[ly]

I prefer the $ $ way, as it makes it possible to do inline equations, while keeping the source easily readable.

[hprotagonist]

you can do both, the normal markdown way:

  `$a$` squared is `$a^2$`, which is good to know for the pythagorean theorem:
  ```equation
  a^2+b^2\eq c^2
  ```

[IshKebab]

That doesn't work because then how do you display $a$ as literal inline code?

[runarberg]

What about:

    Inline code is ` $a$ ` automatically trimmed

But I think $`a+b`$ makes more sense (or even $$a+b$$; I mean this is markdown after all, not LaTeX).

[JadeNB]

> But I think $`a+b`$ makes more sense (or even $$a+b$$; I mean this is markdown after all, not LaTeX).

True, but it is TeX notation, and `$$ $$` for inline math goes deeply against the experienced TeXnician's intuition. Why intentionally use notation that violates some users' domain intuition when there's an alternative that's no worse?

[ly]

Ah yes, agreed, then that does indeed seem like to optimal solution here.

[samwillis]

They suggest this for inline using combination of the code back tick and dollar syntaxes:

Inline math: $`a^2 + b^2 = c^2`$.