# The Math Palette and the Xml > Math Menu

To create a mathematical expression in a document, move the mouse cursor to the position where you want to insert an expression, and then click the Math button, or choose Math from the Xml menu.

## Accessing Commands

Mathematical expressions can be inserted into a document using either the Math submenu of the Xml menu, or by choosing an expression from the Math palette.

Click the Math button on the button bar to display the Math palette. Close the palette by clicking the Done button.

You can also display the Math menu by clicking the Math item on the Xml menu.

## Math Menu and Palette Commands

On the Math palette or menu, the first item, New Formula, allows you to create a new formula when the cursor is in a HTML or SVG element, but not within a MathML element.

The Math menu also contains elements which are not available from the palette. These items include: Plain text (`mtext`), Identifier (`mi`), Number (`mn`), Operator (`mo`). These commands can also change the type of a single element or a sequence of elements.

The Character (`&xxx;`) item enables you to enter a character that is not available on the keyboard. It displays a dialog where you have to enter the character name (for instance alpha for the Greek character a).

The next items of the Math menu or palette enable you to create new constructs within a formula. If the insertion point is not in a formula, Amaya first creates a Math element to accept the new construct. The available constructs are:

- Root with index, `mroot` in MathML: x + 1 3
- Square root, `msqrt`: x + 1
- Enclose, `menclose`: 1234
- Fraction, `mfrac`: 1 x + 1
- Expression with subscript and superscript, `msubsup`: x i + 1 n or ∫ 0 ∞
- Expression with a subscript, `msub`: x i
- Expression with a superscript, `msup`: x n
- Expression with under- and overscript, `munderover`: ∑ i = 1 n
- Expression with underscript, `munder`: x ‾
- Expression with overscript, `mover`: x → maps to y
- Expression within parentheses, `mrow`: ( a + b )
- Expression with prescripts and tensor indices, `mmultiscripts`: X i j k l
- Matrix or table, `mtable`: a b c d

The last item of the Math palette ( αβγ ) displays another palette from which you can insert mathematical symbols and greek characters.

## See Also:

- Editing Mathematics
- Creating a Mathematical Expression