Google Slides insert equation

When you want to display mathematical formulas and scientific equations in Google Slides, you might look for a built-in formula editor directly on the slide canvas. However, the Google Slides menu does not include a native equation editor; this tool is offered within Google Docs. For that reason, displaying equations in presentations relies on methods such as text box formatting, special characters, or copying formulas prepared via Google Docs.

When preparing slides, the priority is ensuring that formula steps and indices can be read without error by the audience. In this guide, we walk through choosing the right method for your needs, the technical steps, and key considerations when transferring formatting step by step.

Choosing a method and prerequisites

While Google Docs has a built-in equation toolbar, the Google Slides canvas does not directly include a similar equation engine. Depending on the mathematical complexity you need, you can choose one of three primary paths:

1. Simple superscript and subscript expressions: Applying superscript or subscript formatting directly using a text box on the slide.
2. Mathematical symbols and Greek letters: Navigating to Insert > Symbols > Special characters while inside a text box.
3. Complex fractions, radical expressions, and multi-parameter operations: Preparing the formula in the Google Docs equation editor and copying it over to the slide.

Before getting started, ensure that your desktop browser is open. The equation editor in Google Docs does not support equation editing on mobile devices; edits must be carried out in a desktop web browser.

Creating and transferring equations via Google Docs

For complex fractions, square roots, and matrix-like mathematical expressions, the equation engine provided by Google Docs is used. The Google Docs Editors Help Document notes that a new equation box can be added in Docs through Insert > Symbols > Equation.

1. Open Google Docs on your computer and create a blank document.
2. Click the area where you want to add the formula.
3. From the top menu, go to Insert > Symbols > Equation. This action brings up the equation toolbar on the screen. To pin or hide the toolbar, you can use the View > Show equation toolbar option.
4. Add your desired symbols from the Greek letters, miscellaneous operations, relations, math operators, and arrows categories available on the toolbar.
5. As explained in the Google Docs Screen Reader Help Center document, you can also enter symbols using keyboard shortcuts. While inside the formula box, type a backslash (\) followed by the symbol name and press the spacebar to insert the corresponding symbol (for example, typing \alpha and pressing space inserts the α character).
6. You can use Shift + 6 (the ^ symbol) after a backslash for superscripts, and Shift + - (the _ symbol) for subscripts. Press Enter to navigate between parameters or to complete a function.
7. Once you finish the equation, select it with your cursor and copy it (Ctrl + C or Cmd + C on Mac). Then switch to your Google Slides presentation and paste it onto the slide canvas (Ctrl + V or Cmd + V).

Using symbols and sub/superscript directly inside Slides

If you are only adding simple exponents, chemical formulas, or linear equations, you can stay directly within the Slides interface without switching to Google Docs.

1. Add a text box to the slide and type the variables.
2. Select the character you want to turn into an exponent; choose Format > Text > Superscript from the menu or use the Ctrl + . (Cmd + . on Mac) shortcut. For the steps to add subscript in Google Slides, you can use the Format > Text > Subscript menu or the Ctrl + , (Cmd + , on Mac) shortcut.
3. For mathematical operators and Greek letters, open the Insert > Symbols > Special characters window while the text box is selected. In the window that appears, you can select from categories, enter a Unicode value, or search by hand-drawing the symbol shape in the area on the right. For listing requirements within text boxes, you can refer to the guide on creating a hanging indent in Google Slides.

Voice typing and accessibility options

Google Docs and Google Slides both support voice-based text input. However, an important distinction exists, as noted in the Type and edit text with your voice resource:

In Google Docs, you can enter text directly into the document body using the Tools > Voice typing option, and you can issue voice commands like "Insert equation" when set to the English language setting. In Google Slides, on the other hand, voice dictation applies only to speaker notes and captions (Tools > Voice type speaker notes). Voice formatting commands are not supported in slide speaker notes.

If you use a screen reader, turning off braille mode in Google Docs while creating equations (unchecking Tools > Accessibility > Turn on braille support) is recommended. The screen reader confirms formula entry by voicing the start of an equation with "Equation start" and each parameter with "Parameter start".

Worked example: Fictional quadratic equation solution

In this hypothetical example, let us transfer the discriminant and root formula of a quadratic equation to the slide canvas for a physics presentation (the coefficients and formula represent a fictional educational scenario).

Slide Title: Fictional Motion Model: Root Calculation Steps

Step 1 (General Form): A text box is opened on the slide, and ax^2 + bx + c = 0 is typed. The '2' character is selected and converted into a superscript via Format > Text > Superscript.

Step 2 (Discriminant): While in the text box, Δ (Delta) is searched and inserted from the Insert > Symbols > Special characters window. Next to it, = b^2 - 4ac is typed, and the numeral 2 is formatted as a superscript.

Step 3 (Root Formula): Google Docs is opened for the fractional root formula. Insert > Symbols > Equation is selected. The fraction layout is chosen from the math operators on the toolbar. In the numerator, -b \pm \sqrt{} is typed, placing Delta inside the radical. Parameters are confirmed with the Enter key, and 2a is entered in the denominator. The resulting expression is copied and transferred to the slide canvas.

Troubleshooting and solutions

When fractional or radical equations copied from Docs are pasted directly into a Slides text box, the fraction bar may disappear or the expression may convert into plain text. This happens because Google Slides text boxes do not directly house the advanced math engine. In that case, you can use these reliable alternatives:

1. Image transfer: Take a high-resolution screenshot of the equation created in Docs and insert it into Slides via the Insert > Image menu.
2. Using the drawing tool: After copying the formula, navigate to Insert > Drawing > New from the Slides menu, paste it into the drawing canvas, and click Save and Close to place it on the slide as a drawing object.
3. Mobile limitations: Because equation editing support is unavailable on mobile devices, formula content must be prepared and added to the slide within a desktop web browser.

Verification and pre-presentation checklist

Run through these technical checks before sharing or presenting your deck:

• Verify that superscript and subscript characters are distinctly set off from the main text line.
• Check that the numerator and denominator alignment in fractional expressions remains intact.
• Inspect special characters and symbols to confirm they render properly in the chosen font.
• Confirm that font sizes are legible from the back row by opening the slide in full-screen presentation mode (for instance, 24-28 pt and above for titles and primary formulas).
• Check for character shifting on mobile screens or across different browser views.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a direct Insert > Equation menu in the Google Slides app?

No. Among Google Workspace tools, the direct built-in "Equation" menu is located in Google Docs (Insert > Symbols > Equation). In Google Slides, the Insert > Symbols > Special characters menu and superscript/subscript formatting options are available; complex equations are carried over by copying from Docs or inserting them as image objects.

How can symbols be typed quickly from the keyboard in the Docs equation editor?

While inside the equation box, you can add a symbol by typing a backslash (\) followed by the symbol name (such as \alpha, \times, \le) and pressing the spacebar. For operations requiring parameters like roots or fractions, pressing Enter after entering the parameters completes the operation.

Can equations be edited in the Google Slides mobile app?

Google Docs and its associated equation editor do not support editing equations on mobile devices. Equations can only be viewed on mobile devices; editing and creation tasks must be performed in a desktop web browser.