Render Math Equations in iOS [duplicate]

Question

I was wondering if there is an easy way to implement the rendering of math equations into an iOS app. It doesn't have to be interactive. All it should do is display the equation in traditional ways so when the user is dealing with complex equations it makes it easier to follow.

ex. 2^(2/(6^(1/2))) gives:

Wolfram Alpha does this along with other apps that I have seen. It doesn't have to deal with variables either.

Answer 1

A UIWebView can display mathML since iOS5. Your example:

<math title="2^(2/(sqrt(6))" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML">
  <mstyle mathcolor="blue" fontfamily="sanserif" displaystyle="true">
    <msup>
      <mn>2</mn>
      <mrow>
        <mfrac>
          <mn>2</mn>
          <mrow>
            <msqrt>
              <mrow>
                <mn>6</mn>
              </mrow>
            </msqrt>
          </mrow>
        </mfrac>
      </mrow>
    </msup>
  </mstyle>
</math>

This will render in a UIWebView on iOS.

There are javascript libraries that can convert for you - eg mathjax can accept ASCIIMath input such as this example 2^(2/(sqrt(6))

There is a good discussion of these issues here Tradeoff between LaTex, MathML, and XHTMLMathML in an iOS app?

Answer 2

For simple expressions, the easiest way is probably to use HTML and display the expression in a UIWebView. This will work especially well if the expression part of other content that can also be displayed using HTML.