samimaattaCelia
commented
6 days ago Neil's hack for the integral:
Mark up:
<math display='block'>
<msubsup>
<mo style="font-size:200%;" intent="substitution">/</mo>
<mi>a</mi>
<mi>b</mi>
</msubsup>
</math>
The MathML specification can be seen as quite American as in that notation that exists in American math textbooks can be seen represented well in the speficiations. The same can't be said for smaller language groups.
For example, a couple of examples of notation in Finnish that might not exist in other languages:
1. Integration steps
Here the big slash signifies that a step in the integration process has been taken. Substitution of values happens in the next step. To my knowledge this isn't common elsewhere.
2. Multiplying and dividing a fraction
In Finnish this notation is used for multiplying the fraction's numerator and denominator (division like so, but on the right of the fraction):
Example of how it doesn't actually work in MathML if you just use the superscript this way:
This might be possible to get visually correct with
<multiscript>, but semantically it wouldn't be correct. Maybe MathCAT could work around this.3. Limits (approaching from the side)
In Finnish this notation is used for limits when talking about 'approaching from the left/right side':
This can be achieved with MathML relatively easily without the semantics suffering. Apparently in English this notation is used and they mostly talk about 'approaching from below/up':
Discussion: What to do?
It could be discussed what should be done about this kind of notation. Some of them even require new Unicode characters and/or changes to MathML specification.
Out of scope?
Is this out of scope for the MathML guidelines work?