Guide · Open source
How to use math-as-code: read math notation next to JavaScript
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
math-as-code is a reference that translates mathematical notation into JavaScript code. It is aimed at self-taught game and graphics programmers who find academic papers hard to read. This guide shows you how to clone the repository, how to read its sections, and how to use its code comparisons when a symbol in a paper is unfamiliar.
math-as-codeExperience-Monks/math-as-code · ★ 15.5k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Clone the repository. Run the git clone command from the README to get the markdown files on your machine.
- 2Open the contents. Scan the contents list to find the symbol family you are looking at.
- 3Read the notation. Read the math symbol first and work out what the author is asking for.
- 4Compare with the code. Read the JavaScript version beside it to see the same idea as code.
- 5Check the caveats. Confirm whether the example relies on floating point values before using it in production.
What math-as-code is and who it is for
The project is a reference that eases developers into mathematical notation by showing comparisons with JavaScript code. Its stated motivation is that academic papers can be intimidating for self-taught game and graphics programmers.
It works best for developers who already know JavaScript but not common math notation, and for students learning linear algebra alongside code.
- Good fit: self-taught game programmers reading graphics papers
- Good fit: quick symbol lookup with code comparisons
- Not a fit: rigorous, numerically robust implementations
Get a local copy of the repository
The guide is read online, and the README lists one install command: cloning the repository. Cloning gives you the markdown files locally so you can open them in your editor.
The README also links a Chinese translation (README-zh.md) and a Python version (PYTHON-README.md).
git clone https://github.com/Experience-Monks/math-as-codeFind the symbol you need in the contents
The guide is organised by symbol family. The contents list covers equals signs, square roots and complex numbers, dot and cross, sigma, capital Pi, pipes for absolute value and norms, hats for unit vectors, set membership, number sets, functions, primes, floors and ceilings, arrows, logical operators, intervals and a more section.
Each section shows the notation first, then a JavaScript version. Read the notation, then check the code to see what it does.
- Equals symbols: =, ≠, ≈ and := are covered with JavaScript equivalents
- Dot and cross: scalar multiplication, dot product and cross product
- Sigma (Σ) for summation and capital Pi (Π) for products of sequences
- Pipes for absolute value, Euclidean norm and determinant
Translate a common symbol into code
Take the approximately equal sign as an example. The guide says ≈ means approximately equal to, with π ≈ 3.14159 as its example. In JavaScript, the guide compares values with a helper that checks whether the difference is within a small epsilon.
For square roots, the guide shows that Math.sqrt computes the square root of a number, with Math.sqrt(9) returning 3.
function almostEqual(a, b, epsilon) {
return Math.abs(a - b) <= epsilon
}
console.log(Math.sqrt(9))
//=> 3Use the vector and dot product examples
For element-wise vector multiplication, the guide mentions an open dot ∘ for the Hadamard product. Its code example uses arrays [x, y] for 2D vectors and two helper functions, multiply and multiplyScalar.
The dot product uses a dot symbol · between two vectors and evaluates to a scalar, which is why it is sometimes called the scalar product.
- Check the notation against the code comparison, not against a memory of the symbol
- Remember that symbols can mean different things depending on the field
function multiply(a, b) {
return [ a[0] * b[0], a[1] * b[1] ]
}
function multiplyScalar(a, scalar) {
return [ a[0] * scalar, a[1] * scalar ]
}Know the limits before you rely on it
The guide is marked as not yet finished, and the README asks readers to open a ticket or send a PR if they find errors. It may not cover all uses of a symbol, so check the Wikipedia list of mathematical symbols when you need a fuller list.
Many examples operate on floating point values and are not numerically robust. For the reasons, the README points to Robust Arithmetic Notes by Mikola Lysenko.
- Unfinished: some sections are incomplete
- Not every use of a symbol is covered
- Floating point examples are not numerically robust
What people use it for
- Reading a graphics paper that uses the dot or cross product and matching it to JavaScript arrays
- Checking what sigma or capital Pi means before writing a loop
- Learning the difference between := definition and = equality in code
- Looking up how a square root or absolute value is written in notation and in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
How do I install math-as-code?
There is no installer. The README lists one command, git clone https://github.com/Experience-Monks/math-as-code, which downloads the repository so you can read the markdown files locally. The guide is also read online.
What do I need to use math-as-code?
The README lists no prerequisites. Basic familiarity with JavaScript helps, because the main examples are written in JavaScript. A Python version is linked from the README for readers who prefer it.
Is math-as-code free to use?
The project is licensed under the MIT licence, as stated in the project information for this item. Check the repository's licence file for the full terms.
Is math-as-code complete?
No. The README says the guide is not yet finished and may not cover all uses of a symbol. For a more complete list of symbols, the README points to the Wikipedia List of Mathematical Symbols.
Can I use the code examples in production?
Not without checking first. The README says many examples operate on floating point values and are not numerically robust, so they may need more careful handling for critical calculations.
How does math-as-code compare with mathjs?
math-as-code is a notation reference that shows JavaScript comparisons, while mathjs is a library for evaluating math in code. The README itself uses mathjs for complex number examples, such as math.complex and math.eval.
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Our verdict
Use math-as-code if you know JavaScript, find academic papers hard to read, and want quick comparisons between notation and code. Pick something else, such as the Wikipedia symbol list or a robust math library like mathjs, if you need full symbol coverage or numerically robust results.
Install options & downloads