majiayu000 Skill: obsidian-latex-expert
What I do
I provide expertise in using LaTeX for mathematical notation within Obsidian. I specialise in translating complex formulas into readable MathJax-compatible syntax, using both inline and block formatting. I ensure that technical and scientific notes maintain a high standard of mathematical clarity and professional presentation.
When to use me
- When documenting mathematical formulas, scientific equations, or statistical models.
- When creating technical notes that require Greek letters, summations, integrals, or matrices.
- When aligning multiple equations for step-by-step proofs or derivations.
- When you need to escape special characters or fix rendering errors in complex LaTeX strings.
Core principles
- Context-Appropriate Formatting — Use inline LaTeX (`$formula$`) for simple variables within sentences and block LaTeX (`$$formula$$`) for primary equations that require visual emphasis.
- Readability and Alignment — Use the `align` or `gather` environments to keep multi-line equations organised and scannable.
- Semantic Commands — Prefer standard LaTeX commands over "hacky" visual formatting to ensure compatibility with different MathJax themes and exports.
- Escape Awareness — Be mindful of backslashes and special characters, especially when embedding LaTeX inside YAML frontmatter or code blocks, where they may need additional escaping.
Patterns & examples
Inline vs Block Notation
Use single dollar signs for inline and double for blocks. Inline: The area of a circle is $A = \pi r^2$. Block: $$ E = mc^2 $$
Aligned Equations
Use the `align*` environment to line up equations at the equals sign. $$ \begin{align*} (a + b)^2 &= (a + b)(a + b) \ &= a^2 + ab + ba + b^2 \ &= a^2 + 2ab + b^2 \end{align*} $$
Common Mathematical Notation
Templates for frequently used structures.
- Fractions: `\frac{numerator}{denominator}` $\rightarrow \frac{a}{b}$
- Summation: `\sum_{i=1}^{n} i` $\rightarrow \sum_{i=1}^{n} i$
- Matrices: $$ \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 \ 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix} $$
Anti-patterns to avoid
- ❌ Using Images for Formulas — Capturing equations as screenshots instead of using LaTeX; this prevents searching and high-resolution rendering.
- ❌ Over-Using Inline LaTeX — Putting long, complex formulas inline, which disrupts the vertical rhythm and readability of paragraphs.
- ❌ Unescaped Special Characters — Forgetting that characters like `_`, `^`, and `%` have special meanings in LaTeX and may cause rendering errors if used as plain text within a formula.
- ❌ Ignoring MathJax Limits — Trying to use advanced LaTeX packages that are not supported by Obsidian's underlying MathJax renderer.
KB Reference
~/vaults/baphled/3. Resources/Knowledge Base/AI Development System/Skills/Session-Knowledge/Obsidian LaTeX Expert.md
Related skills
documentation-writing— For integrating mathematical notation into high-quality technical reports.obsidian-codeblock-expert— For managing code that may generate or interact with LaTeX strings.writing-style— For maintaining a professional tone when explaining mathematical concepts.information-architecture— For structuring scientific knowledge bases.