You want to jot down the eigenvalue decomposition theorem while reading a linear algebra textbook. You want to record the Schrodinger equation from a quantum mechanics reference. If you are a student or engineer in a STEM field, you encounter these situations on a daily basis.
However, when you try to enter formulas in a typical reading log app, you quickly hit a wall. Most apps cannot even handle integral signs like "$\displaystyle\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} f(x) dx$", let alone matrix or vector notation.
In this article, we introduce practical ways to use a reading note app that supports math formulas. If you want to truly retain what you learn from technical books, read on.
3 Reasons Why STEM Reading Notes Are Hard
STEM textbooks are fundamentally different from non-technical books. Formulas, diagrams, and tables carry the core ideas, and extracting text alone often fails to convey the meaning. Yet most reading log tools are not optimized for STEM learning.
1. You cannot enter math formulas
Most apps only support plain text. Writing something like "The eigenvalue decomposition of A is A=PDP^(-1)" in plain text makes it hard to understand when you review it later.
2. Recording diagrams and tables is tedious
To record graphs or circuit diagrams, you have to photograph handwritten notes and paste them as images. And the text within those images is not searchable.
3. You do not know when to review
Technical content does not stick after a single reading. But managing your own review schedule is so tedious that most people simply give up.
MathJax Formula Input Transforms Your Textbook Notes
Reading Forest lets you enter math formulas using MathJax in your notes. The formulas are rendered beautifully as you type.
For example, the Fourier transform formula can be written as follows:
$F(\omega) = \displaystyle\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} f(t)\, e^{-i\omega t}\, dt$
Eigenvalue decomposition of a matrix can also be recorded directly:
$A = PDP^{-1}$
Of course, more advanced notation such as partial differential equations and tensor expressions is also supported. Notes containing formulas are included in full-text search, so searching for "eigenvalue" or "Fourier" instantly finds the relevant entries.
Useful Scenarios
- Note key theorems and proof outlines from a linear algebra textbook
- Record test formulas and probability distributions from a statistics reference
- Save solutions and intermediate calculations from physics problem sets
- Record key formulas alongside your own understanding while reading papers
Capture Formulas Using AI
Typing formulas by hand can be tedious at times. In those cases, you can photograph a textbook page with your smartphone and use a vision-capable AI such as ChatGPT or Claude to read the formulas. Simply ask it to "output this formula in MathJax format," and you can paste the result directly into your notes.
Record Textbook Figures and Graphs as Images
Reading Forest includes a feature that removes distortion from photographed book pages, corrects the image for readability, and saves it to your notes. This is useful when you want to keep clean records of diagrams and graphs from your textbooks.
Review Reminders Based on the Forgetting Curve
According to research by German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus, humans forget about 70% of what they learn within 24 hours. However, reviewing at the right intervals dramatically improves retention.
| Time Elapsed | Without Review | With Proper Review |
|---|---|---|
| After 20 min | ~60% | - |
| After 1 day | ~30% | 90%+ |
| After 6 days | ~25% | 85%+ |
| After 1 month | ~21% | 80%+ |
Reading Forest lets you set a review schedule for each entry, automatically generating review dates using spaced repetition intervals (1 day, 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, 30 days, and so on). Entries due for review are marked with a ⏰ icon, so you can see at a glance which notes to revisit today.
This is especially effective for retaining content that is hard to memorize in one sitting, such as mathematical theorems and physical laws. It is also useful for graduate school entrance exam preparation and professional certification study.
Not Just Books — Track Movies, Music, and Games Too
Between study and research sessions, you might watch a movie or listen to music. Reading Forest supports not only books but also movies, music, and games in your activity log.
Managing academic notes and hobby logs in separate apps is inconvenient and scatters your data. By keeping everything in one app, you can easily look back and see that "last month I read 3 technical books and watched 2 movies."
Your Data Belongs to You — Local Storage and Export
Cloud-only services carry the risk of losing your data if the service shuts down. The possibility that four years of accumulated reading notes could vanish overnight is a serious concern for students and engineers.
In Reading Forest, data is first saved locally on your device. You can also save to Google Drive for cloud backup, protecting against device failure. You always remain in control of your data.
The app also offers a variety of export formats: CSV, Excel, Markdown, and BibTeX. This means you can directly use your records to build reference lists when writing academic papers. The app also works offline as a PWA, so you can use it reliably even in areas with poor connectivity.
Reading Forest: Formulas and Notes, Your Way
MathJax formula input, image distortion correction, spaced repetition reminders, BibTeX export.
Everything you need to support your STEM learning. Try it for free.