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LaTeX Introduction |
Latex is a typesetting language used for formatting equations (and much more) in the scientific communities. LaTeX is used very commonly in higher mathematical and computer science classes and academia. In Stat 140, we'll be using LaTeX to "pretty print" equations and answers for homeworks and labs
If you're viewing through Jupyter, then you're all set! Otherwise, go ahead and download this notebook here. This way, you'll be able to follow and modify the examples that we give, as well as test your own. To see the latex behind the math expressions, go ahead and edit that particular cell
For the purposes of this introduction, and for Prob 140, we shall use the "math mode" in Latex through markdown cells in Jupyter Notebook. Remember that in order to switch a cell to "markdown mode", simply change the option from "code"
There are two main ways to enter math mode
$ You're in Inline Math Mode $
$$
You're in Centered Math Mode $$
We use inline math when we want to put in equations and/or variables in sentences / the natural flow of text. Here's an example of inline math:
Say you have $x$ cows and $y$ chickens on a farm, and you've counted $100$ legs amongst all the animals. What are $x$ and $y$?
This is what that'll look like:
Say you have
Note: Notice that text while inside math mode are somewhat italicized; don't use math mode to write all your text, leave it just for variables
We use centered math mode, when there are particular equations that you'd like to highlight, or have stand out. Here's an example.
$$
1 + 2 + \dots + n = 0.5n(n+1) $$
This is what that'll look like:
Note: Don't worry about ldots yet
In order to write superscripts, of the form $x^y$
$ 2^3 = 8$:
$ 2^3 = 8$
$ (x+y)^2 = x^2 + 2xy + y^2$:
$ (x+y)^2 = x^2 + 2xy + y^2$
** Warning: ** Generally, the power can only be one character long; to write more, you must wrap it with braces { } . So for example:
If you forget braces, it'll look like this:
$2^10 = 1024$:
To fix, simply add braces
$2^{10} = 1024$:
In order to write subscripts, of the form _ and write $a_1$
$ 2^3 = 8$:
$ 2^3 = 8$
$ (x+y)^2 = x^2 + 2xy + y^2$:
$ (x+y)^2 = x^2 + 2xy + y^2$
** Warning: ** Just as with the superscript, the subscript can only be one character long; to write more, you must wrap it with braces { }
LaTeX provides commands for writing symbols in your mathematical expressions. In the last example you saw the \ldots command; as you saw, this drew the dots like this:
Here are some examples of such commands
-
\sum:$\sum$ -
\prod:$\prod$ -
\infty:$\infty$ -
\log:$\log$ -
\int:$\int$ -
\alpha:$\alpha$ -
\cup:$\cup$ -
\cap:$\cap$ -
\ldots:$\ldots$ -
\pm:$\pm$ -
n \choose k:$n \choose k$
We can use the subscripting and superscripting from the last section with any of these commands as well; it all integrates well. Here's an example from the Math Prerequisites worksheet
1. Consider the sequence defined by
Essentially, all the greek letters have such commands (simply go \yourgreekletterhere): These we use a lot; here are some of the common ones we use
-
\alpha:$\alpha$ -
\beta:$\beta$ -
\lambda:$\lambda$ -
\mu:$\mu$ -
\sigma:$\sigma$ -
\pi:$\pi$
Some commands can take arguments (just like in Python). The way you pass in arguments into a command is by using the braces {} syntax
\command{Arg 1}{Arg 2}...
The most common such command you'll use is the \frac command, which creates fractions. \frac takes in two arguments, the first the numerator, and the second the denominator (\frac{Numerator}{Denominator}). Here are some examples
- \frac{10}{4} = \frac{5}{2}
- \frac{x^2}{x} = x
Another common command you'll use is the \sqrt command, which takes in one argument- the operand. Here's an example
- \sqrt{9} = 3
Question: Consider a polynomial
Answer
$$x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}$$
For summations, products, and integrals, we often want to define the bounds or limits. In LaTeX, the syntax for the bounds are the same symbols as subscript and superscript.
\sum_{lower}^{upper}
\prod_{lower}^{upper}
\int_{lower}^{upper}
Note that the bounds will appear next to the symbol in inline math mode and around the symbol in centered math mode
\sum_{i=1}^\infty a_i
Inline:
Centered:
\prod_{i=a}^{b} f(i)
\int_{0}^{1}\frac{1}{x^2}dx
\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}(x+y)dxdy
\lim_{x\to\infty} f(x)
When manipulating long equations, it is often useful to show the steps in between. The align* environment provides easy vertical alignment of equations.Let's see an example
\begin{align*}
2x + 10 &= -4\\
2x &= -14\\
x &= -7
\end{align*}
\begin{align*}
f(x) &= \int_0^1 g(x)dx = \int_0^1 x^2dx\\
&= \left[x^3\right]_0^1\\
&= 1^3 - 0^3\\
&= \boxed{1}
\end{align*}
Note that the block starts with \begin{align*} and ends with \end{align*}. Each line ends with \\ for new line. The character that we want to align is denoted with &
\begin{align*}
x&=y & w &=z & a&=b+c\\
2x&=-y & 3w&=\frac{1}{2}z & a&=b\\
-4 + 5x&=2+y & w+2&=-1+w & ab&=cb
\end{align*}
Notice that any normal text is automatically italicized in LaTeX because it usually represents variables. To make text display normally, we can use \text{}
For example, $P(\text{the coin lands heads}) = \frac{1}{2}$ shows up as
The ability to embed normal text in LaTeX is particularly useful when there are conditions:
\frac{x^2}{x} = x \text{ if } x \ne 0
f(x)=\begin{cases}
\lambda e^{-\lambda x} \text{, if }x>0\\
0 \text{, else}
\end{cases}
Let
What is
\begin{align*}
\sum_{i=1}^{100} (4c_i - d_i + 5) &= \sum_{i=1}^{100} 4c_i + \sum_{i=1}^{100} - d_i + \sum_{i=1}^{100} 5\\
&= 4 \sum_{i=1}^{100} c_i - \sum_{i=1}^{100} d_i + \sum_{i=1}^{100} 5\\
&= 4 (10) - (20) + 5(100)\\
&= 520
\end{align*}
You've made it! These steps outlined above should cover all the LaTeX you need to write solutions. Sometime in your pursuit, you may need some commands or symbols that haven't been listed here. When so, the following resources are here to help
- Google: This site lets you search for anything, including any LaTeX symbols that you might forget
- DeTexify: This site lets you draw a symbol, and will immediately find the corresponding Latex command. Similar apps for iPhone and Android also exist
- ShareLatex Tutorial ShareLaTeX is one of the main online work environments; they have a very simple yet comprehensive tutorial about LaTex. If you'd like to learn more about LaTeX, this is your gateway
The best way to learn and absorb LaTeX is to look at examples and code it yourself. Once you have the above guiding principles down, the rest of LaTeX distills into simply finding the symbol that you were trying to find. In that spirit of exploration, we've given you the source for the Mathematical Prerequisites worksheet. Try to understand what each of the symbols are doing, and try writing your solutions and explanations in LaTeX below.
Don't worry about the underline command in the later questions: we only use it to print the blank spaces
Consider the sequence defined by
- Find
$\sum_{i=1}^{10} c_i$ .
\sum_{i=1}^{10} c_i
2. If possible, find
\sum_{k=1}^{10} c_k
Your Answer Here
Does the expression $$ \sum_{n=1}^{10} 2 $$
\sum_{n=1}^{10} 2
make sense? If it does, what is its value?
Your Answer Here
Let = 10$$
$$\sum_{j=1}^{100} d_j = 20
$$
In parts 1-3 find the value of the expression.
-
$\sum_{i=1}^{100} (4c_i + 5)$ -
$\sum_{i=1}^{100} 4c_i
+5$ -
$\sum_{i=1}^{100} (4c_i - d_i + 5)$
\sum_{i=1}^{100} (4c_i - d_i + 5)
- True or false:
$$
\sum_{i=1}^{100} \sum_{j=1}^{100} (c_i + d_j)
=\sum_{i=1}^{100} (c_i + d_i) $$
\sum_{i=1}^{100} \sum_{j=1}^{100} (c_i + d_j) = \sum_{i=1}^{100} (c_i + d_i)
If you think the identity is true, find the common value of the two sides. If the identity is false, can you find the value of either of the sides?
Your Answer Here
Let
-
$ \sum_{i=0}^{100} p^i $
-
$ \sum_{i=0}^{\infty} p^i $
-
$ \sum_{i=100}^{\infty} p^i $
Your Answer Here
The sum $ \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n!} $ can be expressed very simply. Find that simple expression and a numerical value.
\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n!}
Your Answer Here
Repeat the previous exercise for each of the sums
- $$ \sum_{i=0}^{\infty} \frac{2^i}{i!} $$
\sum_{i=0}^{\infty} \frac{2^i}{i!}
2. $$ \sum_{i=0}^{\infty} \frac{2^{3i}}{i!} $$.
\sum_{i=0}^{\infty} \frac{2^{3i}}{i!}
If you had trouble with the previous exercise, this one might help.
Your Answer Here
You know that
-
Explain why
$e^{0.01}$ is roughly$1.01$ and$e^{-0.01}$ is roughly$0.99$ . -
Use your reasoning in part (a) to explain why
$\log (1+x)$ is roughly$x$ for small$x$ . In this class, as in much of math,$\log$ is taken to the base$e$ .
Your Answer Here
How many different ways are there to arrange six people in a row?
Your Answer Here
A committee consists of 6 women and 4 men. How many different choices can be made if you want to select
- a Chairperson and an Assistant Chairperson?
- a subcommittee of two people?
- a committee of two men and two women?
Your Answer Here
Let
-
Analogously, write the following as a sum of four terms:
$(a + b)^3$ -
Let
$n$ be a non-negative integer. Fill in the blanks: $$ (a + b)^n=\sum_{k=\underline{}}^{\underline{}} \underline{~~~~~} a^k b^{n-k} $$
(a + b)^n ~=~ \sum_{k=\underline{~~}}^{\underline{~~}} \underline{~~~~~} a^k b^{n-k}
Your Answer Here
Calculate the following.
-
$\frac{d}{dx} \log (x^2)$ -
$\frac{d}{dx} xe^{-cx}$ where$c > 0$ is a constant -
$\int xe^{-cx} dx$ where$c > 0$ is a constant (use part (b) or methods of integration) -
$\int_0^{\infty} ce^{-cx} dx$ where$c > 0$ is a constant
Your Answer Here
Let
\int_0^x ce^{-cx} dx
Your Answer Here
Calculate $ \int_0^1 \int_0^1 (x+xy+y) dx dy $.
\int_0^1 \int_0^1 (x+xy+y) dx dy
Your Answer Here
Fill in the blanks (it really helps to draw the region of integration):
\int_0^1 \int_y^1 (x+xy+y) dx dy ~=~ \int_0^1 \int_{\underline{~~}}^{\underline{~~}} (x+xy+y) dy dx
Your Answer Here