Use keyboard shortcuts

When you are answering questions in a player, you can cut, copy, and paste using the keyboard. You also can use keyboard shortcuts to enter special characters and symbols. For example, if you enter:

\sqrt

the square root symbol appears:

Math courses also include a palette of symbols where you can enter the special characters by clicking an icon on the palette. See Use the math palette for details on entering special characters and symbols from the palette in math courses.

Keyboard shortcuts are listed in the following tables:

Copy and paste shortcuts

Common operation symbols

Math function symbols

Greek letters

Copy and paste shortcuts

To copy text:

1. Highlight the text you want to copy.
2. Press and hold down the Control key.
3. Press the c key
4. Release both keys.

To cut text:

1. Highlight the text you want to cut.
2. Press and hold down the Control key.
3. Press the x key
4. Release both keys.

To paste copied or cut text:

1. Place your cursor where you want to paste the text.
2. Press and hold down the Control key.
3. Press the v key.
4. Release both keys.

Common operation symbols

To use this symbol...	Enter this shortcut...	For example
+  (plus)	Plus sign on keyboard
-  (minus)	Dash on keyboard
=  (equal)	Equal sign on keyboard
(multiplication dot)	* (asterisk) (For example: 2 * 3)
(times sign)	\times (For example: 2 \times 3)
(divided by)	\divide
<  (less than)	Left angle sign on keyboard (For example: 2 < 3)
(less than or equal to)	< = (left angle sign and an equal sign) (For example: 2 <= 3)
<  (greater than)	Right angle sign on keyboard (For example: 3 > 2)
(greater than or equal to)	> = (right angle sign and an equal sign) (For example: 3 >= 2)
(not equal)	<> (left and right angle signs) (For example: 3 <> 2)

Math function symbols

To use this symbol...	Enter this shortcut...	For example
(fraction)	/ (Type the numerator, then a slash, then the denominator. For example: 2 /3)
(superscript)	Shift (Type the Shift key, then the up arrow () to create a superscript box where you can enter a number.)
(subscript)	Shift (Type the Shift key, then the down arrow () to create a subscript box where you can enter a number.)
(superscript and subscript)	\supsub (Creates a template where you can enter the base value in the box on the left, and the superscript and subscript in the boxes on the right.)	(empty template) (template with values)
(double subscripts)	\subsub (Creates a template where you can enter a subscript in the box on the left, the base value in the box in the middle, and a subscript in the box on the right.)	(empty template) (template with values)
(absolute value)	\abs (Creates a template where you can enter a value in the blue box.)	(empty template) (template with value)
(square root)	\sqrt (Creates a template where you can enter a value in the blue box.)	(empty template) (template with value)
(Nth-root)	\nrt (Creates a template where you can enter the values in the blue boxes.)	(empty template) (template with values)
(vertical bar)	\textbar (For example: 5 \textbar 15)
(empty set)	\empty (For example: V = \empty)
(union)	\cup (For example: A \cup B)
(intersection)	\cap (For example: A \cap B)
(element of)	\element (For example: A \element B)
(not an element of)	\nelement (For example: A \nelement B)
(subset of)	\subset (For example: A \subset B)
(not a subset of)	\nsubset (For example: A \nsubset B)
(proper subset of)	\propersub (For example: A \propersub B)
(not a proper subset of)	\npropersub (For example: A \npropersub B)
(angle)	\angle (For example: \angle ABC)
(logical and)	\and (For example: A \and B)
(logical or)	\or (For example: A \or B)
(logical not)	\not (For example: \not A)
(equivalent)	Tilde on keyboard
(infinity)	\inf (For example: A = \inf)
(imaginary unit)	i on keyboard (For example: a = bi = 0)
(Euler's number)	e on keyboard (For example: e = 0)
(gradient)	\grad (For example: \grad f = 2y)
(integral)	\int (For example: \int f(x) dx
(over-bar)	\bar (Creates a template where you can enter a value in the blue box.)	(empty template) (template with value)
(double overbar)	\dbar (Creates a template where you can enter a value in the blue box.)	(empty template) (template with value)
(hat)	\hat (Creates a template where you can enter a value in the blue box.)	(empty template) (template with value)

Greek letters

To use this letter... ..	Enter this shortcut... ..
lower-case alpha	\alpha
lower-case beta	\beta
lower-case gamma	\gamma
upper-case delta	\cdelta
lower-case theta	\theta
lower-case lambda	\lambda
lower-case mu	\mu
lower-case pi	\pi
lower-case rho	\rho
lower-case sigma	\sigma
upper-case sigma	\sum
lower-case phi	\phi
lower-case chi	\chi

See also:

Use the math palette

Use the on-screen keyboard

Use the player with JAWS