When you open the Equation Editor by choosing Insert > Display Equation or Insert > Inline Equation in a document and region that permits adding equations, a separate Equation Editor window appears along with a component called the Palette. In the Equation Editor window, you find a marker that points, left or right, to the location where the next character entered in the expression is placed. An input box, a small solid box, is shown when there is no character at the current location.

At the top of the Equation Editor window is the title bar. Below it is the menu bar and at the bottom of the Equation Editor window is the message window. The Palette provides quick access to the commonly used symbols and functions.