Using LaTeX (mathematical expressions) in H5P within QMplus
We're excited to announce that QMplus now supports LaTeX in H5P activities!
A recent update to our H5P plugin means that staff can now include properly formatted mathematical expressions in any text field within the H5P authoring environment. Whether you are building quizzes, interactive videos, or presentations, you can now enrich your content with high-quality, accessible maths notation using the LaTeX syntax.
What is LaTeX?
LaTeX is a typesetting system commonly used for writing complex mathematical formulas. With this feature enabled, you can embed expressions like:
\( \frac{a}{b} + \sqrt{x^2 + y^2} \)
to display equations such as: 
Why is this useful?
This enhancement is particularly beneficial for colleagues in STEM subjects, where precise mathematical notation is essential.
Using LaTeX in H5P
You can type LaTeX into any text area within a H5P activity in one of three ways:
- Wrap your LaTeX code in back slashes and parentheses for inline expressions
\( some LaTeX \)
- Use back slashes and square brackets for displayed (block-level) equations
\[ some LaTeX \]
- Use dollar signs, also for block equations
$$ some LaTeX $$
In the example below, I have used the third option, and the result is the equation you see following.
This was added to a slide in an H5P Course Presentation activity. For detailed examples and best practices, have a look at the official H5P documentation.
LaTeX in Action
QMUL's Dr Nicola McConkey, STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellow & Lecturer in Particle Physics, recently requested the LaTeX feature in H5P. Dr McConkey will be using it for her Modern Physics course next year, as part of a flipped learning exercise. Using LaTeX in H5P activities means she can present mathematical equations in a more accessible way, within an online activity interspersed with questions designed to test students' knowledge.
The LaTeX is used for formulae and is embedded in the H5P for the students to read. The idea for this exercise is for the students to read sections of a paper, but with questions interspersed to aid comprehension. Rather than copy images of the text from the paper, I wanted to input the text itself to enable accessibility for text-to-speech tools.
Already using TeX in QMplus?
You may already be familiar with using TeX notation in standard QMplus areas, such as labels, quiz questions, or activity descriptions. More information on this can be found on the Moodle.org webpages.
With LaTeX support now extended to H5P, you can maintain consistent formatting across all your content - whether you're building a QMplus quiz or designing an interactive H5P presentation.