[IPython-dev] Using \( \), \[ \] instead of $...$, $$...$$ fox LaTeX math

[Brian Granger]

On Tue, Jan 10, 2012 at 7:51 PM, Joon Ro <joonpyro at gmail.com> wrote:
> Thank you for the reply.
>
> Actually I was not talking about making it configurable, just additionally
> supporting \(  \) and \[  \] besides $ and $$. As far as I know \(  \) and
> \[  \] are as widely used as $ and $$ for latex math. I'm sorry I said
> "instead of" in the title. Should have used "in addition to." :)
>
> When I first started using latex in several years ago, I saw an
> documentation which recommended using \(  \) and \[  \] instead of $...$
> and $$...$$ somewhere (I don't remember where :)), so I have preferred
> them.
>
> In fact, in the Mathjax documentation
> (http://www.mathjax.org/docs/1.1/start.html), actually it says that "Note
> in particular that the $...$ in-line delimiters are not used by default,"
> because $ sign comes up too frequently in non-mathematical settings.
> Mathjax supports both \[...\] and \(...\) by default. I just tried
> matplotlib and I could use \(  \) there too. (It seems matplotlib does not
> support neither $$ nor \[  \].)

If MathJax can support both styles simultaneously let's do that.  Can
you look into if that is possible and submit a pull request to
implement it?

Cheers,

Brian

> -Joon
>
>
>
> On Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:17:51 -0600, Brian Granger <ellisonbg at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> There are a number of levels that this choice enters in:
>>
>> * Our display system enforces that latex means $ and $$.  This is
>> important as it provides a uniform interface for all people who want
>> to develop custom latex representations of their objects for display
>> in the notebook.  As time goes on, many third parties will rely on
>> this convention.
>> * The configuration of MathJax and matplotlib in the notebook and
>> qtconsole.  This has to line up with the conventions in the display
>> system, otherwise things won't work properly.
>>
>> I think this is one case where it doesn't make sense for this to be
>> configurable.  Otherwise we can't promise that everyones code will
>> "just work" in IPython.  Is there a reason you can't use $ and $$?
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Brian
>>
>> On Tue, Jan 10, 2012 at 10:21 AM, Joon Ro <joonpyro at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I just started using notebook, and it looks awesome. Thank you so much
>>> for
>>> your dedicated work. I cannot wait to try using it through a remote
>>> connection!
>>>
>>> Anyway, I was thinking it would be great if it is possible to use \( \),
>>> \[  \] instead of $...$, $$...$$ in the notebook for the math. Would
>>> this
>>> be easily implementable?
>>>
>>> Thank you,
>>> Joon
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> IPython-dev mailing list
>>> IPython-dev at scipy.org
>>> http://mail.scipy.org/mailman/listinfo/ipython-dev
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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-- 
Brian E. Granger
Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo
bgranger at calpoly.edu and ellisonbg at gmail.com