I assume everyone knows how to write equation in Microsoft Word 2007, right? Aside of Microsoft Equation Editor, we can type the equation with the following procedure[1]

1. On the Insert tab, in the Symbols group, click the arrow under Equation, and then click Insert New Equation.

1. Type an equation, and you’ll see the window turns like this:

I found that it’s difficult to search on (for me) Greek Letters and multiple fractions, or function in the function (functiception?) so I prefer using LaTeX to create beautiful paper with equations. But note that, this Microsoft Equation can respond LaTeX’s commands (few of them) too! May be some of you guys have known it, but it’s not a problem if I share this trick to anyone who haven’t known, right? I found it quite useful because I’ve used LaTeX since (recently) but some of my friends who always edit my papers don’t have any LaTeX editor and prefer using MS.

The procedure is the same. Open EQUATION menu and type your equations like usual. You perhaps meet common equations like fractions involving Greek Letters in physics, or derivative equations. Because I’m lazy:

1. type 1/2 if you want to create a fraction. The Microsoft Equation editor will turn it automatically into $\frac{1}{2}$. You’ll just have to change the numbers :p (a trick I always use for writing transfer functions)
2. type \GreekLetter for capital greek letters, or \greekletter for non capital ones. For example, type \psi creates $\psi$, \Psi creates $\Psi$, and so on. Now you don’t need to search for the greek letters from drop down menu anymore.
3. say you have a beautiful equation like this:
$\frac{\delta^2 \Psi}{\delta x^2} + \frac{8\pi^2 m}{h^2}(E-V) \Psi = 0$
you can do the tricks too. First, type 1/2 + 1/2(E-V) \Psi = 0 and you’ll get something like $\frac{1}{2}+ \frac{1}{2}(E-V)\Psi = 0$. Second, change the first fraction to derivative, by moving your cursor and type \delta ^2 \Psi in the numerator and \delta x^2 in the denumerator. Third, change the second fraction, type 8 \pi ^2 m for numerator and h^2 for denumerator. Tadaa. Finished, short and clean.

It’s good to know that MS Word can do something like that, but unfortunately, for LaTeX user like me, it’s a bit disappointing since it won’t recognize command \frac{num}{denum} or integrals. You need MS Equation Editor to do neat work for crappy equations and matrices. So if your work involves many written equations, try LaTeX editor. It will make your pages beautiful… except you need to do more works to master the commands first hehe =^_^=.