Formula Assistant

Draw a formula by hand and get clean LaTeX, MathML, or an SVG — instantly.

Overview

Formula Assistant gives you a canvas where you draw math formulas with your finger or mouse. As you draw, a live preview renders the formula using KaTeX so you can see exactly how it will look. When you’re happy with the result, export it as LaTeX, a Word-compatible MathML snippet, or an SVG image.

This is useful for students who need to type up handwritten homework, professionals preparing technical documents, and anyone who finds LaTeX syntax hard to write from scratch.

How to Access

Open the sidebar menu
Click Other Features
Select Formula Assistant under Helper Series

What You Can Do

Draw formulas — Use a touch screen or mouse to write any math expression on the canvas
Live preview — See the rendered formula update in real time as you draw
Inline or block mode — Toggle the preview between inline (mid-sentence) and block (centered display) layout
Edit LaTeX directly — Fine-tune the generated LaTeX in the editable text area below the preview
Copy LaTeX — Copy the LaTeX string to paste into any LaTeX editor or document
Copy for Word — Copy a MathML version that pastes natively into Microsoft Word as a formatted equation
Download SVG — Save the formula as a scalable vector file for use in presentations or graphics tools
Clear All — Reset the canvas and start over

Step-by-Step Guide

Draw Your Formula

Open Formula Assistant from the sidebar
Use your finger (on touch screens) or mouse to write the formula on the canvas
Watch the preview area update as you draw — the formula is rendered live using KaTeX

Switch Preview Mode

By default, the preview shows the formula in inline mode. If your formula is large or complex, toggle to block mode so it renders centered and at full size. This is also the correct mode if you plan to use the formula as a standalone equation in a document.

Fine-Tune the LaTeX

Below the preview, there is a LaTeX text area showing the raw code. You can edit it directly. For example, you might correct a symbol that wasn’t recognized as intended, or add spacing and formatting. The preview updates as you type.

Export Your Formula

Once the formula looks right, choose how to use it:

Click Copy LaTeX to copy the code for use in Overleaf, a Markdown editor, or any LaTeX-based tool.
Click Copy for Word to copy MathML that you can paste directly into a Microsoft Word document as a native equation object — no plugin required.
Click Download SVG to save the formula as an SVG file. This works well for slide decks, Figma designs, or any tool that accepts vector images.

Pasting into Microsoft Word

The Copy for Word button is especially useful if you work in Word but find its built-in equation editor slow. When you copy with this button, Word reads the clipboard as MathML and inserts a properly formatted equation. You do not need any add-in or plugin installed.

To use it:

Draw and preview your formula in Formula Assistant
Click Copy for Word
Open your Word document and press Paste (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V)
Word will insert the formula as an editable equation object

If you paste into a non-Word application and see raw MathML text instead of a rendered equation, use Copy LaTeX instead.

Common Questions

The drawing isn’t being recognized correctly. Try writing more slowly and making sure each symbol is clear and separate. After drawing, you can correct any mistakes in the LaTeX text area below the preview — it’s often faster to tweak one character there than to redraw.

Can I use this without a touch screen? Yes. The canvas works with a mouse on any desktop. Touch input on phones and tablets tends to feel more natural, but mouse drawing works fine for most formulas.

Does it support chemistry or physics notation? The canvas handles any LaTeX-compatible expression. Standard chemistry formulas written with math notation (fractions, subscripts, superscripts, Greek letters) will work. Specialized chemistry packages like mhchem are not available in the preview, but the LaTeX output can still be used in editors that support those packages.

AI Chat — Ask the AI to explain or derive formulas in conversation
Chat with Documents — Upload a document and ask the AI questions about equations or content in it