# About Entering Math Constructs using the Keyboard

You are not required to use the Math menu or palette to create and edit mathematical expressions. You can enter mathematical constructs directly from the keyboard because each item in the Math menu has a keyboard equivalent. These shortcuts are listed on the menu and in the table below. You can also use the keyboard arrow keys to move the insertion point from one math construct to another. The right and left arrows move the insertion point according to the structure of the mathematical expression. For example, in a fraction when the insertion point is at the end of a numerator, the right arrow key moves the insertion point to the beginning of the denominator.

Action | Shortcut
New formula (math) | Ctrl-m Ctrl-m
Plain text (mtext) | Ctrl-m Ctrl-x
Identifier (mi) | Ctrl-m Ctrl-d
Number (mn) | Ctrl-m Ctrl-n
Operator (mo) | Ctrl-m Ctrl-=
Space (mspace) | Ctrl-m Ctrl-Space
Character (xxx;) | Ctrl-m Ctrl-e
Invisible Times | Ctrl-m Ctrl-i
ApplyFunction | Ctrl-m Ctrl-a
Root (mroot) | Ctrl-m Ctrl-r
Square root (msqrt) | Ctrl-m Ctrl-q
Enclose (menclose) | Ctrl-m Ctrl-c
Fraction (mfrac) | Ctrl-m Ctrl-f
Subscript and superscript (msubsup) | Ctrl-m Ctrl-b
Subscript (msub) | Ctrl-m Ctrl-v
Superscript (msup) | Ctrl-m Ctrl-6
Under and over (munderover) | Ctrl-m Ctrl-k
Under (munder) | Ctrl-m Ctrl-u
Over (mover) | Ctrl-m Ctrl-o
Parentheses (mrow) | Ctrl-m Ctrl-p
Multiscripts (mmultiscripts) | Ctrl-m Ctrl-s
Matrix (mtable) | Ctrl-m Ctrl-t