: OpenOffice Math, markup language, Math window, text document, Math window, base font