We often receive questions from content creators about speeding up the process of creating content in Grasple. One practical way in creating content more efficiently is by typing LaTeX code when composing exercises and questions. In this article, some tips and tricks are presented as well as an overview of all LaTeX code that is used in Grasple.
Grasple makes use of the mark-up language LaTeX in order to visually display mathematical notation. The buttons around the answer box are essentially shortcuts for LaTeX code, but it is possible to write out these codes manually. It might seem like a tedious task to learn to write out exercises and questions using LaTeX, but it can definitely accelerate the process of creating content.
LaTeX codes can in some instances be readily found on your keyboard. For example, the LaTeX code for the division symbol is simply a forward slash ( / ). However, in most instances codes are prefixed by a backslash ( \ ).
There's a notable difference between writing LaTeX code in the answer box and in text (as is visually displayed in the GIFs below).
In the answer box, LaTeX code is instantly displayed.
In normal text, you can type either ctrl+shift+e, ctrl+shift+alt+e or command+shift+e to make the math-box appear in the editor.
Alternatively (in normal text), you can select the LaTeX-code you want to insert and then use the combination command/ctrl+shift(+alt)+e. This will place your text selection inside the math-box. This means you can already type out the entire question (including LaTeX code) before rendering the symbols correctly.
Furthermore, you can navigate with the arrow buttons into and out of math-boxes. See below an example.
Finally, it is also important to know that it is possible to write in latex in the question box (in normal text) without having to use command/ctrl+shift(+alt)+e to render it. The way to do this without an equation box is by placing \( in the beginning and \) at the end of the latex code. The latex equations will then be rendered once the user clicks in preview exercise, i.e. it will be rendered for the student view. This method can also be used in situations where the math-box does not have the options required to create such expressions. It is important to keep in mind that this only works in the question box (normal text), it will not work in the answer box, as that only accepts math-box format. See the example below:
Below, you can find an overview of all codes that are used in the buttons around the answer box starting from the top left going right.
Symbols not (yet) included around the answer box
Imaginary number: "i" or "I"
Indicating absolute numbers: "|" (i.e. vertical bar on keyboard)
Greater than or equal to: ">="
Smaller than or equal to: "<="
Plus: "+"
Minus: "-"
Equals: "="
Upper panel
Division symbol: "/" (followed by filling in the numerator, pressing 'tab', and filling in the denominator)
Multiplication symbol: "*" or "\cdot" (+ spacebar)
Exponentiation symbol: "^"
Square root symbol: "\sqrt" (+ spacebar)
Square root with exponents symbol: copy this code "\sqrt[3]{16}"
Pi symbol: "\pi" (+ spacebar)
Euler's number: "e" (note: the "exp" function is not supported for this number)
Lower panel
Greek Alphabet
Alpha: "\alpha" (+spacebar)
Beta: "\beta" (+ spacebar)
Gamma: "\gamma" (+ spacebar)
Delta: "\delta" (+ spacebar)
Epsilon: "\epsilon" (+ spacebar)
Zeta: "\zeta" (+ spacebar)
Eta: "\eta" (+ spacebar)
Theta: "\theta" (+ spacebar)
Iota: "\iota" (+ spacebar)
Kappa: "\kappa" (+ spacebar)
Lambda: "\lambda" (+ spacebar)
Mu: "\mu" (+ spacebar)
Nu: "\nu" (+ spacebar)
Omicron - There's no LaTeX command for omicron (simply use 'o')
Pi: "\pi" (+ spacebar)
Rho: "\rho" (+ spacebar)
Sigma: "\sigma" (+ spacebar)
Tau: "\tau" (+ spacebar)
Upsilon: "\upsi" (+ spacebar)
Phi: "\phi" (+ spacebar)
Chi: "\chi" (+ spacebar)
Psi: "\psi" (+ spacebar)
Omega: "\omega" (+ spacebar)
Trigonometric functions
Sine: "sin"
Cosine: "cos"
Tangent: "tan"
Arcsine: "arcsin"
Arccosine: "arccos"
Arctangent: "arctan"
Calculus symbols
Integral: "\int" (+ spacebar)
Summation symbol: "\sum" (+ spacebar)
Product symbol: "\prod" (+ spacebar)
Limit of the equation: "\lim" (+ spacebar)
Normal logarithm: "log"
Natural logarithm : "ln"
Logarithm with any other base: "log_" (+ choose base, press 'tab' button)
Factorial operation: "!"
Binomial Coefficient: "\binom" (+spacebar, choose 'value for n', press 'tab' button, choose 'value for k'. Note here that simply typing (n/k) doesn't work here!
Subscript: "_" (+ choose value)
Overline: "\bar" (+ spacebar)
Overhat: "\hat" (+ spacebar)
Matrix (2x2): "\pmatrix" (+ spacebar, press 'tab' button to navigate)
If you have any questions regarding the use of LaTeX in our platform, please let us know by contacting us via the blue button on the bottom right!