Jetpack LaTex vs. Simple-Mathjax

I just recently discovered the Simple Mathjax plugin. I was suggesting to someone that they could use HTML code to embed math into their blogger blogs using the HTML editor and Peter Krautzberger (one of the developers of the Simple Mathjax plugin for WordPress) suggested this plugin for WordPress (Mathjax also has a plugin for Blogger and others). I figured I would give it a try and let those interested see the Jetpack and Mathjax presentation side-by-side.

This is the in-line math code for a basic multiple regression equation with JetPack: $\hat{Y} = \alpha + \hat{\beta}_{1} x_{1} + \hat{\beta}_{2} x_{2} + \hat{\beta}_{3} x_{3} … \hat{\beta}_{n} x_{n} + \epsilon $. The Jetpack font is darker and I think slightly larger than my blog’s default font.

This is the in-line math code for a basic multiple regression equation with MathJax: $\hat{Y} = \alpha + \hat{\beta}_{1} x_{1} + \hat{\beta}_{2} x_{2} + \hat{\beta}_{3} x_{3} … \hat{\beta}_{n} x_{n} + \epsilon$. It is clear that the MathJax presentation looks more like my blog’s default font – which is really nice. The Mathjax presentation does not increase the horizontal space between lines either.

Mathjax also has this nice equation feature which automatically centers the equation and places it on the next line: $$\hat{Y} = \alpha + \hat{\beta}_{1} x_{1} + \hat{\beta}_{2} x_{2} + \hat{\beta}_{3} x_{3} … \hat{\beta}_{n} x_{n} + \epsilon$$

However, from this test they look very similar. Let’s look at some other examples. How about, $\frac{1}{2}$ vs. $ \frac{1}{2} $. The first fraction is the MathJax presentation, while the second is the Jetpack presentation. It is clear, the MathJax is nicer and does not look out of place like the Jetpack presentation.

It seems like MathJax has a more fluid feel when using it in-line. For example, here is the The Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality (sample code I was able to pull right from the Mathjax website) written in-line with Jetpack: $ \left( \sum_{k=1}^n a_k b_k \right)^2 \leq \left( \sum_{k=1}^n a_k^2 \right) \left( \sum_{k=1}^n b_k^2 \right)$.

Here is the same inequality written in-line with MathJax: $\left( \sum_{k=1}^n a_k b_k \right)^2 \leq \left( \sum_{k=1}^n a_k^2 \right) \left( \sum_{k=1}^n b_k^2 \right)$. Again, I think that MathJax just looks nicer and fits better with my blog’s default .CSS.

This is true especially when I write an inequality within a paragraph. Here the Paradox of Voting inequality: $(p_{i})\beta_{i} \geq c_{i}$. Look how nicely the text and the math just flow together seamlessly. When I do the same thing with Jetpack $(p_{i})\beta_{i} \geq c_{i}$ the .PNG images look out of place and forced.

Here is a proposition from a pooling EQ from one of my recent posts: $\exists$ a pooling equilibrium where the true value of $latex \omega = \underline{\omega}$; $ \xi\leq 0$; O signals $\rho=c$ regardless of $\omega$; M mistakenly reports $latex s=h$; and E elects O with the belief $q_{h} \geq \hat{q}$, where $latex \frac{-(\underline{\omega} + \xi)}{\overline{\omega} – \underline{\omega}} \equiv \hat{q^{e}}$.

Here is that same proposition with Mathjax: $\exists$ a pooling equilibrium where the true value of $\omega = \underline{\omega}$; $\xi\leq 0$; O signals $\rho=c$ regardless of $\omega$; M mistakenly reports $s=h$; and E elects O with the belief $q_{h} \geq \hat{q}$, where $\frac{-(\underline{\omega} + \xi)}{\overline{\omega} – \underline{\omega}} \equiv \hat{q^{e}}$.

What a difference! The second proposition looks much nicer and flows with the text, rather than standing out. I am really impressed with this plugin, which works not only with WordPress but Blogger as well. Thanks to Peter Krautzberger for telling me about it. It is definitely superior to the Jetpack $\LaTeX$ plugin.

The only thing I have noticed is that the page takes a little longer to load – but not too much longer. In the end, I think I am sold on the Simple Mathjax plugin.