How maths and code work in Bloom

Bloom renders maths (or math, if you grew up calling it that) as typeset equations and code as syntax-highlighted blocks, in both your messages and the tutor’s replies. You can write LaTeX directly in chat using $...$ for inline equations and $$...$$ for centred block equations, or open canvas and use the visual equation editor. Code goes inside triple backtick fences with a language tag for proper highlighting.

This article covers what works, the exact UI to look for, and how to write questions that get useful STEM answers.

How Bloom renders maths

Anything you write between LaTeX delimiters is parsed and rendered as a typeset formula. The same renderer is used in chat, in canvas, in quiz questions, and in exported PDFs, so equations look identical wherever they appear.

Bloom recognises four LaTeX delimiters out of the box:

• $ ... $, inline equation (sits inside a sentence)
• $$ ... $$, block equation (centred on its own line)
• \( ... \), inline equation (alternative)
• \[ ... \], block equation (alternative)

Block delimiters work mid-sentence too, the equation breaks out into its own centred line and your surrounding text continues above and below.

Writing equations in chat

In the chat input, type LaTeX between dollar signs and Bloom will render it the moment you send. For example, this message:

Solve $\frac{dy}{dx} = 3x^2$ with $y(0) = 1$.

...renders the two fractions inline, exactly as if you had typed them in a textbook. For a centred, display-style equation, switch to double dollars:

I started with $$ \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^2} = \frac{\pi^2}{6} $$ but I’m stuck on the proof.

The block equation breaks out into its own centred line, then your sentence continues underneath. Type LaTeX exactly as you would in a .tex file. Greek letters (\alpha, \beta), operators (\cdot, \times), and structures like \sqrt{...}, \frac{...}{...}, and \begin{matrix}...\end{matrix} are all supported.

Using the equation editor in canvas

If you don’t want to write LaTeX by hand, open canvas and use the visual equation editor. In the canvas toolbar, two buttons sit next to each other:

• Insert Inline Equation: for an equation inside a sentence
• Insert Block Equation: for a centred, display-style equation

Click either one to open the Insert Equation dialog. You’ll see a visual editor on top where you can build the formula by typing (/ creates a fraction, ^ creates an exponent, and so on), plus a synced LaTeX text field underneath. Edits to either field update the other.

Press Confirm (or hit Enter in the text field) to drop the equation into your canvas document at the cursor position. Click any inserted equation later to edit it.

Writing and pasting code

Wrap code in triple backticks with a language tag. The language tag tells Bloom which syntax highlighter to use. For example:

```python
def factorial(n):
    if n <= 1:
        return 1
    return n * factorial(n - 1)
```

Bloom highlights all the major languages, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, C, C++, C#, Go, Rust, Ruby, PHP, SQL, HTML, CSS, Bash, JSON, YAML, and many more. If you leave the tag off, the code still appears in a monospaced block but without colours.

For a single token mid-sentence, use single backticks: `useState` renders as useState. The tutor will respond using the same conventions, so its examples paste back into your editor cleanly.

Getting good help on STEM problems

Bloom is a tutor, not an answer key. For maths and code, the difference between a useful response and a generic one is usually how much of your work you share.

• Show your steps. Pasting your full attempt, even the wrong parts, lets Bloom pinpoint the exact line where reasoning broke down. Just sending the question gets you a generic walkthrough.
• Use Deep Think for proofs and multi-step problems. Toggle the lightbulb in the chat input before sending a question that needs sustained reasoning, like a derivation or an algorithm trace. Standard mode is fine for definitions and quick checks.
• For code: paste the error message. Stack traces and compiler errors are gold: include them verbatim in a fenced block. Saying “it doesn’t work” gives Bloom nothing to work with.
• Ask for the next step, not the answer. “What should I try next?” or “Is my approach to part (b) sound?” gets you targeted guidance. “What’s the answer?” will usually be turned back into a question.

Common issues

My equation shows as raw $...$ text instead of rendering

This almost always means the LaTeX inside is invalid, the renderer falls back to plain text when it can’t parse a formula. Check for unmatched braces, a missing argument to \frac, or a typo in a command name (\fract instead of \frac). Open the equation editor in canvas and paste your LaTeX into the text field, invalid syntax shows up immediately there.

Bloom’s reply has a broken or wrong-looking equation

The tutor occasionally generates LaTeX that doesn’t parse, picks the wrong delimiter, or mangles a formula mid-stream. You’ll see a half-rendered equation, raw \fraccommands sitting in plain text, or symbols that don’t match what Bloom is describing. Try one of these:

• Reply with “please rewrite that equation in proper LaTeX” or “the formula didn’t render, can you show it again?”. Bloom will usually catch the slip on the second pass.
• Quote the specific line back to the tutor and ask “is this what you meant?”. Showing the broken output gives Bloom something concrete to correct.
• Toggle on Deep Think before re-asking. The reasoning model takes longer but produces cleaner notation on multi-step derivations.
• If the maths itself looks wrong (not just the rendering), say so directly, “step 3 looks wrong, can you double-check the sign?”. Tutors aren’t infallible, and pushing back is part of the Socratic loop.

Dollar signs in non-maths text get swallowed

If you’re writing about prices and type “$5 to $10”, Bloom may try to parse the bit between as an equation. Escape the dollar signs with a backslash: \$5 to \$10.

Code block has no colours

You either left the language tag off the opening fence, or used a tag the highlighter doesn’t recognise. Use the standard short name, py or python, js or javascript, ts or typescript, etc.

Handwritten maths photos aren’t getting recognised

Bloom can read images you upload, but messy handwriting, low-resolution photos, or angled shots make this unreliable. If a photo gets misread, type the equation out using LaTeX or use the equation editor in canvas, it’s faster than back-and-forth corrections.

What’s next

• Learn how Bloom guides you through problems → How Bloom’s Socratic approach works
• Use Deep Think for harder problems → How to use Deep Think mode
• Open Bloom and try an equation now → app.bloom.study