Clearing the Trail: Accessibility
Accessible Formulas in Pressbooks
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to
- Identify ways to make accessible formulas
Accessibility Standard - Formulas
Plain text equations use proper symbols and interpretation, and complex equations either use MathJax for stand-alone equations or LaTeX rendered in MathJax if used within paragraphs or sentences.
What Are Formulas?
Formulas refer to math equations and science formulas.
File types used: MathML, LaTeX
For Whom Are You Doing This?
This work supports students who:
- Are blind or have low vision
- Have a form of cognitive disability
- Have a physical disability
How Does That Work? - MathJax and Formulas
MathJax is an open-source, JavaScript display engine that translates mathematical markup into accessible, high-resolution equations that can be rendered in any supported book format on Pressbooks. In other words, if you use math languages like LaTeX, AsciiMath, or MathML, MathJax will render them beautifully and accessibly in your Pressbook.
Within Pressbooks, readers can right-click an equation rendered in MathJax to access additional display options and accessibility features. Options include the ability to magnify any equation on click or hover, the ability to display the math in HTML, SVG, and other formats, and more. For more information on the accessibility features and other settings available from MathJax, check out MathJax’s documentation.
Pressbooks has MathJax already integrated in all Pressbooks, so you do not need to activate it. It is ready to go. While this is great news, MathJax will only interpret the equations that are in a math language, such as MathML, AsciiMath, or LaTeX. So, it is up to the author of the OER to use a math language to input their equations in their Pressbook.
Why Is This Important?
For learners who are using screen readers or are blind or low vision, math and chemical equations can be very difficult to understand or visualize. Additionally, when using LaTeX or other equation formatting tools, some screen readers cannot read the equations at all. By taking a few extra steps, OER authors and editors can ensure all users have access and understanding of the content.
What Do You Need To Do?
Accessibility Checklist - Formulas
- Equations written in plain text use proper symbols (i.e., −, ×, ÷).[1]
- For complex equations, one of the following is true:
- They were written using MathML and are rendered with MathJax (Pressbooks).
- If placed within paragraphs or sentences, they were written using LaTeX and are rendered with MathJax (Pressbooks).
- Written equations are properly interpreted by text-to-speech tools.[2]
How to Make Formulas and Equations Accessible
If you are new to using math languages, or unsure which to use and how to input the equations to ensure they are accessible in your OER Pressbook, have no fear. The options below provide scenarios, step-by-step guidance, and walkthrough videos to support your work.
View the video or read the text below the video for the steps in making formulas accessible in your OER Pressbook.
How to Make Formulas Accessible in Pressbooks by Theresa Huff (OER for Social Justice)
Trail Wisdom: Though theoretically using a screenshot of an equation with an alt tag that explains its purpose to the user sounds like a viable option, we do not recommend using images and alt tags for equations in your OER Pressbook for several reasons
- When users enlarge the image, it can be blurry. Using MathJax allows users to enlarge and clearly inspect the equation. Therefore, using an image instead of MathJax may create a barrier for accessibility.
- The alt text should be only about 1-2 sentences long. This is not usually long enough to explain a complex equation. Since a screen reader can read MathJax equations, it is a better alternative than using alt text.
More Guidance on Formulas in Pressbooks
Select the arrow to read the guidance.
Using an AI Tool To Create Formulas
You do not need to know HTML, LaTeX, or MathML languages to create a formula or equation. You can use your favorite AI tool to easily create your math or chemical formulas. Simply give the AI tool a prompt such as:
You are a math language and coding expert. Translate this formula into MathML language:
or
You are a math language and coding expert. Translate this formula into LaTeX language:
and select the return or enter arrow.
The AI tool will translate your formula into the requested language [1]. Then, you can copy the code [2] to be used where you like.
Customizing the Equation Color
You can customize the visual presentation of MathJax-rendered equations by adjusting the MathJax settings in your Pressbooks dashboard. Options include changing equation text color and font, which can improve readability for some learners.
To change the color of your equations, in your Dashboard, select Settings [1], then MathJax [2]. Type in the hex color you wish all equations in your Pressbook to be.
Pressbooks MathJax also supports other alterations in equations, such as adding highlighting, bolding, or coloring particular elements of the equation. See Pressbooks User Guide for the supported functions and their code.
Note: As with using text on images, you will need to ensure that there is adequate contrast between the text color and the background color of the page. You can choose your hex color and ensure it has an acceptable contrast by using the free Coolers tool.
Using LaTeX in H5P Activities
If you are using H5P activities within Pressbooks, it’s possible to include LaTeX-based equations. To enable this, you’ll need to add the H5P mathematics library through the book’s H5P libraries dashboard. Once added, LaTeX expressions will render accessibly inside H5P content.
Step 1: Download H5P’s mathematics library to your computer. (Selecting the hyperlink will automatically download the .h5p math library to your computer.)
Step 2: In your Dashboard, select H5P Content [1] and then Libraries [2].
Step 3: Select Choose File [3] and select the H5P math library file you downloaded to your computer.
Step 4: Select Upload [4].
Inspect for Accessibility
A few accessibility checks must be done manually, including checking for accessible formulas.
Select the arrow to view the guidance.
Guidance for Inspecting Formulas
Formulas
Formulas should be written in MathML math language (if standalone and complex) or in LaTeX math language (if found in the middle of a paragraph or sentence). It is not recommended that formulas be in another math language or be captured in an image.
To check formulas to ensure they are accessible, right-click on the equation or formula.
If the formula is in an accessible format, the MathJax accessibility support will appear.
If the formula is an image or another inaccessible format, the web support window will appear.
Find Your Fooding
After reviewing this page, test your knowledge with the questions below.
Licenses and Attributions
“Accessible Formulas in Pressbooks” by Theresa Huff is adapted from “Formulas- Accessibility Toolkit – 2nd Edition” by Amanda Coolidge, Sue Doner, Tara Robertson, and Josie Gray for BCcampus, used under a CC BY 4.0 license, "MathJax - LaTeX in Pressbooks: An Introduction and Workflow" by Caroline Daniels and Arianna under a CC BY 4.0 license, and "Add Mathematical Notation" from Pressbooks User Guide under a CC BY 4.0 license. “Accessible Formulas in Pressbooks” is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
