Add mathematical equations in Pages on Mac
You can include mathematical expressions and equations in your document. To add an equation, you compose it in the Pages equation dialog using LaTeX commands or MathML elements, then insert it into your document.
When you add an equation in a word-processing document, you can choose to place it in-line with the text, so that it sits on the same line and moves with the text as you type, or place it as a floating object on the page so you can position it anywhere. In page layout documents, new equations are always added as floating objects on the page.
In either word-processing or page layout documents, you can add equations in-line with the text inside text boxes or shapes.
Note: If you’ve installed MathType 6.7d or later (an application for composing math expressions), you can use it to create equations by clicking symbols and typing in the MathType window.
Add an equation with LaTeX or MathML
Do one of the following:
Place the equation in-line with text: Place the insertion point in some text, a text box or shape, or a table cell, or select the text you want the equation to replace.
Place the equation so it can be moved freely: Click in the corner of the page to make sure nothing is selected. You can also select the page thumbnail in Page Thumbnails view.
Click
in the toolbar, then choose Equation.You can also choose Insert > Equation (from the Insert menu at the top of your screen).
If you have MathType installed, a dialog appears, asking whether to use Pages to create the equation. Click Use Pages.
Enter an equation in the field using LaTeX commands or MathML elements.
For information on using supported LaTeX commands or MathML elements and attributes, see the Apple Support article About LaTeX and MathML support.
Click Insert.
If you added the equation in-line, it appears at the insertion point in your document and is the same size and colour as the surrounding text. If you change the size and colour of the surrounding text, the size and colour of the equation also change.
If you added the equation to the page, it appears at the centre of the screen and has a default size and colour that you can change in the Format
sidebar. Drag the equation to reposition it on the page.
Add an equation with MathType
If you have MathType 6.7d or later, you can use it to add equations to your document.
Tip: To set MathType as the default equation editor, choose Pages > Preferences (from the Pages menu at the top of your screen), click General, then select the tick box next to “Insert equations with MathType”.
Do one of the following:
Place the equation in-line with text: Place the insertion point in some text, a text box or shape, or a table cell, or select the text you want the equation to replace.
Place the equation so it can be moved freely: Click the corner of the page to make sure nothing is selected. You can also tap the page thumbnail in Page Thumbnails view.
Click
in the toolbar, then choose Equation.If you set MathType as your default equation editor, MathType opens automatically (after you enter an equation the first time). Otherwise, click Use MathType in the dialog that appears.
To enter the equation, click symbols and type in the MathType window.
For instructions on using the MathType tools, see MathType Help.
To save your equation, select File > Close and Return to Pages (from the File menu at the top of your screen), then click Yes in the dialog that appears.
If you added the equation in-line, it appears at the insertion point and is the same size and colour as the surrounding text. To edit the equation, double-click the equation to open the MathType window.
If you added the equation to the page, it appears at the centre of the screen and can be dragged to a new position on the page. To change the look of the equation or to edit it, double-click the equation to open it in MathType, then double-click the controls at the bottom of the window.
Drag the equation to reposition it on the page.
Edit, delete, or move an in-line equation with LaTeX or MathML
After you add an equation in-line with text, you can modify it.
Edit an equation: Double-click the equation, make your changes, then click Update.
Move an equation within the flow of text: Select the equation and drag it to a new position in the body text, header, footer or footnote. You can also drag it to another text box or shape.
Change the size, colour, or alignment of an equation: Click the equation, then use the controls in the Text tab of the Format
sidebar to change the font size, colour or alignment of the equation.Copy an equation: Click the equation, choose Edit > Copy (from the Edit menu at the top of your screen), place the insertion point where you want to paste the equation — in a table cell or in a page header or footer — then choose Edit > Paste. You can also select an object on the page (such as a shape), then choose Edit > Paste to paste the equation as a free-floating object on the page.
Delete an equation: Click the equation, then press the Delete key on your keyboard.
Move an inline equation to the page (outside the flow of text): In a word-processing document, select the equation, then in the Arrange sidebar, click the Text Wrap pop-up menu and choose an option other than In-line with Text. See Wrap text around an object.
In a page layout document, select the equation, choose Edit > Cut (or Copy), then choose Edit > Paste. Drag the equation where you want on the page.
Edit, delete or move a floating equation with LaTeX or MathML
After you add a floating equation to the page, you can modify it.
Edit an equation: Double-click the equation, make your changes, then click Update.
Move an equation: Drag the equation to another location on the page.
Change the size, colour, or alignment of an equation: Click the equation, then use the controls in the sidebar to change the font size and colour. You can also drag a handle on the equation to change its font size.
Copy an equation: Click the equation, choose Edit > Copy, scroll to the page where you want to place the equation, then choose Edit > Paste. You can also place the insertion point in a table cell or in a page header or footer, then choose Edit > Paste to paste the equation as an in-line object.
Delete an equation: Click the equation, then press the Delete key on your keyboard.
Move a floating equation in-line with text: In a word-processing document, select the equation, then in the Arrange sidebar, click the Move with Text button. Click the Text Wrap pop-up menu, then choose in-line with Text. Drag the equation to its final location.
In a page layout document, cut and paste the floating equation into a text box or shape. See Place objects in-line with text in a text box or shape.