How to write inline equations?

[Albertus Magnus]

So far as I can tell the normal way to write inline equations in mathJax is to surround the mathematical code by single dollar signs, or in the case of this site pound signs #. However, this never seems to work. Surrounding the code by double signs for centering and setting apart the equations works normally for me. What am I doing wrong?
For example I can't get this to go inline #\psi^*\psi#, but this works fine $\psi^*\psi.$

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Yes use double pound signs for inline and double dollar for new line

 

[Ibix]

Here, you need two # or two $ to delimit equations. So $F=ma$ or $$F=ma$$Quote my post to see the syntax.

However, note that there's a known bug that LaTeX won't render if there isn't already LaTeX on the page. If you aren't seeing formatted maths in someone's post, refresh the page. If you aren't seeing it in a preview of your post, refresh the page while in preview mode (the wise poster copies text to clipboard first). You'll be back in edit mode, but maths should now render in preview.

 

[berkeman]

What am I doing wrong?

Here is the standard set of tips I send via PM to help folks get started with LaTeX at PF:

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To post math equations here, it's best to use the LaTeX engine that PF provides. There is a helpful "LaTeX Guide" link below the Edit window to get you started. Note that you put double-$ delimiters at the start and end of each stand-alone line of LaTeX, and double-# delimiters at the start and end of in-line LaTeX that does not need to be on its own line.

Example of in-line LaTeX: $v(t) = L \frac{di(t)}{dt}$

Example of stand-alone LaTeX:
$$v(t) = L \frac{di(t)}{dt}$$
Also, if you right-click on a LaTeX equation in a post, you get a pop-up menu to let you view the LaTeX source or view it in other formats.

LaTeX isn't supported in thread titles, so you can use simple text math in titles if you want.

Note also that PF uses a feature called "lazy LaTeX rendering" that speeds up page loads. When you first post your LaTeX in a thread, you will not see it rendered that first time. Just refresh your browser page to force it to be rendered, and then it should render whenever you come back to that page/thread in the future. If you edit your post that has LaTeX in it, when you save the edits you will note that the LaTeX has again not rendered. Just refresh your browser to force the LaTeX engine to re-render the equations.

If you have trouble using the Preview feature to check your LaTeX, you can use a website such as https://mathb.in/ or https://latexeditor.lagrida.com/ to preview your LaTeX before you post it.
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[Albertus Magnus]

Thanks for all the info. I have got a copy of the LaTex guide and the FAQ as well as the terms and rules for y future reference. I think that my problem was that I was already familiar with using MathJax over at stack exchange (where the system is ever so slightly different) and took it for granted that I could do the same thing here. Use double pound signs for inline equations and dollars for centered separated equations. This differs at Stack Exchange where single and double dollar signs are used respectively, which is similar to the Tex code of which I am already somewhat familiar (I use MikTeX here at home).

 

[Ibix]

Single dollar signs are a bad choice for LaTeX in a discussion forum, IMO. Say I want to tell you I bought something for $20 then found it elsewhere for $10. I don't want the bit between the dollars to render as LaTeX, and I prefer not having to scatter escape codes in normal discourse.