Convert Handwriting to LaTeX on Your iPad
Writing math by hand is fast and natural. Retyping it in LaTeX is not. MathNotes bridges the gap: write with Apple Pencil, then convert to LaTeX in one step.
How it works
MathNotes has a feature called Math Snip. You draw a selection rectangle around any handwritten equation on your canvas, and the app runs OCR to extract the math and convert it to LaTeX.
On iOS, MathNotes uses Apple's native Vision framework for text detection. For complex equations, it can also use the Mathpix API, which specializes in mathematical OCR and handles things like matrices, summation notation, and multi-line expressions.
Not just extraction -- smart suggestions
After extracting an equation, MathNotes does not just hand you a LaTeX string and call it done. It analyzes what it detected and offers contextual suggestions:
- -Arithmetic expression? It offers to calculate the result.
- -Polynomial? It suggests simplify, factor, or expand.
- -Equation with a variable? It offers to solve for that variable.
- -Function of x? It suggests plotting a graph or computing a derivative.
- -Matrix? It auto-populates the matrix calculator with the values.
This means you can go from a handwritten equation to a solved result or a plotted graph without typing anything.
Export to PDF with your LaTeX
Once you have your notes written, you can export the entire notebook as a vector PDF. On iOS, this uses PencilKit's native vector export, so your handwriting stays crisp at any zoom level -- it is not a screenshot.
MathNotes also includes a LaTeX editor (premium) where you can refine and edit the extracted math before exporting. There is also an AI assistant that can help generate and clean up LaTeX from your notes.
Who this is for
If you take math notes by hand and later need them in LaTeX -- for homework submissions, papers, or study guides -- this saves a significant amount of retyping. It is especially useful for students who prefer handwriting during lectures but need to submit typed work.