Greetings! We had a highly productive MathML meetup at #rdcHQ today – Jasper has already written 150 basic equations in MathML using his editor of choice, Amaya. As predicted from the outset, this track will progress purposefully based on the expertise he brings to the mix. We covered a few issues regarding display of the equations, and how to format other identifiers such as index numbers and other textual information that is often found in the equations.

Coding Considerations

The first consideration, the display of the equations, was a relatively simple one to address as the problem is related to cross-browser rendering which will be covered later in the program. We tested a sample equation to ensure that our chosen solution solves the problem, and were met with success.

We turned our attentions to a few coding considerations that affect our workflow. Ultimately, the equations that we are coding will be embedded or copied into a document set (we are still researching what the best method is at this time). Each equation has a unique identifier, or index number, that defines its location within our document set. Below is an example showing the index number on the right:

Based on review of similar documents and best practices, we have decided to contain both in a series of <spans> to group the identifier with its associated equation.

<span class="display">
	<span id="equation-item[n]" class="formula">
		<span class="label">
			[EQUATION IDENTIFIER]
		</span>
		<span class="math">
			[EQUATION MathML]
		</span>
	</span>
</span>

We have also decided to include a link to all of the original images in the document set using the <math altimg> tag, as follows:

<math altimg="/lab/MathML/mosh/Page_055_02.jpg">

This will provide an important link to the image if we need to reference the original equation, and serves another useful function when we cover cross-browser rendering issues later in the program. Jasper also has some cool ideas on how to automate some of these functions, such as writing a script for the batch conversion of .xhtml (eXtensible HyperText Markup Language) to .mml (MathML) documents.

Jasper also encountered many equations that have text intermingled with the numerical information, as follows:

This can easily be resolved with the <mtext> element.

MathML Metaphysics

We spent the rest of the track discussing Presentation MathML and how it relates to HTML(5) and the markup of documents. Any document has to be defined structurally before many of its elements (headers, paragraphs, ordered lists, etc.) can be addressed in CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). Mathematical equations or formulas are unique in that the symbols used in the language, and entire expressions for that matter, can have quite a different meaning depending on the context (an interesting primer to this concept is The Intent of Content Markup). An equation written in Presentation MathML may render correctly in a browser, but be mathematically incorrect for use in a construct program.

In short, there is only one way that an equation can be written in Content MathML and be understood by a particular Mathematical community. One would presume that rules are being written that would make the translation of a particular expression possible within a particular community. We are just beginning to dive into that fascinating topic at our MathML track at #rdcHQ.

We’ll be updating the repository soon with all of the new equations … Stay tuned!