In Pandoc markdown, I can use \'$$\' to start a display math environment. However, these equations are not numbered in latex so I hope to use the equation environment instead, l
Try the pandoc-eqnos filter. Labels may be attached to equations using attributes:
$$ y = mx +b $$ {#eq:description}
... and then referenced like this:
@eq:description
For tex/pdf output, LaTeX's native equation
environment and \label
and \ref
macros are used; for all others the numbers are hard-coded.
Instructions are given on the pandoc-eqnos page for how to install and apply the filter.
There is not good native support for proper equation numbering but there is a workaround.
> pandoc -s -o math.html --mathjax
(@) $$y=5$$
A paragraph here explaining
(@) $$y=6$$
Output
<body>
<ol style="list-style-type: example">
<li><span class="math">\[y=5\]</span></li>
</ol>
<p>A paragraph here explaining</p>
<ol start="2" style="list-style-type: example">
<li><span class="math">\[y=6\]</span></li>
</ol>
</body>
Obviously the output can be styled with css to suit. On the other hand, the tex output of this method also places the numbers to the left. Which compromise you choose is up to you.