Making Math Look Pretty How to Use LaTeX

1. Making Math Look Pretty How to Use LaTeX Haseena Ahmed Iowa State University haseena@iastate.edu

2. Basics of LaTeX • A computer program for typesetting text and mathematical formulas • Uses commands to create mathematical symbols • Not a WYSIWYG program • Need to compile the file in order to see the finished product

3. Basics of LaTeX – Commands • Always begin with a backslash \ • Case sensitive • Consist of letters only • Some have parameters • Square brackets [ ] after the command name are for optional parameters • Curly braces { } after the command name are for required parameters

4. Getting Started • Can use lots of different programs to create a LaTeX file • All computers here use WinEdt • Need to begin by creating a new file

5. Downloads • LaTeX is available online for free at http://www.latex-project.org/ • WinEdt is also available online with a free 30 day trial period at http://www.winedt.com/

6. Input File Structure • Begins with a preamble (Preamble is where the overall construction of your document is listed) • \documentclass[options]{class} • class specifies the type of document to be created • Usually use article or amsart • Can also use slides or siamltex • options customizes the document class you are using • Can be used to set font size (10, 11, or 12 pt), set paper size, use one or two columns, etc.

7. Input File Structure • Begins with a preamble • \usepackage{package} • Packages add new features and commands to LaTeX • Common packages: amsmath, amssymb, graphicx • Can also define new commands in the preamble, specify page numbering, etc.

8. Input File Structure • Now we’re ready to begin the body of the text • \begin{document} • \begin{…} commands always need to be followed (eventually) by \end{…} commands • Enter the actual content here • \end{document}

9. Typesetting Your Document • Click the “LaTeX” or “PDF LaTeX” button on the top right • To view your file, click “DVI” or the Adobe Acrobat symbol • DVI stands for “DeVice Independent” – it’s basically a generic viewer • Can change between DVI, PDF, or PS files and document is automatically saved when you typeset it

10. Types of LaTeX Files • .tex – input file, needs to be compiled • .tex.bak – backup LaTeX file and is changed when document is typeset • .dvi – DVI file which shows what your file looks like • .log – log file, tells what happened the last time you compiled your document - Helpful to look at if there are errors and you don’t know why

11. Typesetting Math • Mathematical text is placed between $ • Math mode is normally displayed inline • Can make some expressions look funny • To display math mode in a larger font, use \displaystyle • Makes all symbols within $ larger • For text within math mode, use \text{…} • Math mode uses italics and no spaces between words

12. Useful Math Commands • Greek letters • $\pi$ for lowercase, $\Pi$ for uppercase • No command for $\Alpha$ • Fractions • $\frac{numerator}{denominator}$ • For a larger fraction, use \displaystyle

13. Useful Math Commands • Superscripts and Subscripts • $x^2$ • $x_2$ • Use curly braces to group items together • $x_{i_2}$ or $x_{min}$ • Can have a superscript and a subscript on the same character • $x_i^3$

14. Useful Math Commands • Limits and Integrals • Probably want to use \displaystyle, otherwise they’ll look funny • $\displaystyle \lim_{x \to \infty} 3x$ • $\displaystyle \int_0^2 x\, dx$ • The \, gives a space between x and dx • Square roots • $\sqrt{x}$

15. Useful Math Commands • Displaying special characters • $\mathbb{R}$ or $\mathcal{R}$ • Trignometric functions • $\sin$ or $\cos$ • Math inequalities • $\le$ or $\ge$ • Lot more commands on pages 58 – 65 of Getting Started with LaTeX

16. Other Important Characters • Quote marks • For left-hand quote marks, use `` • For right-hand quote marks, use ” or ’’ • Comments • Use % at the beginning of any lines you want to comment out • Creating a space between two characters • \, • Creating a new line • \newline

17. Environments • Many environments available in TeX • Used to help format parts of your document • Always need \begin{environment name} and \end{environment name}

18. Some Environments • Itemize environment • \begin{itemize} and \end{itemize} • Creates an outline using bullet points • Items within the section are created by \item • Can nest itemize environments within one another

19. Some Environments • Enumerate environment • \begin{enumerate} and \end{enumerate} • Creates an outline using numbers and letters • Items within a section are created by \item • Can nest enumerate environments within one another

20. Some Environments • Centered environment • \begin{center} and \end{center} • To end a line within the environment, use \\

21. Mathematical Environments • Equation environment • \begin{equation} and \end{equation} • Automatically numbers equations, so mainly used when you need equations to be numbered • For no numbers, use equation* • Puts the equation in the center of the line • Can label equations by \label{name} • Centers equation on page • Do not need $ within equation environment

22. Mathematical Environments • Align environment • \begin{align} and \end{align} • For no numbers on all equations, use align* • For no numbers on some use \nonumber • Put & in front of the symbol in each line that you want aligned • End each line (except the last one) with \\ • Do not need $ within align environment

23. Arrays • Especially used for matrices • Begin with left symbol for matrix • $\left[ • Next, begin array environment • \begin{array}{lrc} • Tells how many columns you have and their alignment - left, right or center

24. Arrays • Specify the entries of the matrix • Separate the entries by & • End each row (except the last one) by \\ • End the array • \end{array} • Create the right side symbol for the matrix • \right]$

25. Arrays • Can also have lines within arrays • Horizontal lines • Use \hline after each row that you want a line under • x^2 & 4x & 3 \\ \hline • Vertical lines • Put | between the columns that you want lines between • \begin{array}{lr|c}

26. Tables • Basically the same as arrays • \begin{tabular}{lrc} and \end{tabular} • Can add lines in the same way that you do for arrays • For more info see pages 34 - 37 of Getting Started with LaTeX

27. Figures • Often used to import some other type of file (usually a .eps file) into your document • Can generate graphics in LaTeX, but this is harder to do • Any imported file needs to be in the same directory as your main file • Also need to include the package graphicx in your preamble

28. Figures • Begin the figure environment by \begin{figure}[placement] • placement is an optional argument that tells LaTeX where on the page you want the figure • Can be h (here), t (top), b (bottom), or p (on a separate page) • Put an ! before the placement if you really want the figure at that page location

29. Figures • Include the file that you want • \includegraphics[display]{filename} • display is an optional parameter which allows you to change the appearance of your graphic • Can use the following parameters: • width, height, angle (rotates the graphic counterclockwise), scale (number between 0 and 1) • Changing width or height will preserve the aspect ratio

30. Figures • Can create a caption for your figure • \caption[shortname]{longname} • shortname is displayed in the Table of Contents (if you create one) • longname is displayed below the figure • Captioning also automatically labels your figures • Can label your figure • \label{reference} • Allows you to refer to your figure later by using \ref{reference}

31. Figures • End the figure environment • \end{figure} • May sometimes need to create a PostScript file instead of a PDF file in order to get graphics to display properly • More info on pages 38 – 40 of Getting Started with LaTeX

32. Sections of a Paper • \title[label]{actual title} • If you label your title, you’ll be able to reference it later • Can also label theorems, equations, figures, tables, etc. • \author{authors} • Need to put \maketitle after title and authors • \today • Gives the current date • Usually want this centered

33. Sections of a Paper • \thanks{…} • Creates a footnote with whatever is in the braces • Usually used after authors’ names for academic information • Abstract • Use \begin{abstract} and \end{abstract} • Keywords • Use \begin{keywords} and \end{keywords} • OR use \keywords{…}

34. Sections of a Paper • Papers should be divided into sections, subsections, etc. • Important commands: • \section{Title of section} • \subsection{…} • \subsubsection{…} • \paragraph{…} • \subparagraph{…}

35. Sections of a Paper • Bibliography • \begin{thebibliography}{number} and \end{thebibliography} • number is 9, 99, 999, etc. • Tells LaTeX how if you will be using only single-digit numbers, double-digit numbers, etc. • Use \bibitem{Label} to create a new reference • Label lets you reference that item elsewhere in the paper

36. Referencing Using Labels • May want to reference a section, theorem, figure, example, etc. somewhere else in the document • To label a section • \section{Title}\label{Label for section} • To reference a section • \ref{Label for section} • Only gives the section number – you’ll need to type Section separately • To reference a bibliography item, use \cite{Label}

37. Theorems and Definitions • \newtheorem{short name}{long name} is used to typeset “Theorems”, “Lemmas”, “Definitions” and similar structures • Short name is what you type • Long name is what is displayed on the page • The \newtheorem command is placed in the preamble of the document • Numbering is automatic

38. Theorems and Definitions • For unnumbered theorems, use either command with \newtheorem* • * can be used in many environments for unnumbered items • May need to include the package amsthm in order to properly display theorems

39. Defining New Commands • Typing some long commands over and over is not fun • Can define a new command that’s easier to type • Goes in preamble • \newcommand{newname}{oldname} • newname cannot be the name of an existing command