Some LaTeX maths for complete beginners

**Timbuk2**

For those only new to LaTeX, these handy commands will be useful

To use latex, use the [latex] [/latex] tags.

Inside these tags, use the normal LaTeX codes. These usually start with \.

Indices
Very simply, to use indices, type x^n, where x is the number and n is the power. For example, [latex]x^n \, \, x^2 \, \, 3^{x^2}[/latex]. In the last example, it was typed as 3^{x^2} (note the squiggly brackets!)

Fractions
To display a fraction, use the \frac{x}{y} function, where x is the number on top and y is the number on the bottom. e.g. [latex]\frac{x}{y}[/latex].

Roots
Use \sqrt{expression} to get square roots. e.g. [latex]\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}[/latex] by typing /sqrt{a^2 + b^2}.

Superscripts/Subscripts
Obviously if you just want superscripts on their own, you just use the x^n formula as in indices.
For subscripts, type x_n e.g. [latex]x_n[/latex].
For both superscripts and subscripts, type x_n^k to get [latex]x_n^k[/latex]

Functions
The trigonometric functions can be got by typing \sin \tan \cos. For example, typing \sin{2\theta} would result in [latex]\sin{2\theta}[/latex]
[latex]\sin^2{\theta}[/latex] can be obtained by typing \sin^2{\theta}

Differentiation / Integration
To get [latex]\frac{dy}{dx}[/latex], you need to type \frac{dy}{dx}. Likewise, to get [latex]\frac{d^2 y}{d x^2}[/latex], type \frac{d^2 y}{d x^2}
To get [latex]\int{x} \, dx[/latex] type \int{x} \, dx where \, simply leaves a space between the number and the dx
To get limits, such as [latex]\int_a^b{x} \, dx[/latex] type \int_a^b{x} \, dx - the same way as you would type subscripts and superscripts (see above).
A great tip with LaTeX is to type \displaystyle before whatever you are writing. It makes it bigger and thus more legible, which is very helpful for integration. e.g. [latex]\int_a^b{x} \, dx[/latex] becomes [latex]\displaystyle \int_a^b{x} \, dx[/latex] if you put \displaystyle in front of it.

Useful Symbols
[latex]\infty[/latex] | \infty
[latex]\theta[/latex] | \theta
[latex]\phi[/latex] | \phi
[latex]\lambda[/latex] | \lambda
[latex]\div[/latex] | \div
[latex]\pm[/latex] | \pm
[latex]\leq[/latex] | \leq
[latex]\geq[/latex] | \geq
[latex]\sum[/latex] | \sum
[latex]\not=[/latex] | \not=
[latex]\perp[/latex] | \perp
[latex]\propto[/latex] | \propto
[latex]\angle[/latex] | \angle
[latex]\triangle[/latex] | \triangle
[latex]\forall[/latex] | \forall
[latex]\alpha[/latex] | \alpha
[latex]\beta[/latex] | \beta
[latex]\omega[/latex] | \omegaHope this helps! I am by no means an expert at LaTeX, and nor is this anything close to an exhaustive list, but it contains the basics which may be useful for beginners!

Love the new forum by the way!

[latex]Q.E.D.[/latex]