Keyboard shortcuts: Enter math expressions (Engineering)
Updated 19 Feb 2024
It can be faster to enter some math expression answers using your keyboard instead of the answer box toolbar. Tablet and smartphone users: Tap the answer box for the toolbar to appear beneath it.
For this math format | Type this from your keyboard | On a tablet or smartphone, open the ... |
---|---|---|
y3 (subscript) |
_
|
Numeric keyboard to enter _ |
x (exponent) |
^ |
Numeric keyboard to enter ^ |
(fraction)* |
/ |
Letters keyboard to enter / |
2.56 (decimal point) |
. |
Numeric keyboard to enter . |
( ) |
( and ) |
Numeric keyboard to enter ( and ) |
[ ] |
[ and ] |
Numeric keyboard to enter [ and ] |
{ } |
{ and } |
Numeric keyboard to enter { and } |
+ |
+ |
Numeric keyboard to enter + |
- (minus sign) |
- (hyphen) |
Numeric keyboard to enter - |
|
* (asterisk) |
Numeric keyboard to enter * |
(square root)
|
\sqrt |
Letters keyboard to enter \sqrt |
(nth root) |
\nrt |
Letters keyboard to enter \nrt |
|x| (absolute value) |
| |
Numeric keyboard to enter | |
Fxi+Fyj (vector) |
\vec |
Letters keyboard to enter \vec |
(polar form complex number) |
cis |
Letters keyboard to enter cis |
(X)* (complex conjugate) |
conj |
Letters keyboard to enter conj |
*To enter an expression with multiplication in the numerator: Choose from the Templates menu for the correct format. (You cannot use /.)
For this letter |
Enter this from your keyboard |
---|---|
a |
\alpha |
b |
\beta |
g |
\gamma |
D, d |
\Delta, \delta |
e |
\epsilon |
h |
\eta |
q |
\theta |
k |
\kappa |
l |
\lambda |
m |
\mu |
n |
\nu |
p |
\pi |
r |
\rho |
S, s |
\Sigma, \sigma |
t |
\tau |
F, f |
\phi |
c |
\chi |
Y, y |
\Psi, \psi |
W, w |
\Omega, \omega |
\EMF |
|
\hbar |
Use radians for arguments of trigonometric functions, unless asked to answer in degrees.
For this special function |
Enter this from your keyboard |
---|---|
arccosine |
arccos(x), acos(x), or cos^-1(x) |
arccotangent |
arccot(x), acot(x), or cot^-1(x) |
arccosecant |
arcscs(x), ascs(x), or csc^-1(x) |
arcsecant |
arcsec(x), asec(x), or sec^-1(x) |
arcsine |
arcsin(x), asin(x), or sin^-1(x) |
arctangent |
arctan(x), atan(x), or tan^-1(x) |
cosine |
cos(x) |
cotangent |
cot(x) |
cosecant |
csc(x) |
natural exponential function (e = 2.71828...) |
e^x or exp(x) |
natural logarithm (base e) |
ln(x) |
common logarithm (base 10) |
log(x) |
secant |
sec(x) |
sine |
sin(x) |
tangent |
tan(x) |
You can enter the constants e (Euler's number, 2.71828...), g (local acceleration due to gravity, 9.8 (based on units of m/s^2)), and \pi (for p, 3.14159...) for these numeric equivalents in your answers.
To move the cursor within your answer: On a computer, use your keyboard arrow keys (, , , ). On a mobile device, use your finger or other input device. For finer cursor control on a phone, enlarge your view of the answer box before moving the cursor.
Select Keyboard shortcuts from the toolbar to open these instructions.