Latex math

1 About

This page is made of small numbered pieces. Some, like this one, explain something. Other contain a single example. An example consists of:

• Words: Some math, described in words
• LaTeX: The Latex encoding of the math
• Rendering: The rendering of the math

2 Plus

• Words: Two plus two equals four.
• Latex: 2 + 2 = 4
• Render: \[2 + 2 = 4\]

3 Times

• Words: Two times two equals four.
• Latex: 2 \times 2 = 4
• Render: \[2 \times 2 = 4\]

4 Backslash

We just used a special key \, which is called backslash.

There are many mathematical symbols. Plus is on most keyboards, but times is not. Instead we often refer to math symbols by name. That makes it easier to type.

Before typing the name of a math symbol, we type a backslash. Latex math has lots of backslashes. We will soon show you how to find it on your keyboard.

5 Fractions

Fractions have a numerator and a denominator. A fraction is numerator over denominator. The name for a fraction is frac, which is \frac when we include the backslash.

6 One half

• Words: Fraction one over two is zero point 5
• Latex: \frac{1}{2} = 0.5
• Render: \[\frac{1}{2} = 0.5\]

7 Curly braces

We just used two special keys { and }. These are called left curly brace and right curly brace. Altogether two of each, which makes four curly braces. The curly braces, in order of appearance, are {, }, {, }.