Math Is Fun Forum

justlookingforthemoment

Moderator

Registered: 2005-05-26

Posts: 2,161

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

I suppose the logic is that when people first join, they see this thread.

Where do you think it should go? Help Me?

Zhylliolom

Real Member

Registered: 2005-09-05

Posts: 412

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

I do understand that logic, but then again I don't think the first thing on people's minds when they join is "how do I use LaTeX?" Only a small percent of the members seem to use it. It does make more sense to have it in the Help Me section, as I see a good amount of people who ask "how do I do that" when they are trying to type in their problems. Maybe we should have a vote to see where everyone thinks it should be.

justlookingforthemoment

Moderator

Registered: 2005-05-26

Posts: 2,161

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

I think this thread is probably better in Help Me than here. To move or not to move, that is the question?

And also, should this be a clean thread or should we keep the discussion too?

Zhylliolom

Real Member

Registered: 2005-09-05

Posts: 412

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

In my opinion a sticky like this should just have the essentials, no extra conversation. Some posts in here are good and constructive and display some LaTeX not in the opening post, but there are also some posts which are worthless and contribute nothing. If someone wants to learn how to do something with LaTeX here they shouldn't have to sort through the extra junk. Perhaps the initial post should start with an index so topics are easier to find and users who know some LaTeX know if there is something missing that they can contribute.

Stanley_Marsh

Member

Registered: 2006-12-13

Posts: 345

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

yeah ,right . Move it.

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Numbers are the essence of the Universe

justlookingforthemoment

Moderator

Registered: 2005-05-26

Posts: 2,161

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

Okay, I've deleted some posts in this thread, just to get started.

I think we're moving, too ...

I'll move it to 'Help Me' and we can have a trial period! If it doesn't work/fit, we'll just come back to 'Introductions'.

Stanley_Marsh

Member

Registered: 2006-12-13

Posts: 345

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

I think the title should be changed a little bit , Cuz , ppl dont understand when they first see it.

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Numbers are the essence of the Universe

justlookingforthemoment

Moderator

Registered: 2005-05-26

Posts: 2,161

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

Changed to ... ?
                                                                                                                               
Suggestions?
                                                                                                                               
Dross, what do you think?

Stanley_Marsh

Member

Registered: 2006-12-13

Posts: 345

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

I don't have any idea tho , when I first saw the thread I had no idea it's talking about how to type math , so I am not sure ppl can understand.

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Numbers are the essence of the Universe

MathsIsFun

Administrator

Registered: 2005-01-21

Posts: 7,713

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

Something like "How to Display Formulas Using LaTeX - A Crash Course" ... ?

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"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

Stanley_Marsh

Member

Registered: 2006-12-13

Posts: 345

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

Or Mathematic Input language.

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Numbers are the essence of the Universe

catgirl

Member

Registered: 2007-03-21

Posts: 8

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

How in the world do you get those cool patterns on the bottom of the screen?(tell me in 5 hrs. i'm taking a nap:D)

shocamefromebay

Member

Registered: 2007-05-30

Posts: 103

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

is there a way to draw geometric shapes using latex?

like circles, triangles, squares or even 3d figues?

Ricky

Moderator

Registered: 2005-12-04

Posts: 3,791

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

Nope.  You can however create such an image in another program and display it in a LaTeX created document.

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"In the real world, this would be a problem.  But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist.  So we'll go ahead and do that now..."

shocamefromebay

Member

Registered: 2007-05-30

Posts: 103

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

is tehre  a way to dl the latex interpreter from this forum?cuz all the other latex thingies on the internet that i have found i cant figure out how to work em

Ricky

Moderator

Registered: 2005-12-04

Posts: 3,791

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

http://miktex.org/2.6/Setup.aspx

Download and install that.  This is the tex/latex program.

Then you typically work with something called an IDE (integrated development environment).  I use http://www.toolscenter.org/ though I think there are better ones out there.

When you install this, it is going to ask you for the path to the binaries (executables).  The default path should be C:\Program Files\MiKTeX 2.5\miktex\bin

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"In the real world, this would be a problem.  But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist.  So we'll go ahead and do that now..."

shocamefromebay

Member

Registered: 2007-05-30

Posts: 103

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

yes i alrdy looked into that and i have miktex
and i have troubleusing it tho
ok first i no u make a .TEX file using a text editor
but then it says to compile it into a .DVI
but i dont know how to do that
can anyone help?

Ricky

Moderator

Registered: 2005-12-04

Posts: 3,791

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

Did you read the rest of my post?  Things become much easier once you get an IDE.  I strongly recommend doing so.

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"In the real world, this would be a problem.  But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist.  So we'll go ahead and do that now..."

shocamefromebay

Member

Registered: 2007-05-30

Posts: 103

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

i think i have an IDE
i have winshell
but i still have no idea how to use it
and the help manuals arent so helpful
what do u use as an IDE

Ricky

Moderator

Registered: 2005-12-04

Posts: 3,791

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

Then you typically work with something called an IDE (integrated development environment).  I use http://www.toolscenter.org/ though I think there are better ones out there.

When you install this, it is going to ask you for the path to the binaries (executables).  The default path should be C:\Program Files\MiKTeX 2.5\miktex\bin

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"In the real world, this would be a problem.  But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist.  So we'll go ahead and do that now..."

TomHawk

Member

Registered: 2007-10-16

Posts: 4

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

When I receive the LaTex images, they appear rough/grainy to a point that I am unable to read them.  Do I need a special graphics setting?  They come out okay when printed.  Just can't see them on my monitor.

mikau

Member

Registered: 2005-08-22

Posts: 1,504

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

don't mind me, i'm just practicing.

Last edited by mikau (2008-04-20 11:35:58)

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A logarithm is just a misspelled algorithm.

Ricky

Moderator

Registered: 2005-12-04

Posts: 3,791

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

I wouldn't recommend practicing there.  Eventually this thread will get cleaned up, hopefully over my winter break.  I would recommend practicing in the Members Only section.

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"In the real world, this would be a problem.  But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist.  So we'll go ahead and do that now..."

mathsyperson

Moderator

Registered: 2005-06-22

Posts: 4,900

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

Then again, there's no problem as long as you don't want to keep your practices for ever.
If you just wanted to see if your code worked then here's fine. (Or, even better, hit preview instead of submit)

Jane's trick with the double-dollars seems a bit temperamental.
For example:

1+$$\frac{3}{4}$$ -->

but
$$\frac{3}{4}$$+1 -->

Does anyone know exactly what needs to be done to make this work?

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Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.

Ricky

Moderator

Registered: 2005-12-04

Posts: 3,791

Re: LaTeX - A Crash Course

A space after the last dollar sign.

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"In the real world, this would be a problem.  But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist.  So we'll go ahead and do that now..."