Can we use character entities?

ryos · 2005-11-06 14:29:14

I've wished for this a time or two. Let's see: > < ⇒ Δ π Σ ≅ ∠∫ ≥ ≤

ryos · 2005-11-06 14:31:20

Hmm...guess not. But, I think it would be much easier, or at least faster (for me, anyway) to use these than to copy and paste from the top.

Do we have [sup]sup[/sup] and [sub]sub[/sub] tags?

ryos · 2005-11-06 14:32:38

Guess not. Also a good suggestion.

MathsIsFun · 2005-11-06 16:54:44

Good suggestions ... I will clear a bit of time and get my head stuck into the forum software and see what can be done.

MathsIsFun · 2005-11-06 23:07:57

After a bit of research, I think I can use "smiley" style for these special characters.

It would be something like typing Δ to produce Δ

(BTW We do have a functioning "math" tag that uses LaTeX code, but for a lot of things these characters work well.)

ryos · 2005-11-07 18:16:26

Ah yes...LaTeX...that's on my to learn list.

Couldn't you just zap the & literalizer? What I mean is, when I type Δ, the forum software converts it to Δ.

Well, there must be some benefit to the & literalizer. Maybe you could just check for a ; within 10 chars or so to decide whither to literalize or not.

MathsIsFun · 2005-11-07 18:47:25

That is an idea, but I prefer to allow/disallow stuff specifically so that hackers can't take advantage.

I can't think how replacing :blah with &blah could be used for hacking, but that could be because I'm not a hacker.

At the moment I have about 60 symbols I want to apply this "smiley" thing to, and I have done some timing, and it can do the find/replace in under a millisecond. I think a millisecond overhead per post is OK.

MathsIsFun · 2005-11-07 20:07:24

OK, here we are, I have made the changes. Hopefully I haven't made anyhing else go crazy, but I am sure someone will let me know!

To make any of these work, put a ":" in front of the text.

alpha=α and=∧ ang=∠ asymp=≈ beta=β bull=• cap=∩ cong=≅ cup=∪ deg=° Delta=Δ delta=δ divide=÷ empty=∅ epsilon=ε equiv=≡ exist=∃ fnof=ƒ forall=∀ frac12=½ frac14=¼ frac34=¾ gamma=γ ge=≥ harr=↔ hArr=⇔ infin=∞ int=∫ isin=∈ lambda=λ laquo=« larr=← lArr=⇐ le=≤ mu=μ nabla=∇ ne=≠ ni=∋ notin=∉ nsub=⊄ omega=ω oplus=⊕ otimes=⊗ part=∂ Phi=Φ pi=π plusmn=± prime=′ Prime=″ prod=∏ prop=∝ radic=√ raquo=» rarr=→ rArr=⇒ rho=ρ Sigma=Σ sigma=σ sim=∼ sube=⊆ sub=⊂ sum=∑ sup1=¹ sup2=² sup3=³ supe=⊇ sup=⊃ tau=τ there4=∴ theta=θ times=× xi=ξ zeta=ζ

I also did a trick with some of them, for example "pi" looks a lot more like pi really does (π vs π) because I used a different font for it.

Thanks ryos for the great idea.

Example usage:
π ≅ 22 ÷ 7

:pi :cong 22 :divide 7

justlookingforthemoment · 2005-11-07 20:21:00

⊂ ° ° ζ !

MathsIsFun · 2005-11-07 20:25:40

Still laughing ... !!!

mathsyperson · 2005-11-08 08:38:23

What does ≅ mean? Or is it supposed to be something other than a box?

π ≈ 22/7 works for me, although 355/133 is a much better estimate.

Anyway, it's a very useful addition. It's much better than just copying and pasting from the top, and we have more symbols to choose from too.

ryos · 2005-11-08 14:04:44

Awesome, that was really quick!

∀ ∠ ∃ θ

ryos · 2005-11-08 14:06:36

Do we need to separate them with spaces?

ΔγΦ

Math Is Fun Forum

#1 2005-11-06 14:29:14

Can we use character entities?

#2 2005-11-06 14:31:20

Re: Can we use character entities?

#3 2005-11-06 14:32:38

Re: Can we use character entities?

#4 2005-11-06 16:54:44

Re: Can we use character entities?

#5 2005-11-06 23:07:57

Re: Can we use character entities?

#6 2005-11-07 18:16:26

Re: Can we use character entities?

#7 2005-11-07 18:47:25

Re: Can we use character entities?

#8 2005-11-07 20:07:24

Re: Can we use character entities?

#9 2005-11-07 20:21:00

Re: Can we use character entities?

#10 2005-11-07 20:25:40

Re: Can we use character entities?

#11 2005-11-08 08:38:23

Re: Can we use character entities?

#12 2005-11-08 14:04:44

Re: Can we use character entities?

#13 2005-11-08 14:06:36

Re: Can we use character entities?

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