An equation pasted as a picture may look correct today but be awkward to revise when a variable or exponent changes. In a working report, decide whether the expression belongs inside a sentence or as a separate displayed item before choosing its placement.

Keep the intended expression in your working notes, including the meaning of each symbol. This makes it possible to distinguish a notation error from a placement problem. A well-positioned equation can still contain the wrong sign, grouping or exponent.

Pages on Mac accepts LaTeX commands or MathML in its equation dialog. For an inline equation, place the insertion point in the intended text and choose Insert, Equation. Enter the expression and click Insert. In word-processing text, an inline equation moves with the text and follows its size and colour.

With nothing selected on the page, a new equation is a floating object. Page-layout documents add new equations as floating objects, although equations can also sit inline inside their text boxes or shapes. Double-click an equation to edit its source, then click Update.

Test an expression that has a clear expected appearance

For a simple practice sentence, use an expression such as x^2+y^2 in the LaTeX field. Inspect that both 2s appear as exponents and that the plus sign remains between the terms. This is an illustrative check to perform, not evidence that your longer notation is automatically valid.

Add a temporary sentence before the expression in the working copy. The equation should remain with its explanation if inline placement is intended. Remove the temporary text and inspect the line again at the document’s normal reading size.

If the equation instead belongs in a diagram or a separate displayed area, judge its floating position against the surrounding content. Do not use a collection of spaces in a paragraph to imitate a page-positioned object.

Review meaning after the last edit

Reopen the equation source after changing a symbol and compare it with the intended expression. Check brackets, subscripts, fractions and any definition in the surrounding prose. Have a subject reviewer verify the mathematics when it is outside your expertise.

Finally, inspect the actual output that readers will receive. Confirm that the expression is legible and still sits beside the correct explanation after pagination changes. Retain the editable Pages source so the next revision can update the equation itself instead of replacing an untraceable image.

Reference: Apple: mathematical equations in Pages.