equationAssets

EquationAssets are digital assets that encode mathematical equations together with descriptive metadata and, in some cases, executable components. They are used in computational science, education, and publishing to preserve, share, and reuse mathematical content in a structured, interoperable form.

Each equationAsset may store the equation in multiple representations, including LaTeX for human readability, MathML for machine rendering, and a symbolic or executable encoding (for example, a JSON or Python-based representation) that can be evaluated or manipulated programmatically. Metadata typically includes title, author or contributor, license, version, provenance, domain, and references to dependent variables or data.

Assets can be static, containing only the equation as content and metadata, or dynamic, exposing executable logic that evaluates the equation under given inputs or generates a family of related equations through parameters. Some assets also store related datasets, parameter ranges, and validation cases.

Common use cases include integration into interactive notebooks and textbooks, embedding in apps and simulations, and inclusion in research pipelines that require reproducible presentation of mathematical models.

Interoperability relies on standards for mathematical markup and data exchange. EquationAssets may adopt formats such as LaTeX, MathML, or OpenMath, and may be identified with persistent identifiers like DOIs or URIs. Metadata schemas help with search, versioning, and provenance tracking.

Creation and licensing practices emphasize clear attribution, license compatibility, and version control. Examples of asset names include PythagorasTheorem.asset or NavierStokesEquation.asset, with clear descriptions of scope and parameters.

Limitations include licensing complexity, potential ambiguity across representations, and the need for tooling to ensure reproducibility. Ongoing developments aim to improve standardization, tooling, and discoverability of equationAssets.