Mathematica Tutorial: Notebooks And Documents - Wolfram Research

196 Notebooks and DocumentsHere is a computation entered using ordinary characters on a keyboard.In[1]:= N@Pi^2 ê 6DOut[1]= 1.64493Here is the same computation entered using a palette or special keys.NB p2In[2]:=6 FOut[2]= 1.64493Here is an actual sequence of keys that can be used to enter the input.In[3]:= N[ Esc p Esc Ctrl+^ 2 Ctrl+Space Ctrl+/ 6 Ctrl+Space ]Out[3]= 1.64493In a traditional computer language such as C, Fortran, Java or Perl, the input you give mustalways consist of a string of ordinary characters that can be typed directly on a keyboard. Butthe Mathematica language also allows you to give input that contains special characters, superscripts,built-up fractions, and so on.The language incorporates many features of traditional mathematical notation. But you shouldrealize that the goal of the language is to provide a precise and consistent way to specify compu -tations. And as a result, it does not follow all of the somewhat haphazard details of traditionalmathematical notation.Nevertheless, as discussed in "Forms of Input and Output", it is always possible to get Mathematicato produce output that imitates every aspect of traditional mathematical notation. And it isalso possible for Mathematica to import text that uses such notation, and to some extent totranslate it into its own more precise language.Mathematical Notation in NotebooksIf you use the notebook front end for Mathematica, then you can enter some of the operationsdiscussed here in special ways.