MathML-Presentation questions

Hi,

The company I work for uses MathML (and XML) for encoding educational 
contents. We also have the goal of translating our XML contents in many 
differents cultural domains. We have encountered some problems that we 
don't know how to resolve in MathML.

1. How do you propose to markup the association of units to quantities?
  (Ex.: $5, 100 miles/h, 37.5 ºC)
	i. Which markup is appropriate?
	ii. How do you specify the spacing before or after the quantity?
	iii.How do you manage $5 which is translated 5$ in french-canadian, 
for example?

2. mn. How do you propose to markup periodic numbers?

3. mn. How do you propose to markup the ellipsis expressing the infinite 
non-repeating decimals of a number?
(Ex.: 3.14159...)
Is it a postfix operator? We are looking for a form that does not 
transgress the "number" meaning.

4. What is the best way to markup words in mathematical expressions that 
represent units, identifiers, operators,...?
With mi, mo or mtext? mtext is not rendered in a math font.
Ex.:
i. Area = 1/2 (base x height)
???
<math>
	<mi>Area</mi>
	<mo>=</mo>
	<mfrac>
		<mn>1</mn>
		<mn>2</mn>
	</mfrac>
	<mo>&it;</mo>
	<mfenced>
		<mrow>
			<mi>base</mi>
			<mo>&Cross;</mo>
			<mi>height</mi>
		</mrow>
	</mfenced>
</math>

ii. 150 m of fencing = 3 widths and 2 lenghts
      150 = 3w + 2L
...
???
<math>
	<mtable groupalign="right center left">
		<mtr><mtd>
			<maligngroup/><mn>150</mn>
			<m?>m of fencing</m?>
			<maligngroup/><mo>=</mo>
			<maligngroup/><mn>3</mn>
			<mo>&it;</mo>
			<mi>widths</mi>
			<mo>and</mo>
			<maligngroup/><mn>2</mn>
			<mo>&it;</mo>
			<mi>lenghts</mi>
		</mtd></mtr>
...
	</mtable>
</math>


5. mo: Invisible operators. Will you define an <mo>&InvisiblePlus;</mo> 
to markup a fraction like 1 1/2 (one and an half)?
If not, how do you propose to markup the implied plus in this fraction?

6. When explaining mathematics, it is often useful to present the 
different notations used around the world. Is there an attribute or a 
markup to specify the cultural domain notation we wish to render?

Ex.<p>The decimal system of numbers, based on 10, is used in most 
countries in the world. The notation for decimal points is not the same 
in all countries, however. In Canada and the USA, the point is placed on 
the line. In the United Kingdom, it is placed above the line. In France, 
a comma is used on the line instead of a point.</p>

<p>As a student in France, you would convert the decimal number
	7,12
  to a fraction.</p>

<p>In the UK, you would convert the decimal number
	7&middot;12
  to a fraction.</p>


7. math. In the MathML2.0, there is a section for all markups, but I 
didn't find the one which explains the root of mathematical expressions: 
the math markup. Is there a specific documentation that could tell me 
more about it (attributes, etc.)?


Your help will be greatly appreciated,

Thank you,

Genevieve Habel

Received on Thursday, 19 April 2001 03:40:15 UTC