Introducing LaTeX Math Typesetting

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the introduction of LaTeX mathematical typesetting on Physics Forums, focusing on its implementation, usage, and examples. Participants explore how to effectively use LaTeX for mathematical expressions and share examples of LaTeX code.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • Warren introduces LaTeX typesetting, explaining its markup style and how to include LaTeX graphics in posts.
  • Some participants share additional examples of LaTeX code, demonstrating various mathematical expressions.
  • Warren invites suggestions for LaTeX packages to include, expressing concern about performance impacts from too many packages.
  • One participant inquires about using the LaTeX generator for personal web pages, prompting a discussion about server load and intended use.
  • Another participant expresses enthusiasm for practicing LaTeX by writing equations related to particle interactions.
  • A question arises about formatting subscripts in LaTeX, specifically how to create multi-line subscripts.
  • Participants provide tips on learning LaTeX, including quoting existing code to see how it is written and encouraging practice.
  • Warren reminds participants that clicking on LaTeX images reveals the source code, which can aid in learning.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the usefulness of LaTeX for typesetting mathematics, but there are differing views on its application for personal use outside the forum, with some cautioning against it due to resource concerns.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about specific LaTeX formatting techniques and the potential performance implications of adding more packages to the forum's LaTeX capabilities.

  • #91
You know, it doesn't all have to be written on one line.
 
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  • #92
Originally posted by Hurkyl
You know, it doesn't all have to be written on one line.

Perhaps not, but it's been a fun (and frustrating!) exercise to learn LaTex, and get it to do exactly what I want it to. If I make compromises before I learn how to do it, I'll never learn what it's capable of.
 
  • #93
Originally posted by master_coda
If you want choose notation, just use

\binom{n}{m}=\binom{n}{n-m}

Thanks, Coda. That's much easier!
 
  • #94
I mean your actual LaTeX source code can be written across several lines, making it easier to read sometimes.
 
  • #95
Okay, back to experimenting/debugging tex:

Got it. Oh, happy day...er.. night.
 
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  • #96
You do it like this:

3^n = \sum_{m=0}^n \left( \binom{n}{m} \cdot \sum_{p=0}^m \binom{m}{p} \right)
 
  • #97
Originally posted by master_coda
You do it like this:

I see. The \left and \right are generic, and you ave to supply the character specific delimiter following.

Thanks again!

I do wish LaTex had error messages, giving hints aout why it's parser is bailing out, but I guess that's a bit much to ask for. Ah well, if it was easy, anybody could do it. :smile:
 
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  • #98
Originally posted by Bob3141592
I see. The \left and \right are generic, and you ave to supply the character specific delimiter following.

Thanks again!

I do wish LaTex had error messages, giving hints aout why it's parser is bailing out, but I guess that's a bit much to ask for. Ah well, if it was easy, anybody could do it. :smile:
That sort of output IS generated by the latex program itself -- but getting that parsed into the PHP output would be a bear, basically.

I also have to add the fact that LaTeX errors are usually pretty unhelpful anyway, so there doesn't seem to be much reason to provide it for the user.

- Warren
 
  • #99
I've seen &=& used, but I don't understand the difference it makes. Is there a simple explanation? What's the & do in general, if it has a general interpretation.

This stuff is great. Not easy, I must admit, but definitely worth it.
 
  • #100
Usually & acts as an alignment character. For example, in:

<br /> \begin{align*}<br /> D^{-\nu}e^{at}&amp;=\frac{1}{\Gamma(\nu)}e^{at}\int_0^t x^{\nu-1}e^{ax}\;dx \\<br /> &amp;=E_t(\nu,a)<br /> \end{align*}<br />

the & character specifies how the columns are supposed to be lined up. Note that \\ specifies the end of each line.

The & character is also used to separate columns in a matrix. If someone is using &=& to line up their equations instead of &=, they may be using matrices to align equations.
 
  • #101
Just figuring this out...

y = a x^2 + b x + c
x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4 a c}}{2 a}
 
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  • #102
hmmmm

d = \frac{1}{2}a t^2

\sum F = ma

\lim_{x\rightarrow c} f(x) = L

0 \leq |x - c| \leq \delta

|f(x) - L| \leq \epsilon

F_g = G \frac{m_1 m_2}{d^2}

this = fun
 
  • #103
Let's give it a try (using TexAide):

\frac{{\sqrt s }}{{s - a^2 }}<br />





\displaystyle{\int_2^4 {\left[ {8(t - 2)} \right]^{-0.5} dt = } \left[ {\frac{1}{{\sqrt 2 }}(t - 2)^{0.5} } \right]_2^4 = 1}


With compliments to TeXaide.
 
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  • #104
how do i go about installing such a thing on my discussion forum? any help much appreciated!
 
  • #105
TeXaide

Hello phoenixthoth,

#1.
Download TeXaide:
http://www.mathtype.com/en/products/TeXaide/

#2.
Type in an equation in TeXaide and copy it.

#3
Paste it in your message on the Physics Forum,then go to my previous message and click on quote,then you can see how it is done.

Delete all superfluous characters.


Best regards.
 
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  • #106
Originally posted by Allegro
Hello phoenixthoth,

#1.
Download TeXaide:
http://www.mathtype.com/en/products/TeXaide/

#2.
Type in an equation in TeXaide and copy it.
Paste it in your message on the Physics Forum,between:
First type: \displaystyle{....}and finish with
where ... is your equation.
Delete all superfluous characters.

#3.
Go to my previous message and click on quote,then you can see how it is done.

Best regards.

how do i go about installing such a thing on my discussion forum? any help much appreciated!

thanks for trying to help but that wasn't my question. let me try to be more careful.
0. i already know how to make equations appear on this forum.
1. i have my own discussion forum.
2. i want to install something that will enable me to do what i can do on this forum on that forum.

i tried mimetex (from http://www.forkosh.com/htdocs/mimetex.html), but I'm having trouble compiling their source files into a mimetex.cgi file. it would help trememdously to just have a copy of that cgi file in question so that i can put it on my server. when i tried compiling their source files, i got a bunch of errors that i suspect are related to the fact that I'm running windows or perhaps the compiler I'm using. I'm trying to get the anti-aliasing gif version to work by entering
cc -DAA mimetex.c gifsave.c -lm -o mimetex.cgi
but it gives lots of errors.

so if you know anything on how to install an equivalent gif generator that uses html, let me know. any help is appreciated!
 
  • #107
Oh no! The inline TeX no longer is aligned!
 
  • #108
What in the world are you doing? It works fine for me... \vec F = m \vec a

And how about this? \TeX

If you put random text in, though... hmmm who knows?

- Warren
 
  • #109
It's because I've written superscripted normal text.
 
  • #110
Originally posted by Hurkyl
It's because I've written superscripted normal text.
Oh, of course... hmmm, yeah. There's really no way around that. :frown:

- Warren
 
  • #111
Originally posted by chroot
Oh, of course... hmmm, yeah. There's really no way around that. :frown:

- Warren

There really isn't any reason you would want superscripted text and tex in the same message anyway.
 
  • #112
I put a footnote in one of my messages. I had an itex formula in it, and I tend to put my footnote tags in superscripts1. Thus, the bug was discovered. :frown:



1: such as this one
 
  • #113
what is going on with TeX today? is it broken?

see this thread
 
  • #114
let's see if it works over here:

\int_M d\omega=\int_{\partial M}\omega
 
  • #115
lethe, your link is apparently not valid. What is happening? As far as I know, \TeX is working fine.

- Warren
 
  • #116
Originally posted by chroot
lethe, your link is apparently not valid. What is happening? As far as I know, \TeX is working fine.

- Warren

this morning, it seemed like LaTeX wasn't working. i guess i linked to a post that i later deleted or something. i guess that is why the link i gave didn't work (although i don't think a broken anchor is usually enough to break a link, but whatever.)

anyway, try this link. look at matt grime's post near the bottom.

everywhere there should be a LaTeX image, intsead, you get "latex still being generated, please reload" messages. i was getting the same thing in my posts, which i later deleted in order to try to recify the problem.

at any rate, whatever the problem was, it seems to be fixed now, although you can still see the weird messages now.
 
  • #117
More misformatting

I can't figure out what's going on with this one (though I haven't tried a lot)

Using this theorem, if x^3 - x^2 - 8x + 12 has a rational root, then it can be written in the form p/q where p \in \{1, -1\} and q \in \{1, -1, 2, -2, 3, -3, 4, -4, 6, -6, 12, -12\}. Only 12 possibilities to try, so if one exists you can find it by exhaustion. :smile:
 
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  • #118
It seems to be due to the length of the itex element. I'll see if I can figure out what's up with it. In the meantime, please use the normal tex (not itex) tags to typeset this.

- Warren
 
  • #119
a_x
 
  • #120
I've downloaded that pdf file with code instuctions, but there's no "non equal" sign .

Do you know the code (it's for slashed equal sign)?
 

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