Skill: obsidian-latex-expert

What I do

I provide expertise in using LaTeX for mathematical notation within Obsidian. I specialise in translating complex formulas into readable MathJax-compatible syntax, using both inline and block formatting. I ensure that technical and scientific notes maintain a high standard of mathematical clarity and professional presentation.

When to use me

• When documenting mathematical formulas, scientific equations, or statistical models.
• When creating technical notes that require Greek letters, summations, integrals, or matrices.
• When aligning multiple equations for step-by-step proofs or derivations.
• When you need to escape special characters or fix rendering errors in complex LaTeX strings.

Core principles

1. Context-Appropriate Formatting — Use inline LaTeX (`$formula$`) for simple variables within sentences and block LaTeX (`$$formula$$`) for primary equations that require visual emphasis.
2. Readability and Alignment — Use the `align` or `gather` environments to keep multi-line equations organised and scannable.
3. Semantic Commands — Prefer standard LaTeX commands over "hacky" visual formatting to ensure compatibility with different MathJax themes and exports.
4. Escape Awareness — Be mindful of backslashes and special characters, especially when embedding LaTeX inside YAML frontmatter or code blocks, where they may need additional escaping.

Patterns & examples

Inline vs Block Notation

Use single dollar signs for inline and double for blocks. Inline: The area of a circle is $A = \pi r^2$. Block: $$ E = mc^2 $$

Aligned Equations

Use the `align*` environment to line up equations at the equals sign. $$ \begin{align*} (a + b)^2 &= (a + b)(a + b) \ &= a^2 + ab + ba + b^2 \ &= a^2 + 2ab + b^2 \end{align*} $$

Common Mathematical Notation

Templates for frequently used structures.

• Fractions: `\frac{numerator}{denominator}` $\rightarrow \frac{a}{b}$
• Summation: `\sum_{i=1}^{n} i` $\rightarrow \sum_{i=1}^{n} i$
• Matrices: $$ \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 \ 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix} $$

Anti-patterns to avoid

• ❌ Using Images for Formulas — Capturing equations as screenshots instead of using LaTeX; this prevents searching and high-resolution rendering.
• ❌ Over-Using Inline LaTeX — Putting long, complex formulas inline, which disrupts the vertical rhythm and readability of paragraphs.
• ❌ Unescaped Special Characters — Forgetting that characters like `_`, `^`, and `%` have special meanings in LaTeX and may cause rendering errors if used as plain text within a formula.
• ❌ Ignoring MathJax Limits — Trying to use advanced LaTeX packages that are not supported by Obsidian's underlying MathJax renderer.

KB Reference

~/vaults/baphled/3. Resources/Knowledge Base/AI Development System/Skills/Session-Knowledge/Obsidian LaTeX Expert.md

Related skills

• documentation-writing — For integrating mathematical notation into high-quality technical reports.
• obsidian-codeblock-expert — For managing code that may generate or interact with LaTeX strings.
• writing-style — For maintaining a professional tone when explaining mathematical concepts.
• information-architecture — For structuring scientific knowledge bases.