Adding mathematical equations to Microsoft Word can be an exercise in frustration, as many of the symbols used in the notation can be hard to find on the keyboard. Thanks to the Math Input Panel in Windows 7, the mathematical expressions can be written by hand with a mouse, digitizer pen or touch screen, converted to text and easily inserted into a Microsoft Word document - or any other program that supports Mathematical Markup Language.
To find the Math Input Panel, type “math input†in the search box on the Windows 7 Start menu. You can also get there from the Start menu: Go to All Programs, to the Accessories folder, and select Math Input Panel. When the program opens, write the needed math expression into the lower part of the box.
The preview area at the top of the box shows the converted handwriting as text. You can make corrections if needed, and when the converted text is correct, click the Insert button at the bottom of the box to insert the expression into an open Word document. Microsoft has illustrated instructions for using the Math Input Panel on its site.
