This is the main page for the ASCIIMathML.js script which allows incorporating mathematical formulas on webpages with a minimum of fuss. If you like what you see, you can try to save this page and it should all work equally well locally on your machine.
This page requires Internet Explorer 6 + MathPlayer or Mozilla/Firefox/Netscape 7.1. Note: ASCIIMathML.js also works for plain HTML files on IE+MathPLayer and Mozilla/Firefox/Netscape 7.1. Take a look at the HTML version Main Page (it does not use David Carlisle's pmathml.xsl stylesheet).
ASCIIMathML.js is freely available under the GNU General Public License. You can get your own copy from the ASCIIMathML.js download page.
If you use it on a webpage, please send me an email at jipsen@chapman.edu with the URL so that I can add a link to it on the users page. (Also send me an email if you have problems or would like to provide some feedback.) I'm currently using ASCIIMathML on a Wikiserver for lecture notes and my undergraduate students are using it for writing and reading homework in their discrete mathematics class.
Let's test the ASCIIMathML.js translator on a simple example.
Example: Solving the quadratic equation. Suppose `ax^2+bx+c=0` and `a!=0`. We first divide by `a` to get `x^2+b/ax+c/a=0`. Then we complete the square and obtain `x^2+b/ax+(b/(2a))^2-(b/(2a))^2+c/a=0`. The first three terms factor to give `(x+b/(2a))^2=(b^2)/(4a^2)-c/a`. Now we take square roots on both sides and get `x+b/(2a)=+-sqrt((b^2)/(4a^2)-c/a)`. Finally we move the `b/(2a)` to the right and simplify to get the two solutions: `x_(1,2)=(-b+-sqrt(b^2 - 4ac))/(2a)`
Here is the text that was typed in:
Example: Solving the quadratic equation. Suppose `ax^2+bx+c=0` and `a!=0`. We first divide by `a` to get `x^2+b/ax+c/a=0`. Then we complete the square and obtain `x^2+b/ax+(b/(2a))^2-(b/(2a))^2+c/a=0`. The first three terms factor to give `(x+b/(2a))^2=(b^2)/(4a^2)-c/a`. Now we take square roots on both sides and get `x+b/(2a)=+-sqrt((b^2)/(4a^2)-c/a)`. Finally we move the `b/(2a)` to the right and simplify to get the two solutions: `x_(1,2)=(-b+-sqrt(b^2-4ac))/(2a)`
| Type this | See that | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| \`x^2+y_1+z_12^34\` | `x^2+y_1+z_12^34` | subscripts as in TeX, but numbers are treated as a unit |
| \`sin^-1(x)\` | `sin^-1(x)` | function names are treated as constants |
| \`d/dxf(x)=lim_(h->0)(f(x+h)-f(x))/h\` | `d/dxf(x)=lim_(h->0)(f(x+h)-f(x))/h` | complex subscripts are bracketed, displayed under lim |
| \$\frac{d}{dx}f(x)=\lim_{h\to 0}\frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}\$ | $\frac{d}{dx}f(x)=\lim_{h\to 0}\frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}$ | standard LaTeX notation is an alternative |
| \`f(x)=sum_(n=0)^oo(f^((n))(a))/(n!)(x-a)^n\` | `f(x)=sum_(n=0)^oo(f^((n))(a))/(n!)(x-a)^n` | f^((n))(a) must be bracketed, else the numerator is only `a` |
| \$f(x)=\sum_{n=0}^\infty\frac{f^{(n)}(a)}{n!}(x-a)^n\$ | $f(x)=\sum_{n=0}^\infty\frac{f^{(n)}(a)}{n!}(x-a)^n$ | standard LaTeX produces the same result |
| \`int_0^1f(x)dx\` | `int_0^1f(x)dx` | subscripts must come before superscripts |
| \`[[a,b],[c,d]]((n),(k))\` | `[[a,b],[c,d]]((n),(k))` | matrices and column vectors are simple to type |
| \`x/x={(1,if x!=0),(text{undefined},if x=0):}\` | `x/x={(1,if x!=0),(text{undefined},if x=0):}` | piecewise defined function are based on matrix notation |
| \`a//b\` | `a//b` | use // for inline fractions |
| \`(a/b)/(c/d)\` | `(a/b)/(c/d)` | with brackets, multiple fraction work as expected |
| \`a/b/c/d\` | `a/b/c/d` | without brackets the parser chooses this particular expression |
| \`((a*b))/c\` | `((a*b))/c` | only one level of brackets is removed; * gives standard product |
| \`sqrtsqrtroot3x\` | `sqrtsqrtroot3x` | spaces are optional, only serve to split strings that should not match |
| \`(:a,b:) and x lt y lt 1\` | `(:a,b:) and x lt ylt1` | the < character is problematic in XML, use 'lt' or put formula in a comment |
| \`(a,b]={x in RR : a lt x le b}\` | `(a,b]={x in RR : a lt x le b}` | grouping brackets don't have to match |
| \`abc-123.45^-1.1\` | `abc-123.45^-1.1` | non-tokens are split into single characters, but decimal numbers are parsed with possible sign |
| \`hat(ab) bar(xy) ulA vec v dotx ddot y\` | `hat(ab) bar(xy) ulA vec v dotx ddot y` | accents can be used on any expression (work well in IE) |
| \`bb{AB3}.bbb(AB].cc(AB).fr{AB}.tt[AB].sf(AB)\` | `bb{AB3}.bbb(AB].cc(AB).fr{AB}.tt[AB].sf(AB)` | font commands; can use any brackets around argument |
| \`stackrel"def"= or \stackrel{\Delta}{=}" "("or ":=)\` | `stackrel"def"= or \stackrel{\Delta}{=}" "("or ":=)` | symbols can be stacked |
| \`{::}_(\ 92)^238U\` | `{::}_(\ 92)^238U` | prescripts simulated by subsuperscripts |
If you are familiar with MathML, you can appreciate that this ASCII input form is less verbose and more readable. If you are familiar with TeX, this is still somewhat less cluttered. The aim is to have input notation that is close to graphing calculator notation, so that students are able to use it on webpages and in emails without having to learn another specialized syntax.
For an explicit description of the input syntax see ASCIIMathML.js Syntax and List of Constants.
Acknowledgements: Many thanks to the numerous people who have
contributed to the fantastic MathML standard. Without such a
well designed standard, a project like this would be impossible.
Thanks to the many volunteers who implemented MathML in the
Gecko layout engine for Netscape7/Mozilla/Firefox.
Thanks to the people at Design Science for producing the excellent
MathPlayer plugin and making it freely available.
Finally, thanks to the designers and implementors of JavaScript. All
these tools work together fairly seemlessly to allow us to put
mathematical formulas on webpages in a convenient and inexpensive way.
And thanks to Andrew White for making a logo for ASCIIMathML (see below).
