A quick guide to LATEX - Inline math and equations - Images and formatting

Oct 13, 2026

Upload by Logic

A quick guide explains LATEX as a mathematics typesetting standard built on TEX, highlighting its user-friendly development and current version lineage. It compares math variables, text, and predefined functions, and shows how to write inline expressions using $...$ and display equations using \[...\]. The guide covers spacing, line breaks, comments, delimiters, lists, common math symbols, font styles, and how to insert images with figures and captions for consistent compiled output.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

What is LATEX?

Math vs. text vs. functions

Inline mathematical expressions

Equations

Images

Text decorations

Spaces and new lines

Comments

Delimiters

Lists

Symbols (in math mode)

A quick guide to LATEX What is LATEX? LATEX(usually pronounced \LAY teck," sometimes \LAH teck," and never \LAY tex") is a mathematics typesetting program that is the standard for most professional mathematics writing. It is based on the typesetting program TEX created by Donald Knuth of Stanford University (his 􀀌rst version appeared in 1978) . Leslie Lamport was responsible for creating LATEX a more user friendly version of TEX. A team of LATEX programmers created the current version, LATEX 2". Math vs. text vs. functions In properly typeset mathematics variables appear in italics (e.g. , f (x) = x2 + 2x 􀀀 3) . The exception to this rule isprede􀀌ned functions (e.g., sin(x)) . Thus it is important to always treat text, variables, and functions correctly. See the di􀀋erence between x and x, -1 and 􀀀1, and sin (x) and sin(x) . There are two ways to present a mathematical expression| inline or as an equation. Inline mathematical expressions Inline expressions occur in the middle of a sentence. To produce an inline expression, place the math expression between dollar signs ($) . For example, typing $90^{\circ}$ is the same as $\frac{\pi}{2}$ radians yields 90􀀎 is the same as ~~􀀙~~2 radians. Equations Equations are mathematical expressions that are given their own line and are centered on the page. These are usually used for important equations that deserve to be showcased on their own line or for large equations that cannot 􀀌t inline. To produce an inline expression, place the mathematical expression between the symbols \[ and \] . Typing \[x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}\] yields 􀀀b 􀀆pb2 􀀀 4ac x = ~~ ~~ : 2a Displaystyle To get full-sized inline mathematical expressions use \displaystyle. Use this sparingly. Typing I want this $\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n}$, \frac{1}{n}$ . 1 I want this Xn=1 not this $\sum_ {n=1}^{\infty} yields 1 1 1 n , not this Pn=1 n : Images You can put images (pdf, png, jpg, or gif) in your document. They need to be in the same location as your .tex 􀀌le when you compile the document. Omit [width=.5in] if you want the image to be full-sized. \begin{figure}[ht]\includegraphics[width=.5in]{imagename.jpg}\caption{The (optional) caption goes here.}\end{figure} Text decorations Your text can be italics (\textit{italics}), boldface (\textbf{boldface}), or underlined (\underline{underlined}) . Your math can contain boldface, R (\mathbf{R}), or blackboard bold, R (\mathbb{R}) . You may want to used these to express the sets of real numbers (R or R), integers (Z or Z), rational numbers (Q or Q), and natural numbers (N or N) . To have text appear in a math expression use \text.(0,1]=\{x\in\mathbb{R}:x>0\text{ and }x\le 1\} yields (0 ; 1] = fx 2 R : x > 0 and x 􀀔 1g. (Without the \text command it treats \and" as three variables: (0 ; 1] = fx 2 R : x > 0andx 􀀔 1g.) Spaces and new lines LATEX ignores extra spaces and new lines. For example, This sentence will look fine after it is compiled . This sentence will look 􀀌ne after it is compiled. Leave one full empty line between two paragraphs. Place \\ atthe end of a line to create a new line (but not create a new paragraph) . This compiles like\\ this . This compiles like this. Use \noindent to prevent a paragraph from indenting. Comments Use % to create a comment. Nothing on the line after the % will be typeset. $f(x)=\sin(x)$ %this is the sine function yields f (x) = sin(x) Delimiters description command output parentheses (x) (x) brackets [x] [x] curly braces \{x\} fxg To make your delimiters large enough to 􀀌t the content, use them together with \right and \left. For example,\left\{\sin\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)\right\}_{n}^{\infty} produces 􀀚 sin 􀀒 1n 􀀓􀀛 1n . Curly braces are non-printing characters that are used to gather text that has more than one character. Observe the di􀀋erences between the four expressions x^2 , x^{2} , x^2t, x^{2t} when typeset: x2 , x2 , x

FAQs

What is LATEX used for in writing mathematics?

LATEX is a mathematics typesetting program and a standard for professional mathematics writing. It produces properly styled mathematical notation.

How do you create inline math and display equations in LATEX?

Inline expressions go in dollar signs like $...$. Display equations use [...] (or their own centered line) for important or large formulas.

How can you control spacing, new lines, and comments in LATEX?

LATEX ignores extra spaces and new lines, so formatting is controlled with full empty lines between paragraphs and \ at line ends for new lines. Use % for comments; anything after % on that line won’t be typeset.

Oct 13, 2026

Upload by Logic