====== Getting Started With LaTeX ======



<latex>\LaTeX</latex> (pronounced 'lay-tek') is a sort of 'language' that, besides many other things, can be used to write mathematical equations in a form that a computer can display. Both our website and forum support LaTeX so here is a short guide to help you get started.



To use <latex>\LaTeX</latex> in a forum post you need to enclose it in [tex] tags like this:


 
[tex]a + b = c[/tex]



There are many symbols you can use. Here is a table containing some of the more useful ones:



^LaTeX code                ^Produces                          ^
|\pi                       |<latex>\Pi</latex>                |
|\sqrt{x}                  |<latex>\sqrt{x}</latex>           |
|\times                    |<latex>\times</latex>             |
|\frac{1}{2}               |<latex>\frac{1}{2}</latex>        |
|\div                      |<latex>\div</latex>               |
|\frac{a}{b}               |<latex>\frac{a}{b}</latex>        |
|\infty                    |<latex>\infty</latex>             |
|<nowiki>a^2</nowiki>      |<latex>a^2</latex>                |
|\pm                       |<latex>\pm</latex>                |
|<nowiki>a^x</nowiki>      |<latex>a^x</latex>                |
|\leq                      |<latex>\leq</latex>               |
|a_1                       |<latex>a_1</latex>                |
|\geq                      |<latex>\geq</latex>               |
|a_x                       |<latex>a_x</latex>                |
|\equiv                    |<latex>\equiv</latex>             |
|<nowiki>180^\circ</nowiki>|<latex>180^\circ</latex>          |
|\neq                      |<latex>\neq</latex>               |
|\pm                       |<latex>\pm</latex>                |
|\therefore                |<latex>\therefore</latex>         |
|\alpha                    |<latex>\alpha</latex>             |
|\int                      |<latex>\int</latex>               |
|\theta                    |<latex>\theta</latex>             |

For example, if I wanted to post to the forum a question regarding the following quadratic equation...



<latex>x^2 + 11 x + 30</latex>



...to have this formula appear in my post like this I would have to type the following:



[tex]x^2 + 11 x + 30[/tex]



These are just a few examples of the very many <latex>\LaTeX</latex> commands available. For the complete guide to using <latex>\LaTeX</latex> please check out //The Comprehensive// <latex>\LaTeX</latex> //Symbol List//. To download the guide you can click on the following link...




[[http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/info/symbols/comprehensive/symbols-a4.pdf]]