Making Math Look Pretty – or How to Use LaTeX Kristi Meyer Iowa State University kristi@iastate.edu

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

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

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

Input File Structure Begins with a preamble \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. See Getting Started with LaTeX, pgs. 12 – 13, for more information

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

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}

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 Document is automatically saved when you typeset it

Types of LaTeX Files .tex – input file, needs to be compiled .dvi – DVI file, shows what your file looks like .tex.bak – backup LaTeX file, is changed when document is typeset .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

Sections of a Paper \title[label]{actual title} \author{authors} 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

Sections of a Paper \thanks{…} Abstract Keywords 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{…}

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

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

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

Theorems and Definitions Can decide what style you want your theorems, definitions, corollaries, etc. Two possibilities for numbering: Theorem 1, Example 1, Theorem 2, Lemma 1, etc. \theoremstyle{…} \newtheorem{short name}{long name} Short name is what you type Long name is what is displayed on the page

Theorems and Definitions Two possibilities for numbering: Theorem 1, Example 2, Lemma 3, Example 4, etc. \newtheorem{shortname}[style]{longname} 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

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

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

Environments Enumerate environment Centered environment \begin{enumerate} and \end{enumerate} Creates an outline using numbers and letters Items within the section are created by \item Can nest enumerate environments within one another Centered environment \begin{center} and \end{center} To end a line, use \\

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

Useful Mathematical Commands Greek letters $\pi$ for lowercase, $\Pi$ for uppercase No command for $\Alpha$ - just use A Fractions $\frac{numerator}{denominator}$ For a larger fraction, use \displaystyle

Useful Mathematical 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 $x_i^3$

Useful Mathematical 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 Lots more commands on pgs. 58 – 65 of Getting Started with LaTeX

Other Important Characters Quote marks For left-hand quote marks, use `` For right-hand quote marks, use ” or ’’ Comments Can comment out sections of file Allows you to not display text without deleting it Use % at the beginning of any lines you want to comment out

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

Mathematical Environments Equation environment \begin{equation} and \end{equation} Automatically numbers equations For no numbers, use equation* Can label equations by \label{name} Centers equation on page Do not need $ within equation environment

Mathematical Environments Align environment \begin{align} and \end{align} For no numbers, use align* 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 Proof environment \begin{proof} and \end{proof}

Arrays Especially used for matrices Begin with left symbol for matrix Next, begin array environment \begin{array}{lrc} Tells how many columns you have and their alignment

Arrays Specify the entries of the matrix End the array 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]$

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}

Tables Basically the same as arrays \begin{tabular}{lrc} and \end{tabular} Can add lines in the same way that you do for arrays

Figures Often used to import some other type of file (usually a .ps 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

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

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

Figures Can create a caption for your figure Can label 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}

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