Hypertext Help with LaTeX

Superscripts

To get an expression, exp, to appear as a superscript, you just type ^{exp}.

Can be used only in math mode. Thus, for a simple expression that is part of the running text:

  
    x$^3$ is the third power of x

should display as "x3 is the third power of x". Note that the braces around the argument may be omitted if the superscript is a single character.

If a symbol has both subscripts and superscripts, the order doesn't matter. The following are equivalent:

    a_n^2

and

    a^2_n

Superscripts may have their own superscripts:

    $x^{y^{z}}$

should display something like

        z
       y
      x

See also: Math Formulas, Subscripts
Back to the Table of Contents


Revised 31 May 1995.