Hints

Hints provide suggested results for mathematical expressions while you work. They can compute values, simplify expressions, solve equations, evaluate functions, work with units, and perform symbolic operations directly inside the document. Hints appear automatically as you type and never modify the document unless you explicitly accept them.

The goal is to keep calculations fast and interactive without breaking the writing flow. Hints are optional and non-destructive. You can ignore them completely and continue writing normally, or use them as lightweight computational assistance while keeping the document fully editable and readable.

Generating a hint

To generate a hint:

1. Type a mathematical expression

2. End the line with =

3. Wait for the preview to appear

4. Press Tab to insert the result

If you continue typing instead of pressing Tab, the hint disappears automatically.

How hints behave

Hints are suggestions

Hints never modify the document automatically.

Hints use previous lines

Hints can reference values, functions, and equations defined earlier in the document.

Example:

a=5

a+2=

Preview:

If a definition changes later, dependent results update automatically when recomputed.

Hints resolve chains of definitions

Definitions can depend on earlier definitions.

Example:

a=5

b=a+10

2*b=

Preview:

Horizontal rules separate contexts

A horizontal rule creates a new calculation scope. Variables and definitions above the rule are ignored below it. Just type three dashes, like this

Example:

---

This is useful for separating unrelated problems inside the same document.

Hints inside tables

Tables with a header column get their own hint behavior. Each row is treated as an equation: the header cell defines the formula, and the remaining cells in that row are its variables or results.

Click an empty data cell to see the hint for just that cell. Click the header cell while the data cells in that row are empty to see hints for all of them at once.

Table hints only use equations and definitions from inside the same table — they skip over other tables and stop at a horizontal rule, the same as everywhere else in the document.

If you remove a row's header formula, its filled cells turn invalid and show a "Missing row formula" tooltip until you retype it.

Units propagate automatically

Hints preserve and simplify compatible units.

Example:

m=10

a=9.8

F=m*a=

Preview:

Derived SI units such as N, J, and Pa are produced automatically when dimensions match.

Common operations

Computing values

Simplifying, expanding, and factoring

Hints can simplify algebraic expressions automatically.

Partial fraction decomposition

Solving equations

Write an equation first, then request the solution on the next line.

Example:

x^2-4=0

x=

Preview:

Derivatives

Hints support standard derivative notation.

Partial derivatives work as well.

Integrals

Hints support indefinite and definite integrals.

Hints can also preserve units during integration.

Limits

Summations and products

Matrices

Hints can evaluate common matrix operations.

Statistics

Hints support common statistical operations.

Supported operations include arithmetic mean, geometric mean, harmonic mean, median, mode, variance, and standard deviation.

Special functions

Number theory operations

Recognized notation

The following patterns trigger specific hint behavior.

Why a hint might not appear

A hint may not appear if:

• the expression is incomplete

• the line does not end with =

• required definitions are missing

• units are incompatible

• the math backend is still loading

In most cases, continuing to edit the expression resolves the issue.

Rewriting an expression instead

A hint suggests a result for a line. To rewrite an expression in place — simplify, expand, factor, or change its notation — select it, right-click, and use the Simplify or Change Notation submenus in the right-click menu.