gMath for Google Docs: 12 Days of Techmas, Day 2

Thanks to the add-on system in Google Docs, students (and teachers) can create mathematical formulas to insert into their math and science documents. It's using a Google add-on called gMath, and it lets students click to build complex formulas, equations, and mathematical graphs. 

When you install and turn on the add-on, a sidebar pops up giving students clickable buttons, much like the old formula editor in MS Word. After you create the formula, just click "Insert" and it pops the formula right into the Google Doc. Another option is to create graphs of mathematical formulas.

The Builder Sidebar


Some examples I created using gMath:


​[For math nerds: it actually teaches as well as helps. The click-button system is really a Latex expression builder, and students will learn the basics of Latex while making and editing equations.]

OK, so I wouldn't recommend this for nightly math homework, but if your students are working on something a little more formal that requires formulas or equations, this is a nice little tool.

Installation Instructions:
  1. Open any Google Doc (or create a new one)
  2. In the menu, click Add-ons > Get add-ons.
  3. Scroll through the list and click on gMath.
  4. Click the +Free button to install.
Usage:
  1. In the Add-ons menu, click gMath > Create math expressions.
  2. In the sidebar that appears, scroll down to see the clickable buttons. Choose the ones you want to add to the expression (it will appear in the Latex box).
  3. Keep clicking buttons and/or editing the expression manually until the preview looks the way you want it.
  4. Click Insert to add it to your document.

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