Help:Math

LaTeX
You can enter LaTeX equations by enclosing them in $$...$$ tags. This uses the Math extension. For LaTeX math help, see:
 * LaTeX documentation
 * The Not so Short Introduction to LaTex - with a very complete chapter on typesetting mathematical formulas

Examples
$$\sqrt[3]{a x + x^2}$$ produces $$\sqrt[3]{a x + x^2}$$

The acceleration of a solar sail due to solar pressure $$\vec a_s$$ given the position vector from the sun to the sail $$\vec r_s$$ is:

$$\vec a_s = a_c {AU^2 \over r_s^2} \left(\vec r_s \cdot \vec n\right)^2 \vec n$$

where $$a_c$$ is max sail acceleration at Earth's distance from the sun (1 AU), $$AU$$ is the length of an astronomical unit, $$r_s$$ is the magnitude of $$\vec r_s$$, and $$\vec n$$ is the unit vector normal to the sail surface.

Mimetex
''Deprecated. Please follow LaTeX instructions from now on.''

Mathematics can be displayed on SolarSailWiki using the Mimetex program, which uses a subset of the LaTeX math formulas. All you need to do is enclose a valid TeX/LaTeX formula inside ... tags. Formulas will be rendered as GIF images.
 * Mimetex documentation
 * LaTeX documentation
 * The Not so Short Introduction to LaTex - with a very complete chapter on typesetting mathematical formulas

Some examples:

\sqrt[3]{a x + x^2} produces \sqrt[3]{a x + x^2}

The acceleration of a solar sail due to solar pressure \vec a_s given the position vector from the sun to the sail \vec r_s is:

\vec a_s = a_c {AU^2 \over r_s^2} \(\vec r_s \cdot \vec n\)^2 \vec n

where a_c is max sail acceleration at Earth's distance from the sun (1 AU), AU is the length of an astronomical unit, r_s is the magnitude of \vec r_s, and \vec n is the unit vector normal to the sail surface.