LaTeX guide

How to write the most common parts of formulas and lab reports. Every page has copy-ready code, a preview and a list of common mistakes. Ready formulas from physics and math are in the formula library.

• Fraction in LaTeXHow to write a fraction in LaTeX: \frac in text and equations, \dfrac for full height, nested and slashed fractions. Copy-ready code.
• Square root in LaTeXSquare, cube and n-th roots in LaTeX. The \sqrt command with an optional degree, examples and live preview.
• Superscript and subscript in LaTeXHow to write powers and subscripts in LaTeX. The ^ and _ characters, multi-character indices in braces, text subscripts.
• Integral in LaTeXDefinite, indefinite, double and contour integrals in LaTeX. \int with limits and the correct spacing before dx.
• Sum and product in LaTeXSum and product symbols in LaTeX. \sum with an index and limits, \prod, inline versus display style.
• Limit in LaTeXHow to write limits of functions and sequences in LaTeX: \lim, x \to 0, one-sided limits. Examples with preview.
• Derivative in LaTeXWriting derivatives in LaTeX: f'(x), d/dx, the partial derivative \partial, second-order derivatives. Code and preview.
• Matrix in LaTeXHow to write a matrix in LaTeX: the pmatrix, bmatrix and vmatrix environments, matrices with dots and determinants. Copy-ready code.
• System of equations in LaTeXA system of equations with a brace in LaTeX using the cases environment, plus piecewise-defined functions.
• Aligned equations in LaTeXSeveral equations aligned at the equals sign in LaTeX. The align and align* environments, numbering, suppressing a number and references.
• Equation numbering in LaTeXA numbered equation in LaTeX with the equation environment, your own \label and \eqref references in the text of a report.
• Vector in LaTeXHow to write a vector in LaTeX: the \vec arrow, bold \mathbf, unit vectors, dot and cross products.
• Greek letters in LaTeXAll Greek letters in LaTeX: lowercase and uppercase, the \varepsilon and \varphi variants. A list of commands to copy.
• Math symbols in LaTeXThe most common LaTeX symbols: \le, \ge, \neq, \approx, \pm, \infty, arrows and number sets. A list with preview.
• Arrows in LaTeXArrows in LaTeX: \to, \rightarrow, \Rightarrow, \mapsto, \leftrightarrow and arrows with a label above. Copy-ready code.
• Brackets in LaTeXBrackets that grow with the expression in LaTeX: \left( \right), curly braces \{ \}, absolute value and norm.
• Text in equations in LaTeXHow to put regular words into a LaTeX equation: \text, \mathrm, spacing around text and units.
• SI units in LaTeXCorrect numbers and SI units in LaTeX with the siunitx package: \SI, \num, uncertainties and the decimal marker.
• Mean and standard deviation in LaTeXStatistics formulas for a lab report in LaTeX: arithmetic mean, standard deviation, type A uncertainty and how to state a result.
• Trigonometric functions in LaTeXWriting sine, cosine, tangent and inverse functions correctly in LaTeX. Why \sin and not sin, and how to write a power of a function.
• Logarithms and exponentials in LaTeXWriting natural, common and any-base logarithms in LaTeX, plus the exponential function e^x and \exp.
• Chemical formulas in LaTeXChemical formulas and reaction equations in LaTeX with the mhchem package: \ce, subscripts, ion charges and reaction arrows.
• Table in LaTeXHow to make a table in LaTeX: the tabular environment, column alignment, captions and clean rules with booktabs. Ready code for a measurement table.
• Figure in LaTeXHow to add an image or a chart to a LaTeX document: the graphicx package, the figure environment, width, caption and label.
• Cross-references in LaTeXReferencing figures, tables, equations and sections in LaTeX: \label, \ref, \eqref, \pageref and how to avoid "??" in the PDF.
• Bibliography in LaTeXHow to add a bibliography to a report in LaTeX: the thebibliography environment, \cite, the order of entries and BibTeX as an alternative.
• Accented characters in LaTeXHow to type accented letters (é, ü, ñ, ø) in LaTeX: inputenc, fontenc, babel, language-specific dates and hyphenation.
• Title page in LaTeXA lab report title page in LaTeX: the titlepage environment, university, course, author and date. A ready template to copy.