Graphs and organizational charts aren't the only ornaments that you can add to your presentations. For the math nuts out there, PowerPoint 2000 comes with Equation Editor, which helps you create Einsteinian equations that make even the most resolute audience members hide under their chairs.
To add an equation to your PowerPoint presentation, follow these steps:
1. Choose Insert-->Object.
Alternatively, create a new slide by using one of the AutoLayouts that includes an Object placeholder and then double-click the Object placeholder. Either way, the Insert Object dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 1.
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Figure 1: The Insert Object dialog box. |
2. Choose Microsoft Equation 3.0 from the Object Type list box and then click OK.
You need to do this not only the first time you install Microsoft Equation, but every time you want to add an equation to a slide, too.
This step summons Equation Editor, which appears in its own window, as shown in Figure 2.
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Figure 2: Equation Editor in action. |
3. Start typing your equation.
The variables and basic operators, such as plus and minus signs, are easy enough. But how do you get those fancy symbols, such as square root and summation? The answer lies in the Equation toolbar, dangling up by the top of the Equation Editor window.
4. To add a symbol that's not on the keyboard, use one of the buttons in the top row of the Equation toolbar.
Each button yields a menu of symbols, most of which only Albert Einstein could understand. To insert a symbol, first place the insertion point where you want the symbol to be inserted. Then click the toolbar button to display a menu of symbols and then click the symbol you want to insert. You may have to hunt around a bit to find the symbol you're looking for, but most common math symbols are included somewhere in the top row of toolbar buttons.
The real magic of Equation Editor lies in the bottom row on the toolbar, which enables you to build the parts of the equation that have elements stacked on top of one another, such as fractions, superscripts, and roots.
5. To add a stacked symbol, use one of the buttons in the bottom row of the Equation toolbar.
Each button in the bottom row of the toolbar is attached to a menu of templates, which you use to create stacked symbols. Most templates include a symbol and one or more slots, in which you type text or insert other symbols. Back in Figure 2, for example, you see the template to create a fraction. You can see that the fraction template consists of a horizontal stroke with slots for the numerator above and the denominator below.
The beauty of templates is that as you continue to build the equation by adding additional elements, the template stretches as needed. For example, if you add additional elements to the numerator or the denominator slots in the fraction template, the length of the horizontal stroke between the slots is automatically adjusted.
To insert a template, first position the insertion point where you want the template to be inserted. Then click the button on the bottom row of the toolbar that contains the type of template you want and click the specific template you want to insert. The template is inserted into the equation.
To move from one template slot to the next, press the Tab key.
6. When you're done, choose File-->Exit and Return.
Equation Editor bows out, and the equation is added to the slide. You can now drag the equation object to change its size or location.
Confused? Don't feel bad. After you latch on to the idea behind templates and slots, you can slap together even the most complex equations in no time. But the learning curve here is steep. Stick with it.
 | Sometimes Equation Editor leaves behind droppings that obscure the clean appearance of the equation. When that happens, use View-->Redraw to clean up the equation. |
Spend some time exploring the symbols and templates available on the toolbar. You have enough stuff here to create a presentation on how to travel beyond the speed of light.
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