On Sat, Dec 12, 1998 at 06:05:25PM +0100, Chris Rowley wrote: There is a fundamental question about MathML/XML/OpenMath vs TeX/LaTeX which does not seem to me to have been answered here. As I understand it, *ML _parses_ (or tries to parse) maths, while Knuth in his wisdom decided this was impractical. For example, if I write $AB = CD$ this might refer to variables AB,CD (perhaps line segments) or it might refer to products of 4 variables A,B,C,D; I don't have to say in TeX/LaTeX. Would I have to say in *ML? Would I perhaps have to put in an \invisibletimes between A and B? The question is, then: is it possible to parse mathematics, and if so, is it wise to try? [It may be impossible, because it may be that mathematicians would refuse to be bound by any particular formal system put forward.] -- Timothy Murphy e-mail: [log in to unmask] tel: +353-1-2842366 s-mail: School of Mathematics, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland