Access Digi Math

Introduction to LaTeX for Accessible Digital Math Learning

This site is designed to give Teachers of Visually Impaired students a starting point and resource hub for bringing accessible digital math (LaTeX) into their practice, to support blind students going into college-level STEM.

LaTeX is useful for higher-level math: geometry, trigonometry, and beyond!

"LaTeX is the gold standard in math"

Campbell

screen reader and braille display user

“LaTeX is the goldstandard in math”

Campbell

screen reader and
braille display user

This site is designed to give Teachers of Visually Impaired students a starting point and resource hub for bringing accessible digital math (LaTeX) into their practice, to support blind students going into college-level STEM.

LaTeX is useful for higher-level math: geometry, trigonometry, and beyond!

Getting Materials on Time in College Math Class

Blind screen reader users in higher-level math college courses often face challenges accessing math materials like textbooks. Braille is trusted standard, but in college, printed materials can take so long to arrive that students risk failing assignments and classes. Some students face a difficult choice:

Should I wait for braille materials that could arrive after due dates? ...

I could fail the assignment!

I could fail the class!!

Should I learn a new, digital format for reading and writing math? ...

Requires more work to learn new symbols. Math is already hard!

While both formats have trade-offs, LaTeX is a strong option for reading and writing digital math accessibly.

Intro to LaTeX Format

What is LaTeX?

LaTeX is a digital text formatting code widely used in STEM for document formatting and writing math equations.

LaTeX math is also easy for screen reader users to type and read.

Why use LaTeX as a digital option for accessible math?

🔤
Read linearly in plain language
Readable and writable using text.
👥
Readable by sighted and blind people
Share materials with teachers or classmates without translation.
💻
No specialized tools needed
Works in Microsoft Word and other editors.
📚
Already used in STEM
Professors and students often use LaTeX for STEM class materials!
⚡
Faster than braille transcription
Often on campus rather than third party printing.

🔤
Read linearly in plain language
Readable and writable using text.
💻
No specialized tools needed
Works in Microsoft Word and other editors.
⚡
Faster than braille transcription
Often on campus rather than third party printing.

👥
Readable by sighted and blind people
Share materials with teachers or classmates without translation.
📚
Already used in STEM
Professors and students often use LaTeX for STEM class materials!

What does a LaTeX math equation look like?

You can write math equations in English using special symbols! For example, a limit symbol from calculus can be written with \lim and the infinity symbol can be written with \infty!

If you type this LaTeX code:

\lim_{x \to \infty} f(x)

This formatted math equation will display:

\[\lim_{x \to \infty} f(x)\]

Both the LaTeX math and formatted equation are accessible with a screen reader or braille display!

Here's what your student will perceive:

\lim_{x \to \infty} f(x)

"backslash lim underline left brace x backslash to backslash infty right brace f left paren x right paren"

JAWS screen reader 🔊

⠈⠳⠇⠊⠍⠸⠰⠶⠰⠭⠀⠈⠳⠞⠕⠀⠈⠳⠔⠋⠞⠽⠶⠆⠀⠰⠋⠶⠰⠭⠶

braille/Nemeth

\[\lim_{x \to \infty} f(x)\]

"lim over x right arrow infinity of f of x"

JAWS screen reader 🔊

⠐⠇⠊⠍⠩⠭⠀⠫⠕⠀⠠⠿⠻⠀⠋⠷⠭⠾

braille/Nemeth

Let's Try to Write in LaTeX!

Tutorial 1: Algebra and Exponents

Let's write an equation that includes variables and exponents. We need some symbols like ^ for exponents, = for equal, + for plus, and - for minus.

For example, \(y = mx^3 + b\) is written in LaTeX as y = mx^3 + b

Try it yourself:

Write the equation \(y = x^2 + 3\)

Tutorial 2: Fractions

To write a fraction, we use the symbol \frac to start the fraction. After \frac, two sets of curly braces group the numerator and denominator.

For example, \(\frac{1}{2}\) is written in LaTeX as \frac{1}{2}

Try it yourself:

Write the fraction \(\frac{3}{4}\) in LaTeX using \frac{}{}

Tutorial 3: Fractions and Other Elements

Now let's try combining the fraction with other elements, like a square root. The symbol for square root is \sqrt.

For example, \(\sqrt{4}\) is written in LaTeX as \sqrt{4}

Try it yourself:

Write \(y = \frac{\sqrt{x^2 + 3}}{2a} \) in LaTeX using \frac{}{}and \sqrt{}

Tutorial 4: Quadratic Formula

Let's put together everything we have learned so far by writing the quadratic equation. Don't worry if you don't know what this equation means. We can still write it in LaTeX!

We will need a new symbol, \pm, for plus or minus (±).

Try it yourself:

Write \(x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\) in LaTeX using \frac, \sqrt, and arithmetic.

LaTeX Equation:

Display format:

Enter LaTeX code to see the display output

Questions about Digital Math and LaTeX?

Hey! I’m Digi 👋

from Access Digi Math.

Ask me about LaTeX tutorials, practice, and the downloadable Word resources.

Ask a question about LaTeX

Help me improve!

Hey! I'm Isabela, a grad student at UC Irvine, and I created this tool with Teachers of Visually Impaired students to help blind students tackle college math! 🎓✨

After trying out the tool, would you consider taking a quick survey? This is my thesis project, and I could really use your help! Your feedback helps me figure out what's working, what could be better, and how to make digital math learning even more accessible.

Your thoughts truly mean a lot to me. Thank you so much for being part of this journey! 💌

This quick survey opens in a new window and takes about 10 - 15 minutes. Your feedback makes a big difference!

After taking our survey, continue in Microsoft Word!

Microsoft Word LaTeX TutorialMicrosoft Word LaTeX Tutorial

Learn how to use LaTeX in Microsoft Word!

Curriculum + Cheat SheetCurriculum + Cheat Sheet

A guide you can use to work with your students!

Practice Some LaTeX

Try other equations out! Some ideas include geometry, limits, products, sums, etc.

\[\angle A \cong \angle D\]

•\angle{AB} for angle
•\cong for congruent

\[\cos \theta = 0\]

•\cos for cosine, shown upright and not italic text.
•\theta for θ

\[\int_{2}^3 f(x) \, dx\]

•\int for integral
•\int_{lower}^{upper} bounds
•\, dx space and dx

\[\prod_{i=a}^b f(i)\]

•\prod for product
•\prod_{lower}^{upper} adds bounds

\[\left[ \begin{matrix}1&2\\3&4\end{matrix}\right]\]

•\left[ ... \right] wraps in brackets
•\begin{matrix} ... \end{matrix} for matrix
•1 & 2 \\ & for columns, \\ for rows

LaTeX Equation:

Display format:

Enter LaTeX code to see the display output

Access Digi Math

Getting Materials on Time in College Math Class

Intro to LaTeX Format

What is LaTeX?

Why use LaTeX as a digital option for accessible math?

What does a LaTeX math equation look like?

Let's Try to Write in LaTeX!

Tutorial 1: Algebra and Exponents

Try it yourself:

Tutorial 2: Fractions

Try it yourself:

Tutorial 3: Fractions and Other Elements

Try it yourself:

Tutorial 4: Quadratic Formula

Try it yourself:

Display format:

Questions about Digital Math and LaTeX?

Help me improve!

After taking our survey, continue in Microsoft Word!

Microsoft Word LaTeX TutorialMicrosoft Word LaTeX Tutorial

Curriculum + Cheat SheetCurriculum + Cheat Sheet

Practice Some LaTeX

Display format:

Further Reading

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