Adding equations to Microsoft word documents
I realize it's late in the year; still, I have some tips for those of you who teach math. Just as you shouldn't swing a hammer too hard but let it do the work for you, when creating documents with math "stuff" let the word processor do the work (e.g. no more writing fractions by hand).

First, to insert fractions in Microsoft word:
1. Find "insert" across the top of the screen.
2. On the drop down menu under "insert", find "field"
3. After clicking on "insert field" you will have to choose the "Field name." To insert a fraction, you want to choose "Equations and Formulas" as the category and the "Field name" is "Eq."
4. You will then enter instructions to describe the fraction. Find the box where "EQ" is displayed.
5. Place the cursor after "EQ" and type "\F(" (just the stuff inside the quotes, i.e. forward slash, 'F', open parens).
6. After the "open parens," type the numerator and denominator separated by a comma, and then a close parens (e.g. the fraction 7/8 would appear "EQ\F(7,8)")
7. Hit okay and you should see the fraction in your document.

Second, common symbols used in math
1. Find "insert" again
2. This time select "symbol" on the drop down menu
3. Changing the font, brings up different math symbols

• a mulitplication symbol (looks better than an 'x') is found in the "monotype sorts" font and is in the top row just right of center
  
• a division symbol (looks better than a '/') is found in the "(normal text)" font and is in the 2nd row from the bottow in the middle
  
• a pi symobl can also be found in "(normal text)" and is in the 3rd row from the bottom in the middle
  

4. For the advanced crowd, I'd suggest creating a shortcut key for the symbols you use most.
- posted by bumper @ 7:28 PM