Homework formatting

This is a description of how you may do technical (math, science) homework in VS Code in a way that looks good.

Required software

• Microsoft Visual Studio Code (VSCode)
• Markdown+Math extension for VSCode

Languages used

• Markdown
  • Cheat sheet
• TeX
  • Cheat sheet

Process

1. Open VSCode

2. Open the Command Palette by clicking View > Command Palette. We don't need to run anything now, but it's useful to remember how to open it.

3. Create a new file with the extension .md or .markdown

4. (optional) Enable Markdown+Math to auto-save

   • File > Preferences > Settings
   • Search for Mdmath
   • Tick the checkbox for Mdmath: Autosave

5. Click Open Preview to the Side

   • This icon can be found near the top-right of VSCode
   • You can also do this from the Command Palette by typing > Markdown: Open Preview to the Side

6. In your .md file (not the preview pane), write a document in Markdown. You can write TeX inline by surrounding it within $ symbols, or on multiple lines within $$ symbols. See examples. Here's a very quick example:

   # Homework title
   
   * Student Name
   
   ## Chapter 4
   
   > What's the derivative of $x^3$?
   
   $\boxed{3x^2}$
   

   

7. If you didn't choose to auto-save in step 4, you may save from the Command Pallette by typing Markdown: Save Markdown+Math to HTML. You can then open that file in your web browser. By default, it saves to the same directory as your markdown file.

8. If you want to save as .pdf, you can choose to print or export the page to .pdf format from your web browser.