How to print an asterisk ('*') in R Markdown

Question

I am trying to write in my R Markdown "3 times 6:10 and (3 times 6):10" all in complete letters (I am using times instead of *. My purpose is to put * instead of word times without any problem). However, it keeps giving me italic syntax for the part "6:10 and (3". How can I write my *s in R Markdown straight into the document without evoking * syntax which is make letters italic in the middle?

Answer 1

Escape '*' by using '\*' instead

Alternatively, you could use $\times$ to get the '×' symbol

Answer 2

Markdown is quite sensitive to whitespace. If you don't put spaces around the * (line 3 below) you get the problem you're describing (markdown assumes the *s are italic-delimiters).

Some possible solutions

• line 5: add spaces, no problem (except you might not want that spacing)
• line 7 (@CaptainHat): set times as a LaTeX times symbol
• line 9: set in code format
• line 11 (@CaptainHat): protect *s with backslashes

Also tried @CaptainHat's suggestions as well as type-setting in code format ...)