What is the Equation Editor?
Carolyn Allred-Winnett
The Equation Editor lets you embed and display complex equation objects in
an Excel
worksheet, simply by selecting symbols from a toolbar and typing variables
and numbers. Note that these equations are objects—similar to Drawing
objects. So, they cannot be used for calculations, only for display and
illustration. Like Microsoft Graph, Microsoft Equation is a
separate application that you operate within Excel. The Equation Editor
toolbar’s top row (see Figure B) has category buttons for inserting
mathematical symbols. When you click a button, a palette of related symbols
appears, and you click the symbol you need.
The categories start at the left with Relational symbols, then Spaces and
ellipses, and several others, ending on the right with Greek characters. The
symbols themselves range from common ones such as Not equal to ( ≠ ), all
the way to the Weierstrauss elliptic symbol
in the
Miscellaneous symbols palette.
The buttons on the Equation toolbar’s bottom row let you put templates or
frameworks into your equations. Many have slots into which you type numbers
or insert symbols or other templates as you build a complex equation.
Template categories include: superscript and subscript templates, vertical
and diagonal fractions, and union and intersection templates. Now that you
know the basics, try the Mini-Tutorial to create your very own equation
object!
Mini-Tutorial: Build your own equation object
To do this mini-tutorial, you need Microsoft Equation Editor 3.0
installed on your system.
We have looked at the basics of Microsoft Equation. Now let’s try it out. At
B1 of a blank worksheet, type: New Government Retirement Program! Press
Enter. Click again on B1, then click the Bold tool.
Click on B3. Choose Insert - Object - Create New tab. Click Microsoft
Equation 3.0 - OK. The Equation Editor opens in a new window with its own
menu bar and toolbar (Figure A). If you’re asked about upgrading MathType,
click Yes or No as desired.
[Note from Carolyn: You probably don’t need
MathType unless you are a “math type.”]
Figure A
We’ll create a whimsical equation, one without a real meaning. To see a
button’s name, point to it and read the name down on the left end of the
Status bar.
First, type a capital R. Then click on the
Relational symbols button (top row, first button). From the dropdown
palette, select Greater than or equal to
(first row, second button; see Figure B). Then
type 65d.
Let’s add a superscript number to the letter
d. Click on the Subscript and superscript templates button (second row,
third button). 
Then from the drop-down palette, click on Superscript (first button, first
row). The blinking cursor jumps up to a superscript position.
Figure B
Type the number 2. Close the Equation Editor by clicking on a blank cell.
Now, to edit the equation, either double-click it or click on it once and
choose
Edit - Equation Object - Edit. This opens the Microsoft Equation program for
editing. Use the mouse to select the superscript position containing the
number 2. Then press Delete.
Let’s add a more interesting symbol. Click the
Fraction and radical templates button (second
row, second button), 
and select
Nth root (fourth row, second button).
Now click the Greek characters (lowercase)
button (first row, second button from the right),
and select Pi (lower case)—fourth
row, last button. 
To fill the other slot in the upper left corner of the radical sign, press
your Tab key once, then type the number 3. Click on a blank cell to close
the Equation Editor.
Finally, click on the equation, and enlarge
the object by dragging the
bottom right corner handle to the lower right corner or middle of E6 or E7.
Again click on a blank cell (Figure C).
Figure C
This tech tip was taken from Working Smarter,
Excel 2002 & 2003, September 20, 2005. Other issues of
Working Smarter are available on the Professional Development page at
http://www.columbiastate.edu/pd/
Carolyn Allred-Winnett
931-540-2699
allred@columbiastate.edu