Why math belongs in Markdown notes
Equations, symbols, and short derivations show up often in STEM notes, economics, and anywhere you need precise notation. If those ideas live in Markdown, you want three things at once:
- the file stays readable and portable
- the editor shows something legible while you write
- preview and export match what readers expect
LaTeX-style syntax inside Markdown is a common answer. The hard part is agreeing on delimiters (so math does not fight with currency or other uses of $) and picking a renderer that is fast and safe for local apps.
How Noute handles math
Noute uses KaTeX to turn LaTeX in your note into typeset math in preview. Your notes are still .md files on disk.
Inline math uses a single dollar on each side, with the expression in between:
Euler: $e^{i\pi} + 1 = 0$.
Display math uses doubled dollars on their own lines, with the expression between them:
$$
\int_0^1 x^2\,dx = \frac{1}{3}
$$
Explicit fenced blocks use a normal fenced code fence with an info string of math, latex, or tex. That keeps long or fragile expressions easy to edit without mixing them with prose delimiters:
```math
\nabla \cdot \mathbf{E} = \frac{\rho}{\varepsilon_0}
```
In live preview, those regions render as math widgets so you can scan the note without raw delimiter noise, while the underlying text stays standard Markdown.
Dollars that are not math
A lone $ or an odd number of dollars is left as plain text. Escaped dollars stay literal. That reduces surprises when you write about prices or other non-math uses of the character.
Where to go next
If you are new to the format itself, read What Is Markdown?. For a broader macOS setup lens, see Markdown Notes On Mac. If you are weighing tools that both use folders and plugins, Noute vs Obsidian puts Noute’s smaller, macOS-first surface next to Obsidian’s extensibility.