This document discusses LaTeX, an open-source markup language for typesetting documents. It provides an overview of what LaTeX is, how to get started using it, and why it is useful. The document recommends downloading a LaTeX distribution like TeXLive, describes some editing options and online editors, and gives examples of common symbols, equations, and list environments in LaTeX. It also outlines benefits of using LaTeX for teachers and students, such as durable documents, reusable content, and slide presentations.

1. Learning LaTeX
M. L. Horner
The Seven Hills School
March 15, 2014

2. What is LaTeX?
How to get started
Why use LaTeX?
Outline
1 What is LaTeX?
2 How to get started
3 Why use LaTeX?
M. L. Horner (7 Hills) LaTeX March 15, 2014 2 / 14

3. What is LaTeX?
How to get started
Why use LaTeX?
Abstract
LaTeX is a text mark-up language for writing mathematical and
scientific work clearly and correctly. This talk will suggest ways to
learn and reasonable starting points for using LaTeX as a teacher
as well as how one might want to use it in the classroom.
M. L. Horner (7 Hills) LaTeX March 15, 2014 3 / 14

4. What is LaTeX?
How to get started
Why use LaTeX?
Big Picture
written for typesetting mathematics beautifully
mark-up language
very powerful
control of everything (for a price)
M. L. Horner (7 Hills) LaTeX March 15, 2014 4 / 14

5. What is LaTeX?
How to get started
Why use LaTeX?
Sample
M. L. Horner (7 Hills) LaTeX March 15, 2014 5 / 14

6. What is LaTeX?
How to get started
Why use LaTeX?
Example
F major = F G A B♭ C D E F
∫ √
r2−x2
−
√
r2−x2
1 dy = y|
√
r2−x2
−
√
r2−x2 (1)
=
√
r2 − x2 −
(
−
√
r2 − x2
)
(2)
M. L. Horner (7 Hills) LaTeX March 15, 2014 6 / 14

7. What is LaTeX?
How to get started
Why use LaTeX?
Downloaded
LaTeX
Mac - MacTex (which is TeXLive plus and editor)
http://tug.org/mactex/
Windows - MikTex http://miktex.org
cross - platform https://www.tug.org/texlive/
Editing options
a text editor you like
LyX (freeware) or Scientific Word (commercial)
Other bits
templates
http://www.latextemplates.com
https://www.sharelatex.com/templates/
see my annotated template uploaded with this talk
pasting bits of code
M. L. Horner (7 Hills) LaTeX March 15, 2014 7 / 14

8. What is LaTeX?
How to get started
Why use LaTeX?
On-line
(for example) https://www.writelatex.com
in the cloud
tablet friendly (supposedly)
comes with a reasonable preamble
M. L. Horner (7 Hills) LaTeX March 15, 2014 8 / 14

9. What is LaTeX?
How to get started
Why use LaTeX?
Symbols and Environments
you draw; it shows possible matches will be shown
http://detexify.kirelabs.org/classify.html
google “LaTeX symbol”
google “LaTeX ” followed by what you want to know how to
do
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/LaTeX/Mathematics
http://omega.albany.edu:8008/Symbols.html
M. L. Horner (7 Hills) LaTeX March 15, 2014 9 / 14

10. What is LaTeX?
How to get started
Why use LaTeX?
Equation Environments
$ int_0^{5x} t,dt $ for in-line math
∫ 5x
0
t dt
begin{align} x&=3 y&=7end{align} for displayed,
multi-line equations (see below)
x = 3 (3)
y = 7 (4)
M. L. Horner (7 Hills) LaTeX March 15, 2014 10 / 14

11. What is LaTeX?
How to get started
Why use LaTeX?
List Environments
begin{itemize} item end{itemize} for unnumbered
list
begin{enumerate} item end{enumerate} for
numbered lists
either can be nested within another
paragraphs can be in lists
M. L. Horner (7 Hills) LaTeX March 15, 2014 11 / 14

12. What is LaTeX?
How to get started
Why use LaTeX?
Other Useful Bits
paragraphs separated by empty line in a text file
bold: textbf{}
italic: textit{}
color: textcolor{red}{redword} redword 3
4
M. L. Horner (7 Hills) LaTeX March 15, 2014 12 / 14

13. What is LaTeX?
How to get started
Why use LaTeX?
As a Teacher
blank tests ⇔ solutions
music (via lilypond but requires an extra compilation step),
math, drawings (tikz) in the document
durability - can still open and use files from 90’s
easy to re-use material
easy to edit (change all even inside equations)
slide presentations (via Beamer) and more compact notes
version for printing from same file (but may have distinct
content)
M. L. Horner (7 Hills) LaTeX March 15, 2014 13 / 14

14. What is LaTeX?
How to get started
Why use LaTeX?
For Students
introduce them to something they may eventually be required
to use to turn in HW
some subset will find the fact that this can be done fascinating
and fun
syntax will differ but gets students thinking about how to
write math in words
part of general typing-math in-class exploration at end of
MVC class
M. L. Horner (7 Hills) LaTeX March 15, 2014 14 / 14