Mainly Maths - Test your Browser
Use this page to check that your web browser, such as Internet Explorer, displays maths correctly.
The Mainly Maths site uses three methods to display maths.
Example
Here's a straightforward calculation to show the three methods. The example is a division, normally written as numerator over denominator:
divide 6 by the product of 2 and 3
Method 1 uses an in-line text layout: 6 ⁄ (2×3) = 1
Method 1 should work in any browser.
Method 2 does not work with old versions of Internet Explorer or using Internet Explorer in Compatibility View.
If Method 3 works then the result should look almost identical to Method 2. If instead you see something like:$${6 \over 2 \times 3}$$then your browser does not support Method 3. However, you can see that 6 \over 2 \times 3 means numerator 6 over denominator 2 times 3.
Method 1 uses a forward slash / for the division sign, mainly because it is easier to type than the ÷ sign.
Methods 2 and 3 use the standard horizontal dividing line to separate numerator and denominator.
Click here to see how five typical GCSE maths examples display in your browser.These methods are used in the Mainly Maths online test questions. It is important that:
Method 1 uses the forward slash ⁄ for division. For example, 6 ⁄ 2 means 6 divided by 2. The slash ⁄ is the in-line equivalent of the horizontal dividing line (the fraction bar) used in methods 2 and 3. As you will know, the fraction bar means both 'divided by' and 'over' as in 6 divided by 2 and 6 over 2.
There is a problem with using a ⁄ dividing line. Unlike a horizontal line, the numerator and the denominator may not be clear. In the example 6 ⁄ 2×3, is the denominator 2 or is it 2×3? The 2×3 is written in brackets as in 6 ⁄ (2×3), to show that the denominator is the product 2×3.
What does the calculation mean without the brackets? Most people, as well as spreadsheets, calculators and this website, interpret the calculation 6 ⁄ 2×3 to mean divide 6 by 2 and then multiply the result by 3. The denominator is 2 and not 2×3. The result of that calculation is 9, not 1.Method 3
Internet Explorer (versions 8 and 9) on Windows XP and Windows 7 does supports Method 3. Browsers that include MathML (a maths markup language) should display Method 3 better. Firefox does. Firefox has built-in MathML support but Internet Explorer does not. You can download a free MathML plugin for Internet Explorer, called MathPlayer, from here. Install the plugin - Internet Explorer will then load a Method 3 maths page more quickly.
As of Oct 2012, for Internet Explorer 9 (on Windows 7) you should download MathPlayer 3.0 (Preview Release 1). Internet Explorer 10 on Windows 8 does not, as yet, support Method 3.
Mobile and Tablet Browsers Some browsers do not support Method 3 - for example, Opera 10 for mobile does not and so, if possible, use a later version. Method 3 works well with Firefox for Android - and Firefox has the advantage of built-in support for MathML.
An important difference between Methods 2 and 3 is that Method 3 is interactive. Right click on the Method 3 calculation (on the 6 over 2×3 bit) shown below and try out the menu options. For example, try setting the Zoom Trigger to Click:
Method 3: $${6 \over 2 \times 3}$$ = 1
The Math Renderer option is important. If you use Internet Explorer, install the MathPlayer plugin. The maths may look better and the maths web page will load faster - but you first have to select the MathML renderer.
Firefox should use MathML by default - but check. To select MathML or check that you are using MathML, right click the Method 3 example, then:
Point at Math Settings > Point at Math Renderer > Click MathML
To select the HTML-CSS rendering:
Point at Math Settings > Point at Math Renderer > Click HTML-CSS
Method 1 Examples: Using Normal Text Layout
These examples should display correctly in all browsers. Examples (c) to (g) below are compared using the three methods in the Comparison Table. Click here.
(a) b2 − 4ac or b^2 − 4ac
In the 2nd example above the caret ^ is used to represent raised to the power of.
(b) 4 ⁄ 3
The above uses the forward slash ⁄ to show division. It is both a fraction, 4 over 3, and a division, 4 divided by 3.
(c) 24 ⁄ 3 = 8
The meaning of the above should be clear. The numerator 24 is divided by the denominator 3. The result of the calculation is 8.
Another similar example: 11 ⁄ 3 means both 11 divided by 3 and eleven-thirds. Do not confuse it with the fraction one and one-third. You could type one and one-third with a space, as in 1 1 ⁄ 3 but that can still be confused with 11 ⁄ 3. Of course, with extra formatting, one and one-third can be written 11⁄3 (d) 24 ⁄ √3 = 8√3
The square root sign √ is used to show root 3.
(e) x ⁄ (1−x)
In the above, the algebraic fraction x over 1−x uses the slash ⁄ to separate the numerator x from the denominator 1−x. The 1−x is in brackets to make clear that the x is divided by 1−x.
(f) (3.6 − 2.4) ⁄ (2.6 + 1.4)
The above fraction is written with the numerator 3.6−2.4 and the denominator 2.6+1.4 in brackets. Your calculator should 'understand' the calculation. Try it out. Include the brackets but replace the slash with the calculator's division sign, as in: (3.6 − 2.4) ÷ (2.6 + 1.4). The result is 0.3
The next example is more complicated and is pushing in-line text layout to its limits. It may be difficult to interpret but it has the advantage that it should display correctly.
(g) (−b ± √b^2 − 4ac ) ⁄ 2a
In the above the term in brackets is the numerator and that term is divided by the denominator 2a. For simplicity b^2 is used instead of b2.
Examples (a) to (f) use text characters only and so are pure text. The maths can be typed, copied and pasted as with any chunk of text. Example (g) is slightly different - it contains some formatting to create the horizontal line that completes the square root sign. An alternative pure text approach using extra brackets is acceptable: (−b ± √(b^2 − 4ac) ) ⁄ 2a
Methods 2 and 3 separate the numerator and denominator in the standard way, using a horizontal dividing line. The line is called a vinculum, a division bar or a fraction bar.
Method 2 uses a simplified maths layout that should work with all up-to-date browsers on desktops, laptops and mobiles and so should display correctly for you.
Method 3 uses a standard maths markup language. It will not work with all browsers. For instance, it will not work using Opera Mobile 10 on a Windows Mobile 6 operating system. It works well with Firefox for Android.
If Method 3 works for you, try tweaking the settings. For example, if you use Firefox you should notice an improvement if
you switch to MathML rendering. Right click a calculation in the Method 3 column, then check the setting:
Math Settings > Math Renderer > and check that MathML is selected. With Internet Explorer the web page should load faster with
MathML - but you have to install MathPlayer.
Method 1 In-line Text Layout |
Method 2 Simplified Maths Layout |
Method 3 Standard Maths Markup |
24 ⁄ 3 = 8 |
24
3
= 8
|
$${{{24} \over 3}\small\ =\ \small8}$$ |
24 ⁄ √3 = 8√3 |
24
√3
= 8√3
|
$${{{24} \over {\sf√}3}\small\ =\ \small{8{\sf√}3}}$$ |
x ⁄ (1−x) |
x
1−x
|
$${{x \over {1-x}}}$$ |
(3.6 − 2.4) ⁄ (2.6 + 1.4) |
3.6 − 2.4
2.6 + 1.4
|
$${{{3.6-2.4} \over {2.6+1.4}}}$$ |
(−b ± √b^2 − 4ac ) ⁄ 2a |
−b ± √b^2 − 4ac
2a
|
$${{\frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}}}$$ |
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