1. Making Math Look Pretty – or How to Use LaTeX
Kristi Meyer
Iowa State University

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. 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

6. 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.

7. 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}

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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{…}

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

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. 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. 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 \\

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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
$x_i^3$

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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}

28. 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

29. 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]$

30. 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}

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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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}

36. 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