How to Use the Google Docs Equation Editor – Essential Guide

Google Docs is a highly flexible word processing service that allows you to quickly and easily create documents. But what if you want to include a math equation inside of a Google Doc? Google Docs has you covered, and this guide will teach you how to use the Google Docs Equation Editor.

So how do you add a code block to Google Docs? Enclosed below are the steps required to use the equation editor in Google Docs to add an equation to your document:

  1. Open Google Docs to the document you want to add a math equation to
  2. Go to Insert -> Equation The equation editor bar will appear
  3. Select the equation type from the equation bar
  4. Type in part of the equation
  5. Press the right arrow key to move to the next part of the equation
  6. Repeat until the equation is complete
  7. Press Enter when done with the equation

Before we get started with the tutorial, if you are looking to learn more about apps like Notion, Todoist, Evernote, Google Docs, or just how to be more productive (like Keep Productive’s awesome Notion course), you should really check out SkillShare. Skillshare is an online learning platform with courses on pretty much anything you want to learn. To learn more about Skillshare and its vast library of courses and get 30% off, click the link below:

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Now, let’s get started with the tutorial!

Step By Step Guide to Use Google Docs Equation Editor

The editor not only allows you to select and add various equation letters but you can also edit and replace already written equations. The fantastic, few-step procedure allows you to add any equation, whether from mathematics or engineering.

Enclosed below are the detailed steps required to use the equation editor in Google Docs:

Step 1: Open Google Docs to the document you want to add a math equation to

a Google Doc
a Google Doc

First of all, open the google doc file in which you want to add an equation.

Step 2: Go to Insert -> Equation The equation editor bar will appear

2021 06 21 15 38 47

Next, click the area where you want to add an equation. Then, click on the Insert Button in the main menu.
This will show a drop-down menu on the screen. From there, find the Equation option and click on it.

Step 3: Select the equation type from the equation bar

Equation Editor toolbar in Google Docs
Equation Editor toolbar in Google Docs

When you select the equation option, an edit box will appear in the doc. That is editing the area of the equation. This is where you will write your equation.

Next, under the equation toolbox, you will find five types of equations. The equation group options in Google Docs are:

  • Greek Letter
  • Miscellaneous Operations
  • Relations
  • Math operations
  • Arrows

Select the one you need to start your equation.

Tip: If you want to add some special characters like Ω this, You can use the special character option in google docs. Just go to insert, and find the Special character option. There you can find and add the character you want.

Step 4: Type in part of the equation

typing in an equation in the equation box in Google Docs
typing in an equation in the equation box in Google Docs

Click inside the equation box and begin typing in your equation.

Step 5: Press the right arrow key to move to the next part of the equation

a2 in Google Docs equation editor
a2 in Google Docs equation editor

This part is important, to move to the next part of the equation, you need to press the right arrow key. For example, if you want to write a2, you would:

  1. Select the squared option from Math Operations in the equation editor
  2. Click in the equation box and type a
  3. Press the right arrow key to move to the superscript part of the equation
  4. Type in 2 to represent the squared part of a2

Step 6: Repeat until the equation is complete

a full equation in Google Docs
a full equation in Google Docs

Repeat the process until you have your equation fully typed-out.

Step 7: Press Enter when done with the equation

Two equations in Google Docs
Two equations in Google Docs

Press Enter to exit the equation box. I added another example in the screenshot above using the steps in this tutorial.

I hope this tutorial was helpful to you. Good luck and check out some of our other Google Docs tutorials in the table below:

The Google Docs suite is very flexible and one of the cool things you can actually do is create and publish surveys. Check out my Detailed Guide to Creating Surveys in Google Docs.

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