Basic Formulae

Question 1

How do you create a subscript in Latex?

Answer 1

An underscore

a_1

Question 2

How do you group characters together to appear in a superscript, subscript or any tagged element?

Answer 2

Group them using a parentheses (curly brackets)

a^{n+1}

Question 3

How would you add both a subscript and a superscript to an Latex element?

Answer 3

Use the appropriate tags, one after the other

n_{k+1}^2

Question 4

How do you add superscripts to superscripts?

Answer 4

Nest the parentheses

Question 5

What’s the latex code for a dot product ?

( as in 6 times 7 using a dot or

A dot V for matrices)

Answer 5

\cdot

Example:

5\cdot6=30

Question 6

What’s the Latex code for a multiplication X symbol?

Answer 6

\times

Question 7

What’s the Latex code for a root symbol?

Answer 7

\sqrt[n]{expression}

where n is the n^th root. If you leave out n, you will generate the sqrt symbol.

Question 8

What’s the Latex code for a plus or minus symbol?

Answer 8

/pm

Question 9

What is the Latex code for a fraction?

Answer 9

\frac{expression in the numerator}{expression in the denominator}

Example:

\frac{n+2}{n-1}

Question 10

What is the Latex code for a fraction that will appear in-line?

Answer 10

\dfrac{expr}{expr}

Example:

This equation $ \dfrac{5}{n-1} $ is an example

Question 11

How do you put Latex in in-line mode to display an equation?

Answer 11

Use one of the following delimiters:

( … )

[… ]

$ … $

\begin{math} … \end{math}

They all work and the choice is a matter of taste.

Question 12

How do you put Latex in Display Mode to show equations?

Answer 12

Use one of the following sets of brackets:

1. [… ],
2. \begin{displaymath} … \end{displaymath} or
3. \begin{equation} … \end{equation}

Question 13

What package is required in Latex to display many math formulas?

Answer 13

amsmath

Question 14

How do you include the amsmath package in a Latex document?

Answer 14

In the preamble of the document include the code:

\usepackage{amsmath}

Question 15

How do you write a multi-line equation in Latex?

Answer 15

Use the multline tag:

\begin{multline*}

p(x) = 3x^6 + 14x^5y + 590x^4y^2 + 19x^3y^3\

• 12x^2y^4 - 12xy^5 + 2y^6 - a^3b^3

\end{multline*}

Question 16

How do you control whether an equation is numbered or not?

Answer 16

If you don’t want an equation or multiline equation numbered, add an asterisk to the tag.

Examples:

\begin{equation*} … \end{equation*}

\begin{multiline*} … \end{multiline*}

Question 17

How do you add a line-break to a Latex eqation?

Answer 17

In multiline mode, put a double backslash where you want the line to break

\

Question 18

How do you get equations to align vertically in Latex

Answer 18

The \align tag:

\begin{align}

a_1& =b_1+c_1\

a_2& =b_2+c_2-d_2+e_2

\end{align}

Question 19

When using the \align tag, how do you define where the equations should align?

Answer 19

Include an ampersand (&) in each equation at the alignment point.

Question 20

What types of matrice tags are available in the ansmath package?

Answer 20

1. \matrix ( no brackets )
2. \bmatrix ( square brackets )
3. \Bmatrix ( curly brackets )
4. \pmatrix ( round brackets )
5. \vmatrix ( lines on either side of matrix )
6. \Vmartix ( double lines on either side of the matrix)

Question 21

How do you separate the entries in a matrix in amsmath

Answer 21

Use & between entries in the same row and

end each row with a double backslash \