In this example, you can get out of the standard math after y = \xB1 and then add 6. Or use the multiplication sign, y = \xB1*6 - treat it as if it was a name, something like x. It would also work without a space between \xB1 and 6, but they would be too close to each other and 6 would be italicized. The problem is not with \xB1 - it would be the same problem, say, for y = x 6.

Another example - the quadratic formula can be entered as

x[1,2] =(-b*\xB1*sqrt(b^2-4*a*c))/2/a

Alec

Multiplication sign usually works OK. I did the quadratic formula as an example (above). The example with  y = \xB1 x works only because Maple inserts the multiplication sign itself - select the formula, click on it and look at the formula in the toolbar. That works the same, say, for y = x z.

Alec

I would not use it - for the reason I already said.

Just type your formulae like " y = f(x) + s*g(x), s in {+1,-1} " which is a common way,
i.e. a factor taking the desired values.

Try to type it (in standard math mode, i.e. after Ctrl+R, for example) instead of copying and pasting. Copying and pasting, by the way, worked OK for me, too (in Maple 12). If that doesn't work, one might try to use `\xB1` (with backticks) instead of \xB1.

Alec