Make mathfont respect the surrounding family

If you use the Latin Modern or Computer Modern fonts, you can switch to CMBright:

\DeclareMathVersion{sans}
\SetSymbolFont{operators}{sans}{OT1}{cmbr}{m}{n}
\SetSymbolFont{letters}{sans}{OML}{cmbrm}{m}{it}
\SetSymbolFont{symbols}{sans}{OMS}{cmbrs}{m}{n}
\SetMathAlphabet{\mathit}{sans}{OT1}{cmbr}{m}{sl}
\SetMathAlphabet{\mathbf}{sans}{OT1}{cmbr}{bx}{n}
\SetMathAlphabet{\mathtt}{sans}{OT1}{cmtl}{m}{n}
\SetSymbolFont{largesymbols}{sans}{OMX}{iwona}{m}{n}

(and Iwona for the large symbols); then a declaration such as

\sffamily\mathversion{sans}

will do; it respects grouping, but also \normalfont\mathversion{normal} will get back to normal.

This is what I compiled form my own ideas and egreg’s answer to make the mathfont automatically change to sans and/or bold font.

\documentclass[parskip=half]{scrartcl}

\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage{lmodern}

\DeclareMathVersion{sans}
\SetSymbolFont{operators}{sans}{OT1}{cmbr}{m}{n}
\SetSymbolFont{letters}{sans}{OML}{cmbrm}{m}{it}
\SetSymbolFont{symbols}{sans}{OMS}{cmbrs}{m}{n}
\SetMathAlphabet{\mathit}{sans}{OT1}{cmbr}{m}{sl}
\SetMathAlphabet{\mathbf}{sans}{OT1}{cmbr}{bx}{n}
\SetMathAlphabet{\mathtt}{sans}{OT1}{cmtl}{m}{n}
\SetSymbolFont{largesymbols}{sans}{OMX}{iwona}{m}{n}

\DeclareMathVersion{boldsans}
\SetSymbolFont{operators}{boldsans}{OT1}{cmbr}{b}{n}
\SetSymbolFont{letters}{boldsans}{OML}{cmbrm}{b}{it}
\SetSymbolFont{symbols}{boldsans}{OMS}{cmbrs}{b}{n}
\SetMathAlphabet{\mathit}{boldsans}{OT1}{cmbr}{b}{sl}
\SetMathAlphabet{\mathbf}{boldsans}{OT1}{cmbr}{bx}{n}
\SetMathAlphabet{\mathtt}{boldsans}{OT1}{cmtl}{b}{n}
\SetSymbolFont{largesymbols}{boldsans}{OMX}{iwona}{bx}{n}

\newif\IfInSansMode
\let\oldsf\sffamily
\renewcommand*{\sffamily}{\oldsf\mathversion{sans}\InSansModetrue}
\let\oldmd\mdseries
\renewcommand*{\mdseries}{\oldmd\IfInSansMode\mathversion{sans}\fi\relax}
\let\oldbf\bfseries
\renewcommand*{\bfseries}{\oldbf\IfInSansMode\mathversion{boldsans}\else%
   \mathversion{bold}\fi\relax}
\let\oldnorm\normalfont
\renewcommand*{\normalfont}{\oldnorm\InSansModefalse\mathversion{normal}}
\let\oldrm\rmfamily
\renewcommand*{\rmfamily}{\oldrm\InSansModefalse\mathversion{normal}}

\usepackage[textwidth=9cm]{geometry}

\begin{document}
\section{Inline-$m\alpha \tau h$}
Normal: A $Ax\alpha+\chi b$

\sffamily Sans: A $Ax\alpha+\chi b$

\bfseries Bold-Sans: A $ Ax\alpha+\chi b$

\normalfont Normal: A $ Ax\alpha+\chi b$

\bfseries  Bold: A $ Ax\alpha+\chi b$

\normalfont Normal: A $ Ax\alpha+\chi b$

\section{Display-$\mu\alpha\tau\eta$}
Text in roman family
\begin{equation}
     \sqrt{(a_1+a_2+\gamma)^2}=\sum_{i=1}^2 a_i + \gamma
\end{equation}

\sffamily
Text in sans family
\begin{equation}
    \sqrt{(a_1+a_2+\gamma)^2}=\sum_{i=1}^2 a_i + \gamma
\end{equation}

\sffamily\bfseries
Text in sans family, bold version
\begin{equation}
    \sqrt{(a_1+a_2+\gamma)^2}=\sum_{i=1}^2 a_i + \gamma
\end{equation}

\rmfamily\bfseries
Text in roman family, bold version
\begin{equation}
    \sqrt{(a_1+a_2+\gamma)^2}=\sum_{i=1}^2 a_i + \gamma
\end{equation}
\end{document}