Mathematics

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The features to layout complicated mathematical formulas in a very pleasing way are at the heart of L^ATEX and one of the reasons for its widespread use in the scientific community.

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The basic environments for mathematical formulas are

math

formulas appear in the running text. Short form: $ $\ldots$ $.

displaymath

produces a new paragraph. Short form: \[ $\ldots$ \]

equation

like displaymath, but the equations are numbered.

Inside one of these environments L^ATEX uses special formatting rules, the so called ``math mode''. Many of the following commands only work in math mode.

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L^ATEX sets formulas in a running line in a more condensed form than in a displaymath or equation environment.

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The following table shows some of the many special mathematical commands:

description	name	result
greek letters	\alpha, \beta	$\alpha, \beta$
	\Gamma, \Delta	$\Gamma, \Delta$
sub and superscripts	a_i, e^{4\pi i}	$a_i, e^{4\pi i}$
relations	\leq, \geq, \subset	$\leq, \geq, \subset$
arrows	\leftrightarrow, \Rightarrow	$\leftrightarrow, \Rightarrow$
fractions	\frac{2}{4-x}	$\frac{2}{4-x}$
large brackets	\left(\frac{2}{4-x} \right)	$\left( \frac{2}{4-x} \right)$
square roots	\sqrt{42+y}	$\sqrt{42+y}$
integrals	\int_0^1 x^2 dx	$\int_0^1 x^2 dx$

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As always grouping with {, } has to be used properly. Compare the following:

LATEX input	result
a_n+1	$a_n+1$
a_{n+1}	$a_{n+1}$

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A mathematical input file: math.tex

The generated document looks like: