Markdown and Mathematics

[Jason Clark]

On Apr 7, 2004, at 8:38 PM, Michel Fortin wrote:

>
> Writing about math is just like writing about code: you insert math 
> snippets everywhere in what you say. As an example:
>
> 	Suppose {ax^2+bx+c=0} and {a!=0}. We first divide by {a} to
> 	get {x^2+b/ax+c/a=0}.
>
{lots more good stuff removed for breveity}
> That way a casual user that does not write about math often can still 
> include some math when it want it using this rule.
>
> 	Let's say I want to write an equation, I just have to write {$math: 
> a^2+b^2=c^2 $}.
> 	To write about chemistry, I write: {$chemistry: 2H + CO + 2O2 -> 
> H2CO3 $}.
> 	And to write about music: {$music: ... how could I write music in 
> text? ... $}.
>
> becomes this if appropriate plugins cannot be found:
>
> 	Let's say I want to write an equation, I just have to write 
> a^2+b^2=c^2.
> 	To write about chemistry, I write: 2H + CO + 2O2 -> H2CO3.
> 	And to write about music: ... how could I write music in text? ....

Two suggestions:

First, {$ this $} is okay, but what about {{ this }}?  Just like the 
proposals for [[implicit links]], I think doubling the delimiters is 
easier to type and to look at (ie., is less visually distracting).

Second:  I like the idea of allowing multiple escaped syntaxes, but it 
could get burdensome to read.  Taking your original example:

	Suppose {$math: ax^2+bx+c=0 $} and {$math: a!=0 $}. We first divide by 
{$math: a $} to
	get {$math: x^2+b/ax+c/a=0 $}.

My suggestion is that when the sytax type is unspecified, the 
previously specified type remains in effect.  So,

	Suppose {$math: ax^2+bx+c=0 $} and {$ a!=0 $}. We first divide by {$ a 
$} to
	get {$ x^2+b/ax+c/a=0 $}.

Or perhaps even more readable (and also incorporating my first 
suggestion:

	{{math:}}
	Suppose {{ax^2+bx+c=0}} and {{a!=0}}. We first divide by {{a}} to
	get {{x^2+b/ax+c/a=0}}.


Jason Clark <jason at jclark.org>
http://jclark.org/weblog/