3 ms·

Is there any software that can take handwritten equations (say on an ipad or ocr) and convert them to latex reliably because there’s no way I’m going to try and

Is there any software that can take handwritten equations (say on an ipad or ocr) and convert them to latex reliably because there’s no way I’m going to try and learn those incantations.

anmnv 3y ago
Snip,TeXpad,Ink to LaTeX, Mathpix, MyScript MathPad,... I used Mathpix ones (3 years ago it wasn't really good ocr from handwriting, but I have heard that they have made a lot of improvements since this time). I tried some of them, and I hope it will help.
globular-toast 3y ago
Why do you think there's no way? I never put any concerted effort into learning TeX maths syntax but by the end of writing my thesis it was as easy as writing it by hand. I would never dream of scribbling maths into a computer. Complete waste of time.
- huytersd 3y ago
  Why? I’ve found writing directly to be the easiest way to work on math and that’s as a former programmer.
  - globular-toast 3y ago
    I work on maths using pencil and paper. I only use TeX for typesetting. Only a tiny fraction of my scribbles would ever get typeset, and it's usually going to be completely rewritten in the process anyway. I recommend just learning TeX for typesetting maths. It's simply the best tool.
tomjen3 3y ago
Thats probably something ChatGPT would be pretty good at.
wenc 3y ago
There are some: https://www.overleaf.com/learn/latex/Questions/Are_there_any_tools_to_help_transcribe_mathematical_formulae_into_LaTeX%3F https://www.overleaf.com/learn/latex/Questions/Are_there_any... But I found that once I learned the LaTeX syntax, I can type equations faster than I can write them by hand, especially if they're complex. This is because most equations have lots of repeated elements (for example, when say, you're rearranging an equation), and I can copy and paste faster than I can rewrite them. I could take notes in LaTeX faster than a professor could write them on the chalk board. I wrote my dissertation in LaTeX, and while I hate the debugging (errors are arcane), learning the "incantations" are really the least of one's worries. I wouldn't be put off by that.

Is there any software that can take handwritten equations (say on an ipad or ocr) and convert them to latex reliably because there’s no way I’m going to try and learn those incantations.

anmnv 3y ago

Snip,TeXpad,Ink to LaTeX, Mathpix, MyScript MathPad,... I used Mathpix ones (3 years ago it wasn't really good ocr from handwriting, but I have heard that they have made a lot of improvements since this time). I tried some of them, and I hope it will help.

globular-toast 3y ago

Why do you think there's no way? I never put any concerted effort into learning TeX maths syntax but by the end of writing my thesis it was as easy as writing it by hand. I would never dream of scribbling maths into a computer. Complete waste of time.

huytersd 3y ago
Why? I’ve found writing directly to be the easiest way to work on math and that’s as a former programmer.
- globular-toast 3y ago
  I work on maths using pencil and paper. I only use TeX for typesetting. Only a tiny fraction of my scribbles would ever get typeset, and it's usually going to be completely rewritten in the process anyway. I recommend just learning TeX for typesetting maths. It's simply the best tool.

tomjen3 3y ago

Thats probably something ChatGPT would be pretty good at.

wenc 3y ago

There are some: https://www.overleaf.com/learn/latex/Questions/Are_there_any_tools_to_help_transcribe_mathematical_formulae_into_LaTeX%3F https://www.overleaf.com/learn/latex/Questions/Are_there_any... But I found that once I learned the LaTeX syntax, I can type equations faster than I can write them by hand, especially if they're complex. This is because most equations have lots of repeated elements (for example, when say, you're rearranging an equation), and I can copy and paste faster than I can rewrite them. I could take notes in LaTeX faster than a professor could write them on the chalk board. I wrote my dissertation in LaTeX, and while I hate the debugging (errors are arcane), learning the "incantations" are really the least of one's worries. I wouldn't be put off by that.