In this article we cover:
- What is LaTeX?
- How to set up a LaTeX poll
- Step by step example of a LaTeX poll
- Test your LaTeX poll
- Technical information & limitations
LaTeX polls are available to all Vevox plans, including Free accounts.
1. What is LaTeX?
LaTeX is a typesetting system widely used in technical and scientific documentation. In Vevox, it lets you include mathematical and scientific expressions directly in your poll questions — so whether you're teaching calculus, running a chemistry quiz, or presenting data to a technical audience, your formulas display exactly as intended.
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For example:
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Setting up a LaTeX poll works just like creating any other poll in Vevox. There's no special mode to switch on — Vevox automatically recognises LaTeX notation. In the rich text editor, look out for the sigma (Σ) icon, which opens a dedicated LaTeX editor with a live preview so you can see exactly how your expression will appear to participants.
LaTeX notations can be used in:
- The question title
- The choice options
- Correct answer explanation
2. Follow these steps to set up a LaTeX poll:
In the Polls section, select + Add Content and choose your poll type.
Enter your Question title. You can combine regular text with LaTeX — start typing your question as normal, then use rich text formatting (bold, italic, underline, bullets, numbering) as needed.
When you're ready to add a formula or expression, select the sigma (Σ) icon in the editor toolbar. This opens the LaTeX editor alongside a live preview, so you can check how your notation will render before saving.
Enter your answer choices.
Important: If you use LaTeX in your answer choices, wrap each choice with $$ at the start and end (e.g. $$x^2 + y^2$$). The sigma icon will appear next to the choice, confirming the LaTeX has been recognised.
Use Allowed selections to set whether participants can choose one or multiple correct answers.
Optionally, add a Correct answer explanation to give participants context on the right answer. This field supports both LaTeX notation and rich text formatting.
Select Create to save your poll.
Due to the rich text formatting, LaTeX with carriage returns is no longer supported.
You can add custom poll settings (such as a countdown timer & scoring) before selecting Create to finalise your question.
What does a LaTeX poll look like?
3. Do the following to create this Latex poll:
Once you've built your poll, here's how it comes together at each stage.
While editing — your LaTeX code appears in the question title after confirming in the LaTeX editor.
With answer choices added — choices with LaTeX notation (wrapped in $$) will also render once you click outside the field.
Adding the correct answer explanation — your LaTeX code will render after confirming in the LaTeX editor.
In Present view — here's how the finished poll appears on screen for participants.
Test your LaTeX poll before going live
It's worth doing a quick run-through before presenting to your audience.
Open your poll in Present view and launch it.
Open the Participant app and submit a test answer.
Return to Present view, stop the poll, and check the correct answer explanation displays as expected.
Important: Once you're done testing, go back to your Dashboard and delete the test response before running the poll with your participants.
Technical information and limitations
Vevox's LaTeX support is built on the KaTeX JavaScript library, along with the mhchem library extension.
A couple of things to be aware of:
- Our implementation supports KaTeX inline mode only. Display mode is not currently supported, so any functions that require it will not render.
- For the best experience with LaTeX content, we recommend participants join via the web version of the Participant app at vevox.app.