Introduction to FX Equation 4
The Basic Idea

FX Equation is DIFFERENT. Most equation editors use
a point and click interface that has you searching for the
right option. With FX Equation, you just type and it does
all the formatting for you.

FX Equation’s defining feature is its…
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Accessing FX Equation

FX Equation is normally accessed from within Word. FX Equation
adds two toolbar buttons to your Word toolbar.

Push the first toolbar button (circled) to load FX Equation.
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Using FX Equation

Just type your equation into the top box on the screen. Your
equation will appear formatted in the bottom window.
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Returning to Word

When you have finished creating your equation, click on
the green check mark (tick) on the FX Equation toolbar
to return to Word.
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Toolbar Equation Entry

FX Equation 4 introduces a new toolbar equation entry
system that can help you when you cannot quite
remember the right command.
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Powers

FX Equation can automatically recognize and raise most
powers. For example, if you type x2 and (3x+2)3 you
will get…
2
3
x
and
(3x + 2)

Some powers will not be automatically recognized. Use
^ in these cases. For example type 2^x and e^(2x+1) and get…
2
x
and
e
– 2x + 1
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Fractions

Fractions are entered using the / key. You will need to
wrap numerators and denominators in brackets.

35x/42
35x
42
(3x+7)/(2x-1)
3x + 7
2x – 1
1/(a+1/x)
1
a+1
x
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Spaces


You can change how FX Equation interprets things by
adding spaces. FX Equation only automatically raises
powers when there is no space…
sin2 x
2
sin x
sin 2x
sin 2x
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Greek Letters

Commonly used Greek letters can be entered by typing
the first two letters of their name. Typing the letters in
uppercase will produce the uppercase Greek letter.

al
th
la
SI
DE






Check the documentation for a complete list of
supported letters.
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Symbols - 1

FX Equation can produce most mathematical symbols.
Some symbols are based on common mathematical
conventions.



<>
*
/ (followed by a space)

 or ·

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Symbols - 2

Some symbols are “constructed” from various pieces of the final
symbol or rely on similarities between the code and the symbol










<=
>=
=/
=~
~=
~~
-=
+` or lowercase 'o'
->










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Symbols - 3

Some symbol codes are based on words













inf
tri
ang
perp
and
or
element
notelement
subset
notsubset
propersubset
prop
tf













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Degrees Symbol



Degrees symbols are entered so
often, we have given them their
own key on the keyboard!
On most keyboards you will find a
backwards facing dash `. It is NOT
the single quote key next to the
semicolon on most keyboards. The
back-dash key is USUALLY to the
left on the 1 key on most keyboards
and is under the tilde (~). You just
type this dash wherever you need a
degrees symbol.
All Efofex products use this
convention.
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Brackets


FX Equation treats all brackets as logically equivalent. {,
[, and ( can be used interchangeably.
FX Equation treats some brackets as “logical” brackets
and will not display them. For example,

(x+2)/2
e^(2x2+1)
T\(n+1)
x+2
2
2x + 1
2
Tn + 1
e
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Limits, Summation,
Products & Integrals

lim(x->8)
lim
x  8


10

sigma(i=1,10)
i =1
10

product(i=1,10)
i =1
3

int (-2,3)


– 2
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Definite Integrals

FX Equation can show the bounds of a definite integral.
Type an ordered pair immediately after a closing square
bracket ( ] ) and FX Equation will automatically format it
to suit.
[x2+4]2,3
 2
x

+
3
4  2
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Subscripts

The backslash key ( \ ) is used to indicate subscripts.
Think of it as "sliding downhill". Any character
immediately following \ will be subscripted.

T\n
T\(n+1)
Tn
Tn + 1
Please Note: On some keyboards (for example the Swedish keyboard) the \ key is missing. In those cases it can
be replaced by the § key.
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Means & Complements

You can add a straight line ABOVE a character by typing
an underline ( _ ) immediately AFTER the character.
x_
x

You can type an underline immediately after a set of
brackets to add a line above all the bracketed
information.
(x+y)_
x+y
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Quoted Text

You can prevent FX Equation from using its formatting
system on a section of text by wrapping it in quotes.
This allows you to type “then” without FX Equation
turning it into θen!
"If" x = 4 "then" x/8 = 1/2
If x = 4 then x = 1
8
2
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Dots


You can add dots above characters by typing a colon (:)
immediately AFTER the character.
You can add a double dot above a character by typing
two colons.
x:
x::
.
x
..
x
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Recurring Decimals

You can easily input recurring decimals using FX
Equation's special formatting characters, _ and :
3.1:
3.234_
6.874_1234
.
3.1
3.234
6.8741234
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Scientific Notation

Scientific notation can be quickly entered using the "E"
notation commonly used in computers and calculators.
3.2E12
12
3.2  10
-4.7E-2
-4.7  10
–2
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Square Roots

FX Equation uses sr and sqrt to indicate square roots.
These two codes are interchangeable.
sr3
3
sqrt9x2
2
9x
sr(b2-4ac)
2
b – 4ac
sr(x2/2)
2
x
2
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nth Roots

FX Equation can draw any root of an expression using
the root code.
root9
9
3rootx
3
x
nroot(x2+1)
n
2
x +1
(3x+1)root2
3x + 1
2
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Column Vectors

FX Equation will automatically format anything with a
comma as a column vector
(2,3)
(1,2,3,4,5)
 2
 
 3
1 
2 
 
3 
4 
 
5 
{x2,2x+1,x3
 x

 2x + 1
 3
 x
2
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Ordered Pairs


If you enter (2,3) into FX Equation, it will format it as a
column vector.
You probably should not be using FX Equation for
ordered pairs, but if you really need to, just wrap the
comma in quotes to prevent FX Equation from using it
for formatting.
(x2","y+1)
2
(x , y + 1)
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Matrices

Enter matrices column by column, separated by spaces
[1,2,3 4,5,6 7,8,9 10,11,12 13,14,15]
 1 4 7 10 13 


 2 5 8 11 14 


 3 6 9 12 15 
FX Equation can draw matrices with any number of columns but is limited to 20 rows.
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Lower Case Vectors

FX Equation can automatically recognize most equations
that include lower case vectors and will either bold the
vectors or add a tilde or line – depending on your
preference.
r = 3i+2j
r = 3i+2j
r = 3i+2j
r = 3i + 2j
r = 3i + 2j
~r = 3~i + 2~j
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Arrows

Left, right and double arrows can be added to any
equation components using the -->, <-- and <->
commands.
-->m
m
ABC
<--(ABC)
<->(x2+2x+1)
2
x + 2x + 1
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Mixed Numerals

Type a space between the whole number and the
fraction and FX Equation will produce a mixed numeral.
Best results are obtained when FX Equation is set to
shrink non-algebraic fractions – see the Styles tab of the
Options.
3 4/5 + 2 2/3 = 6 7/15
7
3 45 + 2 23 = 6 15
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Boxes

FX Equation can include “fill in the blank” boxes or can
place a box around any content
3+box = 7
box(x2)+3x=4
3+
= 7
2
x + 3x = 4
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Arcs

You can add arcs over any equation components using
the arc command
arc(ABC)
ABC
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Equation Numbers

You can number equations by typing (1), (2), (3)...
There must be “white space” around the equation
numbers for them to be formatted.
3x + 2y = 4

x – 3y = 5

3x – 9y = 16
 =   3
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Combinations &
Permutations

Combinations and permutations are entered using a nCr
format
12C4
(n+1)P(n)
12
C4
n+1
Pn
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Short Division

The div command allows you to create short division
problems.
(32)div(960)
32 960
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Vertical Alignment

Vertically aligning equals signs is easy – it is all
automatic. Just enter one equation per line and FX
Equation will do the rest.
3x + 7 = 2x – 4
 3x – 2x = -4 – 7

x = -11
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Highlighting Lines

Individual lines in a system of equations can be
highlighted by underlining, italicising or making bold.
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Units



FX Equation can automatically
detect standard units and apply
different formatting.
You can change the standard units
that FX Equation detects on the
Units tab of the Options.
x cm
x cm
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Shortcuts


FX Equation can store “shortcuts” that provide quick
access to common equations. For example, FX
Equation will automatically expand qf to the full quadratic
formula.
You can define your own shortcuts in the Shortcuts tab
of the FX Equation options.
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Email Tutorials


Efofex provides comprehensive training for FX Draw 3
available as convenient email tutorials. Register at
www.efofex.com/emailtutes.php. The system will send
an email a day for a few weeks.
Email tutorials are available for all Efofex products.
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