Browser Requirements and Display Troubleshooting

I. Browser Requirements

This website is optimized for use with Mozilla-type browsers, and a current version of your favorite Mozilla browser is highly recommended over Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Minimum version requirements are as follows:

• Mozilla/Firefox: version 1.5 or later (note: Firefox 3 has a few issues that we are still trying to correct. We recommend using Firefox 2 for now.)
• Netscape: version 7 or later
• Internet Explorer: version 6 or later, with the MathPlayer Plugin (for MathML display)
• Unfortunately, Opera and Safari do not support MathML display at this time.
• We have not checked all versions of all browsers. See below for more information about whether your browser will display this website correctly.

II. XHTML Display

Some browsers (notably including Internet Explorer) do not handle the XHTML mime type properly. Internet Explorer version 6 or later may give a passable display of this site, but for proper XHTML formatting another browser is highly recommended.

XHTML test: The browser you are using now does support the XHTML mime type.

III. Math Equation (LatexMathML) Display

Some of the courses on this website use LatexMathML to display math equations. This should work with most modern browsers and operating systems.

Netscape 7+, Mozilla and Firefox should automatically be able to display math, but you should install the MathML Fonts (STIX, Computer Modern and Mathematica), for the best quality display.

Internet Explorer 6+ requires the free MathPlayer Plugin (which will install its own fonts).

Review the tests below to see if this display is working properly, and if there are any problems see below for how to handle them.

Display Tests Graphic representation
(roughly how it should look)
LatexMathML code: $\displaystyle{\sum_{n=1}^{+\infty} \frac{1}{n^2}=\frac{\pi^2}{6}}$
Font Test 1: $\biguplus \quad \bigsqcup \quad \bigsqcap$
Font Test 2:
 $\sqrt4 \quad \root32$ $\bigoplus \quad \bigotimes \quad d''''$
Font Test 3: $\overbracket{a+b+\cdots+z}^{26}$
$\underbracket{a+b+\cdots+z}_{26}$
Font Test 4: $\quad \mathbb{A} \quad \mathfrak{B} \quad \mathcal{C}$

If the LatexMathML code does not display, check the following:

• Make sure you are using one of the browsers listed above.
• If you are using Internet Explorer, you should have the MathPlayer Plugin installed. Alternatively, switch to a different browser (see above).
• LatexMathML needs to have Javascript running in your browser. This is usually turned on by default. If it is not, check your browser's Setup or Options, or look in the browser Help files for instructions on how to activate it.

Font Tests:

• First, ensure that LatexMathML is running and math equations are displaying at least somewhat, using the steps described above. If the problem is only with certain font characters, continue...
• If some of the font characters are not showing up, you generally need to install the STIX fonts and/or the Computer Modern and Mathematica fonts. These are all available on the MathML Fonts Page.
• After installing any new font, restart your browser to make sure it is finding all of the correct font files.
• If font characters, especially those in Font Test 1, do not appear... you should install the STIX fonts.
• If font characters, especially those in Font Test 2, do not appear, and you have installed the STIX fonts... you should install the Computer Modern and Mathematica fonts.
• If the brackets in Font Test 3 do not stretch as wide as the equation, and you are using Firefox 2 or another browser based on Mozilla 1.8, you need to install the Mathematica fonts.
• Known bugs: the brackets in Font Test 3 do not currently work well in MSIE or Firefox 3. The characters in Font Test 4 also do not work correctly in Firefox 3. We are working on correcting these issues, but the best recommendation at this point is to use Firefox 2 for the best display of all math characters.

For a more thorough check, compare the LaTeXMathML Guide Page to the PDF version of the same.