how do people write the cool symbols in the forum?

Question

every once and i while i will see a sqrt sign or an integral, expotent, subscript and such. How did people type these into the forum?

Answer 1

If you are under Windows you can turn on NumLock, and use Alt plus codes on the number pad to do some of them (Alt-253 = ², Alt-171 = ½, Alt-251 = √, etc.)

Alternatively, you can use Character Map utility under Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools. Then you can get lots of others:
°±²³ΦΘΠⁿ⅓⅔⅛⅜⅝⅞∆∏∑√∞∫≈≠≤≥

Feel free to copy these from here too...

Answer 2

You hold down Alt and then push one or more of the numbers on the word pad to the right of your directional keys on your keyboard... see? ☺ ☻ ♥ ♦ ♣ ♠ • ◘ ○ ◙ ♂ ♀ ♪ ♫ ☼

Answer 3

I just copy them when I see them & keep them in a word file for future use. I don't know the original source.