# Input typography using quantifiers such as ForAll

Whenever possible I prefer to express inputs in mathematical notation (rather than text commands) as I feel this helps one think like a mathematician, leaving the calculations to Mathematica "in the background." (Of course not all functions can be expressed in mathematical notation, such as Reduce or FullSimplify, and so on.)

Thus I use ESC for typesetting integrals and such, or use the Basic Math palette.

Consider this code:

Resolve[ForAll[x, a x^2 + a x - 4 < 0]]


(* $$-16 < a \leq 0$$ *)

The symbol $$\forall$$ in the Mathematica palette seems to be appropriate to replace ForAll, but doesn't work:

Resolve[\!$$\*SubscriptBox[\(\[ForAll]$$, $$x$$]$$[a\ x^2\ + \ a\ x - 4 < 0]$$\)]


I've tried a number of variations, without success.

How can one express a function call, such as above, using the $$\forall$$ symbol?

• \[ForAll] seems work. Aug 18 at 6:05
• @cvgmt: That certainly typesets the symbol, but when I use that in the full input function call it sets the symbol but doesn't support the desired computation. (v. 11.3). What am I missing? Aug 18 at 6:07
• \[ForAll] then use Ctrl _ to put the lower x and then another expression. Aug 18 at 6:09
• I apologize if I'm missing something basic, but can you typeset the \[ForAll] and actually get my sample code (involving Reduce and such) to work? Actually compute the desired answer? I can't! Aug 18 at 6:12
• Resolve[\!$$\*SubscriptBox[\(\[ForAll]$$, $$x$$]$$a\ x^2\ + \ a\ x - 4 < 0$$\)] Aug 18 at 6:12

• Above and beyond the call of duty! Thanks! ($+1, \checkmark$). My personal preference is to use ESC... but no matter. Aug 18 at 15:43