Table of contents: (this page)    1. Microsoft Equation Editor    2. Start the Equation Editor    3. The Equation toolbar    4. The equation edit area    5. Undo    6. Start an equation    7. Insert a symbol    8. Insert a template    9. Add text    10. Superscript    11. Finish the top line    12. Select the top line    13. Finish the equation    14. Equation in the document    15. Resize the equation    16. Changing the equation    17. OLE    18. General requirement: Equation editor    19. MathType    20. Multiple choice questions    21. Requirements (summary)

Related links: (other pages) 1.  how to study multiple choice questions

1.0 Microsoft Equation Editor

The Microsoft Equation Editor is designed to allow the creation and display of mathematical formulas in a Word documents and other programs that support OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) objects.


Equation Editor  ( see dictionary wikipedia google )

2.0 Start the Equation Editor

One way to start the Equation Editor from a Word document is as follows.
• Select the point in the document where you want the equation placed. You can always move it later.
• Select "Insert", "Object...".
• From the "Create New" tab, select the "Object Type:" as "Microsoft Equation 3.0" (or the most recent version of the Equation Editor).
• Select "OK".

3.0 The Equation toolbar

The equation toolbar appears as follows. The buttons on the top row are used to insert symbols into an equation.

The buttons on the bottom row are used to insert templates (to be further filled in) into an equation.

4.0 The equation edit area

The equation area appears as follows.

• To add text, just type as you would in the document area.
• To add symbols, select a button from the equation toolbar and drag the desired symbol to the equation area.
• The Equation Editor automatically adds spacing to what you type

5.0 Undo

If at any time you type something that messes up your equation, just select "Edit", "Undo" (shortcut Ctrl-Z) to undo that action.

6.0 Start an equation

Start creating the quadratic formula equation by typing "-b" in the equation area.

7.0 Insert a symbol

Insert the symbol for plus/minus by selecting it from the equation toolbar (symbols are on the top row of the equation toolbar).


The symbol is inserted into the equation area at the insertion position.

8.0 Insert a template

Insert the template for square root by selecting it from the equation toolbar (templates are on the bottom row of the equation toolbar).


The template for square root is inserted into the equation area at the insertion position.

9.0 Add text

Type the "b".

10.0 Superscript

Insert a template for a superscript by selecting the subscript/superscript template from the equation toolbar.


Insert the superscript by typing "2". Press the right arrow key to move the insertion point out of the slot.

11.0 Finish the top line

Finish the top line of the equation by typing the "-4ac".

12.0 Select the top line

Select the top line (i.e., what has been done so far).


Select the overbars/underbars template from the equation toolbar.

13.0 Finish the equation

Finish the equation by typing "2a" under the bar.


Click outside the equation area to return to the document.

14.0 Equation in the document

The equation resizing handles show the boundaries of the equation.


Click again in the document area and the resizing handles disappear.

15.0 Resize the equation

To resize the equation, click on the equation. The resizing handles appear. Resize the equation in the usual manner.


Resizing using one of the sides instead of a corner can cause the equation to appear stretched.

16.0 Changing the equation

To change or otherwise edit the equation, double-click on the equation. The Equation Editor will be invoked. Click outside the equation editor to return to Word.

17.0 OLE

The Equation Editor is an OLE program and can, therefore, be used to add equations to other applications such as PowerPoint, Excel, etc.

18.0 General requirement: Equation editor

For practice, you might want to use the Microsoft Equation editor to create the following equation.


Here are some more equations you might want to try.

19.0 MathType

MathType by Design Science is the powerful, full-featured version of Equation Editor. For for information, visit http://www.mathtype.com/en/products/ee/ [as of Mon, Jan 26, 2004].

20.0 Multiple choice questions

(see how to study multiple choice questions )

Specific multiple choice questions:

1.  The system for adding mathematical formulas to Word documents is called    a. Math Editor    b. Equation Creator    c. Math Creator    d. Equation Editor

21.0 Requirements (summary)

Make sure you have completed the following requirements.

Part 1. Equation editor