Math in reStructuredText

reStructuredText has complete support to write math expressions using the inline :math: role, and the math directive. Check out the docutils documentation about LaTeX syntax for Mathematics.

Math role

Use the :math: role to insert inline mathematical expressions in a paragraph.

An inline mathematical expression: :math:`\psi(r) = \exp(-2r)`

An inline mathematical expression: \(\psi(r) = \exp(-2r)\)

Math directive

The math directive allows you to display the mathematical expression as a block, and to refer to it from other places of your documentation.

.. math::
   :name: Fourier transform

   (\mathcal{F}f)(y)
    = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}^{\ n}}
      \int_{\mathbb{R}^n} f(x)\,
      e^{-\mathrm{i} y \cdot x} \,\mathrm{d} x.

The ``:name:`` option puts a label on the equation that can be linked to
by hyperlink references. In this case, you could link back to the previous
math equation using the `Fourier transform`_ hyperlink reference.

(1)\[(\mathcal{F}f)(y) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}^{\ n}} \int_{\mathbb{R}^n} f(x)\, e^{-\mathrm{i} y \cdot x} \,\mathrm{d} x.\]

The :name: option puts a label on the equation that can be linked to by hyperlink references. In this case, you could link back to the previous math equation using the Fourier transform hyperlink reference.