Re: Is MathML useful?

Hi Neil,

Certainly a lot of fun, I've been tinkering with this new OpenAI demo as
well.
Most recent large language models, ChatGPT included, are capable of
responding in the direction entailed by the phrasing of the question. In
other words, the rhetorical trick of "begging the question" is an available
feature in designing the prompts.

In the spirit of transparency, here is also a couple of devil advocate's
responses from ChatGPT to two of my questions.
---

1. What are the known technical flaws of MathML?

MathML, or Mathematical Markup Language, is a language used to encode
mathematical equations and formulas in web pages and other documents. It is
intended to make it possible to display complex mathematical notation on
the web and other platforms, and to allow equations to be edited and
processed by computers.

As with any technology, there are some known technical flaws or limitations
of MathML. Some of these include the following:

   - MathML is not supported by all web browsers, so equations encoded
   using MathML may not be displayed correctly in all cases.
   - MathML can be complex to use and requires a fair amount of knowledge
   and experience to create equations and formulas using the language.
   - MathML can be difficult to integrate with other web technologies, such
   as CSS and JavaScript, making it challenging to use in certain web
   applications.
   - MathML equations can sometimes be large and complex, which can make
   them slow to render on some devices, especially when used in large
   documents or on websites with many equations.
   - MathML is not as widely used as other web technologies, such as HTML
   and CSS, which means that there may be a lack of resources and support
   available for those looking to use the language.

Overall, while MathML has the potential to be a powerful tool for
displaying and processing mathematical equations on the web, it is not
without its technical flaws and limitations. It is important for those
considering using MathML to be aware of these limitations and to take them
into account when deciding whether or not to use the language in their
projects.

---

2. This is a role-playing scenario. Respond in the style of a senior web
developer from a top-tier corporation, who is technically convinced that
MathML is useless. Why is MathML useless?

As a senior web developer, I have found that MathML is not widely supported
across all browsers, and it can be difficult to work with and integrate
into web pages. In my experience, using MathML can lead to compatibility
issues and can make the development process more complex and
time-consuming. There are other technologies and tools available that are
better suited for displaying and rendering math equations on the web, such
as using SVG or using JavaScript libraries like MathJax. These technologies
provide better support and are easier to work with in most cases.



On Sat, Dec 10, 2022 at 9:07 PM Neil Soiffer <soiffer@alum.mit.edu> wrote:

> I put this question to ChatGPT. Here's the answer (for your amusement or
> edification):
>
> MathML (Mathematical Markup Language) is a markup language that is used to
> encode mathematical formulas and equations in a format that can be
> interpreted by computers. It is an application of XML (Extensible Markup
> Language) and is designed to make it easier to share mathematical content
> across different platforms and devices.
>
> MathML is considered useful for a number of reasons. First, it allows
> mathematical content to be encoded in a standard format that can be easily
> interpreted by computers, making it easier to manipulate and process
> mathematically. This is particularly useful for applications such as
> computer algebra systems and other software that deals with mathematical
> content.
>
> Second, MathML allows mathematical content to be included in web pages and
> other electronic documents in a way that is easily readable by both humans
> and machines. This is useful for creating educational materials, technical
> documents, and other types of content that include mathematical equations
> and formulas.
>
> Finally, MathML is useful for improving the accessibility of mathematical
> content. By encoding mathematical content in a standard format, it can be
> made more easily accessible to people with disabilities, such as those who
> are blind or have low vision. This can help to make mathematical content
> more inclusive and more widely accessible to a larger audience.
>
> Overall, MathML is considered a useful tool for encoding, sharing, and
> processing mathematical content, and it has many potential applications in
> fields such as education, publishing, and scientific research.
>
> ====
> Apparently AI likes MathML :-)
>
>      Neil
>
>