Keyboard shortcuts: Enter math expressions
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 _ |
10 |
^ |
Numeric keyboard to enter ^ |
|
/ |
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| |
| |
Numeric keyboard to enter | |
(vector) |
\vec |
Letters keyboard to enter \vec |
(unit vector) |
\hat |
Letters keyboard to enter \hat |
*To enter an expression with multiplication in the numerator: Select from the Templates menu for the correct format. (You cannot use /.)
For this letter | Enter this from your keyboard OR on a tablet or smartphone, open the Letters keyboard and enter |
---|---|
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 OR on a tablet or smartphone, open the Letters or Numeric keyboard, as needed |
---|---|
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.