EquatIO

What is it?

EquatIO is an equation editor that can be used in most GSuite tools (Docs, Slides, Forms, Sheets, and Drawings), and the full version is FREE for all teachers. Input can be done by typing, voice recognition, and even handwriting recognition. The latest update of the extension has Desmos functionality built right in!

Requirements

EquatIO is a Chrome extension - you will need to add it to your Chrome browser before we begin. It is also available as a download for Windows and Mac laptops. If you would like to try the voice recognition feature, you need access to a microphone.

Where to start?

If you do not already have the EquatIO extension, open a new tab in Chrome and go to this link at the Chrome Web Store. Click Add to Chrome and install the extension. Once you have it installed, open a new Google Doc, and click on the EquatIO icon in the Chrome extension bar (it looks like a blue diamond). Be sure to keep this window open in a tab for easy reference.

When you start the EquatIO extension in a Google Doc, you will have access to the toolbar at the bottom of the browser window:

From left to right, these tools are:

• Equation Editor (basic - will do most of what you need)
• LaTeX Editor (more complex)
• Graph Editor
• Handwriting Recognition
• Speech Input

1) Choose the Equation Editor, and enter an equation or formula. Click the Insert Math button on the right side to insert the equation/formula into the document as an image. Try out the options on the right side of the window to use different operators and symbols, including Greek letters.

2) After you have inserted an equation or formula, select the image of that equation/formula in your document, and click on “extract math.” Change your equation somehow, and then re-insert it into your document.

3) Choose the Handwriting Recognition tool, and either use your finger (on a device with a touchscreen), or your cursor (on a laptop) to write an equation or formula. Note: the free version only allows a limited number of inserts per day; the teacher version allows as many as you like.

4) Choose the Speech Input tool, and try speaking an equation or formula.

1) Choose the Equation Editor, and enter an equation or formula.

2) With the equation/formula in place, select the Graph Editor on the toolbar. Insert the graph into your document by clicking “Insert Graph.”

3) Take some time to experiment with Desmos in EquatIO to try out some of the things you played with in the Desmos activity!

Want more?

With the full version (obtained by either registering as a teacher, or available automatically for the first 30 days after installing the extension), you can also insert math into Google Forms and Slides. Try it out!

Click here to go to our next tool: Mathies