# Thread: Learning to Math with LaTeX

1. ## Learning to Math with LaTeX

I'm learning to use LaTeX through MiKTeX and TeXMaker and can type most of the things I need but I want to be able to type on here using LaTeX for math stuff, it makes things easier to see and recommended by the forum. The text appears fine on the pdf preview but how can I copy and paste it over to here, or do I need to use snipping tool and insert/paste it as an image. Thanks.

2. ## Re: Learning to Math with LaTeX

Originally Posted by darkk_blu
I'm learning to use LaTeX through MiKTeX and TeXMaker and can type most of the things I need but I want to be able to type on here using LaTeX for math stuff, it makes things easier to see and recommended by the forum. The text appears fine on the pdf preview but how can I copy and paste it over to here, or do I need to use snipping tool and insert/paste it as an image. Thanks.
Using LaTeX here (on BOS) is a bit different to using it on MiKTeX/TeXMaker etc. The biggest difference is that to use LaTeX here, you need to enclose the code within "TeX tags". These are like this: [tex.] <insert code here> [/tex.], except exclude those red full stops. (I only put the red full stops in because otherwise the tags don't display.)

Example: To produce $y = x^2$, the required code on BOS is:

Code:
[tex.] y = x^2 [/tex.]
(again, exclude the red full stops).

If you want to write text in LaTeX here, you can use dollar signs ($) to help with that, but maybe just get used to typing mathematical expressions on BOS LaTeX first. 3. ## Re: Learning to Math with LaTeX Originally Posted by InteGrand Using LaTeX here (on BOS) is a bit different to using it on MiKTeX/TeXMaker etc. The biggest difference is that to use LaTeX here, you need to enclose the code within "TeX tags". These are like this: [tex.] <insert code here> [/tex.], except exclude those red full stops. (I only put the red full stops in because otherwise the tags don't display.) Example: To produce $y = x^2$, the required code on BOS is: Code: [tex.] y = x^2 [/tex.] (again, exclude the red full stops). If you want to write text in LaTeX here, you can use dollar signs ($) to help with that, but maybe just get used to typing mathematical expressions on BOS LaTeX first.
How can I do dy/dx or integral signs for BOS LaTeX? Is it $dy/dx$ ? How do i make it look "normal"?

4. ## Re: Learning to Math with LaTeX

Originally Posted by darkk_blu
How can I do dy/dx or integral signs for BOS LaTeX? Is it [tex] dy/dx [tex] ?
For dy/dx, just do it using a fraction. Code to type a fraction in LaTeX is shown below.

Code:
[tex.] \frac{a}{b} [/tex.]
produces

$\frac{a}{b}$.

i.e. you write "\frac{a}{b}".

So to get dy/dx, the code is \frac{dy}{dx}.

For an integral sign:

Code:
[tex.] \int f(x) dx [/tex.]
produces

$\int f(x) dx$.

(As usual, exclude the red full stops from the TeX tags.)

Also, you may find this site helpful: http://www.codecogs.com/latex/eqneditor.php . It lets you click buttons to obtain mathematical expressions, and then produces the LaTeX code for it for you.

5. ## Re: Learning to Math with LaTeX

Also, it might be useful to know these:

\sqrt{x} produces $\sqrt{x}$ and \sqrt[n]{x} produces $\sqrt[n]{x}$
_______________________________________________

For inequalities, you can use special commands:

\neq $\neq$ (not equal to)
\geq $\geq$ (greater than or equal to)
\leq $\leq$ (less than or equal to)
_______________________________________________

You can use \, to make an empty space.

x = 5, \, y = 2

$x = 5, \, y = 2$
_______________________________________________

You can use subscripts _ and superscripts ^ to add more information to commands, e.g.

\int^2_1

$\int^2_1$

\lim_{x \to \infty}

$\lim_{x \to \infty}$

_______________________________________________

You can use Greek symbols like this:

\theta $\theta$ (small)
\Theta $\Theta$ (capital)
_______________________________________________

And finally all of the trig functions have their own commands

\sin $\sin$

\sin^2 $\sin ^2$

...

Same for other functions such as \log etc.

6. ## Re: Learning to Math with LaTeX

\displaystyle is my cheeky trick in LATEX for making fractions and integrals a bit more bitter if in a paragraph with 
here it doesn't matter sometimes
For example: $text \frac{a}{b} = \int_{a}^{b}{g(x) dx} = \sum_{i=1}^{\infty}{i} text$

versus $text \displaystyle\frac{a}{b} = \displaystyle\int_{a}^{b}{g(x) dx} = \displaystyle\sum_{i=1}^{\infty}{i} text$

When using [tex], when do i need to use the $symbols? 8. ## Re: Learning to Math with LaTeX I think they're just for using plaintext. area $area$ vs.$area\$ $area$

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