# Inserting PNG files

1. Mar 26, 2015

### Buzz Bloom

I frequently want to discuss in a Physics Forum an equation in a Wikipedia article. I can acquire an equation there as a PNG file. Is there a way I can insert a PNG file into a forum message?

2. Mar 26, 2015

### Greg Bernhardt

Either use the image bbcode (there is a button in the editor) using the image URL or download the image and upload it as an attachment and then you can insert it into the message.

3. Mar 26, 2015

### DrGreg

As Wikipedia uses LaTeX like our website does, there's a better way.
1. Start to edit the Wikipedia page, look for the equation which will be coded in between "math" tags, e.g.
Code (Text):
$E = \frac{mc^2}{\sqrt{1 - v^2/c^2}}$
2. Copy the code between the tags (excluding the tags) and paste it into your message on this website.
Code (Text):
[ tex ]E = \frac{mc^2}{\sqrt{1 - v^2/c^2}}[ /tex ]
but without the spaces in the square brackets
4. Use the "Preview..." button to check that it works: $$E = \frac{mc^2}{\sqrt{1 - v^2/c^2}}$$

Last edited: Mar 26, 2015
4. Mar 26, 2015

### Buzz Bloom

Many thanks to both Greg Bernhardt and DrGreg.

5. Mar 28, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

Instead of using [ tex ] or [ itex ] tags (without the extra spaces) as DrGreg mentioned, I prefer to use $or # tags, as there is less typing to do. So instead of this example of DrGreg's: Code (Text): [ tex ]E = \frac{mc^2}{\sqrt{1 - v^2/c^2}}[ /tex ] I would do this: Code (Text):$ $E = \frac{mc^2}{\sqrt{1 - v^2/c^2}}$ $Again, without the extra spaces between each pair of$ characters.

To render inline, as opposed to standalone expressions or equations, a pair of # characters at front an back is equivalent to the [ itex ] and [ /itex ] tags.
Code (Text):
# # E = \frac{mc^2}{\sqrt{1 - v^2/c^2}} # #