Styling Variable Names and Units

Variable names and units are styled with using LaTex mathematical notation, which in some ways is intuitive but here are some helpful tips for common use cases.

Subscripts

Single character subscripted variable names or units can be created with a simple underscore “_1”. For example, the following Input object shows how a single character underscore is coded and displayed.

Coded Definition: Input("min_a", 1, "m_2")

Display Result: min_a= 1 m₂

Multiple character subsripts must be wrapped in the curly braces after the underscore character “_{more}”. For example, the following Input object shows how a multiple character underscore is coded and displayed.

Coded Definition: Input("min_{abc}", 1, "m_{123}")

Display Result: min_abc= 1 m₁₂₃

Superscripts

Single character superscripted variable names or units can be created with a simple caret (circumflex) “^2”. For example, the following Input object shows how a single character with caret is coded and displayed.

Coded Definition: Input("min^a", 1, "m^2")

Display Result: min^a= 1 m²

Multiple character supersripts must be wrapped in the curly braces after the caret character “^{more}”. For example, the following Input object shows how a multiple character caret is coded and displayed.

Coded Definition: Input("min^{abc}", 1, "m^{123}")

Display Result: min^abc= 1 m¹²³

Greek Letters and Symbols

Greek letters and symbols are added with standard LaTex notation and can be combined with any other notations (such as subscripts and superscripts). Many of the most common letters and symbols are listed at https://www.overleaf.com/learn/latex/List_of_Greek_letters_and_math_symbols.

For example,

Coded Definition: Input("\phi_m", 0.9)

Display Result: \(\phi\)_m= 0.9

Adding Spaces

LaTex mathematical formatting naturally squashes spaces in text elements. If spaces are needed in units or variable names, then an “escape sequence” can be used with a forward slash before the space ““. For example, the following Input object shows how a space is coded and displayed for variable names and units.

Coded Definition: Input("min\ abc", 1, "m\ 123")

Display Result: min abc = 1 m 123