Pages do not typeset math. LaTeX written between math delimiters, such as $x^2$ or $$E = mc^2$$, is shown as ordinary text, not as a formatted formula. This page shows what happens to each kind of math you might type, and how to write a formula that reads well today.
$x^2 + y^2 = z^2$ is shown exactly as typed.$$E = mc^2$$ is shown exactly as typed. Over several lines, each line stays a separate line of text.\(x^2\) shows as (x^2); the backslashes disappear.\[x^2\] shows as [x^2]; the backslashes disappear.Other things to know:
$a*b*c$ shows the b in italics, $[a,b]$ turns a,b into a link to a page of that name, and \\ starts a new line.\{, \, and \$ show as {, , and $. Backslashes before letters, such as \frac or \int, are kept.\begin{align}, matrices and chemistry notation such as \ce{H2O} are shown as text.Dollar signs in ordinary text are always shown as typed. It cost $5 and $10. shows exactly that. You don't need to escape them, though \$5 also shows $5.
E = mc^2^ shows E = mc2, and H~2~O shows H2O. Write no spaces between the marks.`\frac{a}{b}`, or in a code block. Inside code, everything is shown exactly as typed, so nothing disappears and nothing turns into a link or italics:```latex
\int_0^1 x^2 \, dx = \frac{1}{3}
```