Equations: Can People Access the Notation?

Mathematical notation needs structure, not just a picture of the symbols. Accessible math lets readers enlarge it, navigate its parts, and hear or braille the relationships among numbers, operators, superscripts, fractions, and other notation.

A screenshot may look correct while reducing the entire expression to pixels. Short alt text rarely provides an equivalent way to study or work with a substantial equation.

The question that matters

Can a learner identify and work with the parts of the expression without depending on its visual appearance?

A Practical Workflow

Use ordinary text for ordinary text.
Write a simple expression such as 3 + 4 = 7 as text when no special notation is needed.
Use the built-in equation tool for mathematical notation.
In Canvas, Word, and other supported tools, the equation editor preserves relationships that a screenshot cannot.
Keep the expression as simple as the idea allows.
Break a long derivation into meaningful steps and explain what changes between them.
Add context in prose.
Introduce the equation, define unfamiliar variables, and state the conclusion. Do not make readers infer the teaching point from notation alone.
Check the published form.
Confirm that the notation rendered correctly, can be enlarged, and remains understandable with assistive technology.

Linear text can help

A nearby plain-language or linear-text version can support many readers, but it should supplement structured math rather than excuse an inaccessible image.

Compare the Approaches

Ways to present mathematical content
Approach	What readers receive	Best use
Screenshot of an equation	A fixed image; its mathematical structure is not inherently available	Avoid as the only version
Alt text containing raw LaTeX	A code-like string that may be difficult to interpret and navigate	Not a general substitute for structured math
Built-in equation editor or supported structured math	Mathematical relationships that compatible assistive technology can interpret	Preferred for notation
Prose explanation and defined variables	The equation’s purpose and meaning	Provide alongside the notation when instruction requires it

Example: Introduce the quadratic formula by naming what it does, present it with the equation tool, and then define a, b, and c. The symbols and the explanation do different jobs.

Quick Check

You need to add a multi-part formula to a Canvas page. Which approach is strongest?

Paste a screenshot and use “formula” as its alt text.: That does not provide the expression or its relationships.
Use Canvas’s Equation Editor, introduce the formula in text, and explain unfamiliar variables or steps.: Correct: Structured notation preserves the math while the surrounding explanation provides instructional context.
Type the entire formula with spaces and underscore characters until it looks right.: Spacing characters imitate appearance without reliably encoding the mathematical relationships.

Create Equations Where You Work

Canvas

Place the cursor where the equation belongs.
Choose the Equation command in the Rich Content Editor. It may appear under the additional-tools menu.
Build the expression with the basic or advanced editor rather than uploading a screenshot.
Add nearby text that introduces the equation and defines unfamiliar notation.
Save and review the rendered equation.

Canvas Equation Editor with groups of mathematical symbols and an editing area — The Canvas Equation Editor retains the expression’s equation source for rendering and later editing. Use it instead of inserting a screenshot.

Canvas guide to the Equation Editor (opens in a new tab)

Microsoft Word

Choose Insert > Equation or use Word’s equation shortcut.
Build the expression with Word’s equation tools or supported linear input.
Keep equations inline when they belong within a sentence and display them separately when the instructional structure calls for it.
Run the Accessibility Checker and verify any exported PDF.

Do not replace an editable Word equation with a screenshot merely to control its appearance.

Google Docs and Slides

Use Insert > Equation for notation the editor supports. Because accessibility can vary after download or conversion, provide clear surrounding text and test the exact format you will distribute. For complex or high-stakes math, consult your accessibility support team rather than assuming an exported file preserved the structure.

PDF

Make the math accessible in the source document first. Equation structure may not survive PDF conversion reliably, so inspect the exported PDF with appropriate assistive technology. When a dependable tagged result is not possible, provide an accessible HTML or source-document version alongside the PDF.

Before You Publish

Equations are created with an equation tool or supported structured markup, not only as images.
Simple expressions use readable text when special notation is unnecessary.
Variables and unfamiliar symbols are defined.
Multi-step work is divided into meaningful stages with explanatory text.
The rendered equation is checked at high zoom and with the assistive technology relevant to the audience.
Any exported PDF or downloaded file is checked separately.