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> Instead of using an equation array in latex, use a numbered markdown list with latex formulae That's a plausible benefit if you're editing a document where n

by nmrm2 11y ago

> Instead of using an equation array in latex, use a numbered markdown list with latex formulae That's a plausible benefit if you're editing a document where nice-looking numbering matters (e.g., an email). In chat, if I have multiple equations, I can just do something like: 1. $equation here$ 2. $equation here$ I prefer chat to do as little formatting as possible while still providing a way to write Math. Otherwise you end up with unintended formatting, which is hugely annoying (a la (B) in Skype). > Skype has it's annoyances too, ever tried to actually communicate "(B)", you get a great beer symbol you likely didn't intend to write. Yeah, but it doesn't change the (B) on the white board I have the camera pointed at, which is the way everyone communicates mathematics via skpy.

blueblob 11y ago
I guess my point is that 1. $equation here$ is exactly the markdown for a numbered list and it will give you somewhat nicer formatting/alignment that stands out if you have to scroll back up. Chat is already in the process of changing, look at slack[1]. The whole idea of markdown is that you don't have to do a lot of formatting. I agree with the unintended formatting but having all of latex can give you unintended formatting too. IMO markdown doesn't have that much formatting. Markdown could be abused but then again look how the latex is being abused on the site already, people put $$\huge ...$$. Is it ideal to be writing on a whiteboard to communicate your math? From a teaching/tutoring perspective, unless the video is being recorded, you lose the history. Email is nice but it requires a (possibly) long waiting time for a response comparatively. [1] https://slack.com https://slack.com
- nmrm2 11y ago
  LaTeX is for presenting mathematical equations, Markdown is for rich text formatting of natural language. There's nothing particularly wrong with Markdown, but it's not really essential for functional chat either. Conversely, chat programs that don't have LaTeX support are useless to me (and a lot of other people). Markdown "replaces" the parts of LaTeX related to document formatting, but that's precisely the fragment of LaTeX that doesn't hugely matter in the context of chat. Markdown doesn't replace the parts of LaTeX related to Mathematical typesetting, which is the fragment of LaTeX that does hugely matter in the context of chat. I think the fundamental confusion in Markdown "vs." LaTeX discussions stems from the fact that LaTeX is a system for type setting mathematics, where the emphasis is on the Mathematics part. But people who haven't typeset a lot of Mathematics don't get what the fuss is about. > Is it ideal to be writing on a whiteboard to communicate your math? No, it's aweful! Which is why chat client LaTeX support is so much better than the Skype video chat hack, and also why Markdown isn't a replacement for LaTeX.

by nmrm2 11y ago

blueblob 11y ago

I guess my point is that 1. $equation here$ is exactly the markdown for a numbered list and it will give you somewhat nicer formatting/alignment that stands out if you have to scroll back up. Chat is already in the process of changing, look at slack[1]. The whole idea of markdown is that you don't have to do a lot of formatting. I agree with the unintended formatting but having all of latex can give you unintended formatting too. IMO markdown doesn't have that much formatting. Markdown could be abused but then again look how the latex is being abused on the site already, people put $$\huge ...$$. Is it ideal to be writing on a whiteboard to communicate your math? From a teaching/tutoring perspective, unless the video is being recorded, you lose the history. Email is nice but it requires a (possibly) long waiting time for a response comparatively. [1] https://slack.com https://slack.com

nmrm2 11y ago
LaTeX is for presenting mathematical equations, Markdown is for rich text formatting of natural language. There's nothing particularly wrong with Markdown, but it's not really essential for functional chat either. Conversely, chat programs that don't have LaTeX support are useless to me (and a lot of other people). Markdown "replaces" the parts of LaTeX related to document formatting, but that's precisely the fragment of LaTeX that doesn't hugely matter in the context of chat. Markdown doesn't replace the parts of LaTeX related to Mathematical typesetting, which is the fragment of LaTeX that does hugely matter in the context of chat. I think the fundamental confusion in Markdown "vs." LaTeX discussions stems from the fact that LaTeX is a system for type setting mathematics, where the emphasis is on the Mathematics part. But people who haven't typeset a lot of Mathematics don't get what the fuss is about. > Is it ideal to be writing on a whiteboard to communicate your math? No, it's aweful! Which is why chat client LaTeX support is so much better than the Skype video chat hack, and also why Markdown isn't a replacement for LaTeX.