MathType

CNET Editors' review

by: CNET staff on September 04, 2009

Typing complex mathematical equations or scientific expressions can be difficult when creating tests or writing research papers if you are using only Microsoft Word or Excel--these apps, though powerful tools, simply are limited in such areas. However, thanks to this nifty app, you can build authentic formulas appropriate for rigorous review and study.

MathType launches a compact interface with four rows of buttons for a variety of symbols, and a row of tabbed buttons categorized by type of expression: algebra, derivations, statistics, matrices, sets, trigonometry, and geometry. These five rows are arrayed over a pane for typing and manipulating the equations the user wishes to build. The design is simple and straightforward, and navigating the app's features is simple to master. This app performed very satisfactorily during our tests. Building an equation in the editing pane was a simple matter, by clicking buttons to select a symbol or using the Insert Symbol command. Copying and pasting from the editing pane into another app was a snap. We liked very much the ease in adding an expression--and even an entire category of expressions--to the row of tabbed buttons. MathType offers a number of formatting options to suit a variety of equation types. We appreciated the range of options available for customizing the app through the Preferences dialog box, and most users should be satisfied by this list of options.

Although the trial period is limited to 30 days, this time frame should be adequate for most users to determine the suitability of MathType for their work. On the other hand, the price tag may scare off all but the most dedicated users.