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A code block is used to display text literally, except adding syntax coloring. You would use it to display TeX source notation for example. A math block transforms TeX into something else, it's entirely different. I think it's correct that they did not use the code block syntax for this.

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It's how Github already handles Mermaid diagrams, so there's precedent, although you're correct that logically there should be a distinction between "display highlighted Mermaid source" and "render Mermaid diagram".

Yes, and now they've reached a dead since they have no way to render mermaid source code except as plain text or by introducing a new name like mermaid-src. It's minor but it's unsatisfying conceptually. I'd rather have them introduce a new "run delimited text into external program and replace by output" tag.

Author here.

The main idea of using code blocks for math is to protect its content from being messed with. Markdown parsers do that by default, so that's how it's "natural". As you mention, the drawback is that you can't have a codeblock with syntax highlighting for a language called "math" (should there ever be one), but that seems like a small price to pay.

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