What is Math ML?
MathML is an XML application for describing mathematical notation and capturing both its structure and content. Math Markup Language (MathML) is fully accessible to screen readers. The goal of MathML is to enable mathematics to be served, received, and processed on the Web, just as HTML has enabled this functionality for text.
If equation content is created using the built-in equation editor in a Word document or PowerPoint file, the equation content may be converted into MathML format.
Why is it important to convert equation content to MathML?
Web-based content must be made accessible to people with vision, hearing, and motor impairments per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Producers of web-based content who are recipients of federal funding, including colleges and universities, must comply with this mandate. In addition, producing content that is accessible to people with sensory and motor impairments is an industry best practice, and the right thing to do. Producing accessible content is also in keeping with universal course design principles: the creation of content across all courses to serve as diverse a population and audience as possible.
Having the equation-based content in MathML format is beneficial for the following reasons:
- Expedites requests for accommodation
- Complies with the American with Disabilities Act
- Incorporates research-based best practices in universal design for learning (UDL)
Please note that MathType is only provided to WSE faculty currently in an active course development with an assigned instructional designer. Faculty without access to MathType may use alternative tools to create accessible math content, including AI tools such as ChatGPT or Codex that can assist with generating and converting equations into MathML.
Converting Equations/Content to MathML with MathType
- To produce accessible versions of content that includes equations, the bulk of the content (textual content) is rendered as HTML which is completely readable to a screen reader.
- Render the text-based content in HTML into a content management system or into an application such as Dreamweaver or Notepad.
- This procedure can be as simple as copying and pasting source code from a web page.
- The next step is to convert the equations themselves into MathML format and paste them into the HTML code at the appropriate locations.
- (This process assumes that the equations were created using LaTeX or MathType and that they are being cut and pasted from a text format - NOT picture format.)
- Note: If the equations are in a graphic format (JPG, PNG, TIFF, or GIF), they have to be re-typed using MathType before they can be converted to MathML.
- Open the free-standing version of MathType on your computer. (When you install MathType on your computer, it installs as a plug-in equation editor in Word and PowerPoint – but you may also open it as a free-standing application.)
- Before you cut and paste equations into the MathType interface, check these settings:
- From the Preferences drop-down menu, select ‘Cut and Copy Preferences’
- Select the second radio button ‘Equation for application or website’
- In the dropdown at that radio button, select ‘MathML 0’
- If multiple ‘MathML 2.0’ options appear in the list, select ‘MathML 2.0 (namespace attr)’
- Leave the other radio buttons blank and exit the dialog box by selecting ‘OK’
- Now that you have chosen the proper settings in MathType, copy the text-based equations from Word or PowerPoint and paste them into the Math Type interface.
- Visually check the pasted equation to make sure the equation is correctly formatted in the MathType window.
- Next, copy out of MathType and paste into the web page at the source code level.
- What you have pasted into the source code is the true MathML code, readable by a screen reader.
- (This process assumes that the equations were created using LaTeX or MathType and that they are being cut and pasted from a text format - NOT picture format.)
Using ChatGPT or Codex to Generate MathML
If you do not have access to MathType, AI tools such as ChatGPT or Codex can help generate MathML from existing equation content.
Examples include:
- Converting LaTeX equations into MathML
- Converting Microsoft Word equations into MathML
- Converting equations from PDFs or screenshots into MathML
- Reviewing existing MathML for accuracy
For example, you can provide ChatGPT with a LaTeX equation and ask:
Convert this equation into accessible Presentation MathML:
L\frac{di}{dt} + Ri = V(t)
ChatGPT will generate the corresponding MathML markup that can be inserted into web content.
When using AI-generated MathML, always review the output to ensure the equation is represented accurately before publishing.