LaTeX:Commands
This page introduces various useful commands for rendering math in
LaTeX, as well as instructions for building your own commands.
Math Commands
Here are some commonly used math commands in LaTeX.
Exponents and Subscripts
Make exponents in LaTeX with ^ and subscripts with _ as shown in the examples below.
| Symbol | Command | Symbol | Command
|
 | 2^2 |  | a_i
|
 | 2^{23} |  | n_{i-1}
|
 | a^{i+1}_3 |  | x^{3^2}
|
 | 2^{a_i} |  | 2^a_i
|
Notice that we can apply both a subscript and an exponent at the same
time, and that we can use {} to tell LaTeX what to apply a subscript or
exponent to (compare the examples on the bottom row).
Finally, notice that we use {} for any exponent or subscript that
is more than one character. You have to do so, or you'll end up with
or
when you really want
or
.
Fractions
| Symbol | Command
|
 | \frac{1}{2}
|
 | \frac{2}{x+2}
|
 | \frac{1+\frac{1}{x}}{3x + 2}
|
Most fractions look better in (remember, you don't need the
declaration if you are in \[...\] or $$...$$ mode.) You can use \dfrac
as a shortcut:
| Symbol | Command
|
 | \dfrac{1}{2}
|
 | \dfrac{2}{x+2}
|
 | \dfrac{1+\frac{1}{x}}{3x + 2}
|
Use \cfrac for continued fractions:
| Symbol | Command
|
 | \cfrac{2}{1+\cfrac{2}{1+\cfrac{2}{1+\cfrac{2}{1}}}}
|
Radicals
| Symbol | Command
|
 | \sqrt{2}
|
 | \sqrt{x+y}
|
 | \sqrt{x+\frac{1}{2}}
|
![\sqrt[3]{3}](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vJ3u-EHRPQ-sc3pAf_qK1c_7h7ePQ9aT29BnU5ndX6b3Md5ireeIS3RE03nj0W_J6CFaqXRU9dFEkEEEjdl0thG69j4AMRYrkPMsLLmAbW43uivMiZWyEjUiz83l_Lflftwd0QfNQvGiFcTGSzxZ__2dAELLl033hTEjgkceoaW0yVwUXP=s0-d "\sqrt[3]{3}") | \sqrt[3]{3}
|
![\sqrt[n]{x}](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_s01qQDwBnz9y-2JmK7Vh4fYWGAZs75dhL850mRN2FbRuDuoqv3PlTIGQSw6PhOOPH8pgowjRiXcSiEACs37wca8BawsBgYHmEDNfBWCD-bhUggn6ik9Zz1dxNHzkts3lQf2dsAtiGysHVVUdfykxcDTap8sMXt10Iavq4i_YbT2r3YHOpx=s0-d "\sqrt[n]{x}") | \sqrt[n]{x}
|
Sums, Products, Limits and Logarithms
We use _ to get the 'bottom' parts of summations, products, and
limits, as well as the subscripts of logarithms. We use ^ to get the
'top' parts of sums and products. (Integration symbols work the same
way, as you'll see in the
calculus section.) Click here for a few
other commands which take 'bottom' parts.
| Symbol | Command
|
 | \sum_{i=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{i}
|
 | \prod_{n=1}^5\frac{n}{n-1}
|
 | \lim_{x\to\infty}\frac{1}{x}
|
 | \log_n n^2
|
Some of these are prettier in display mode:
| Symbol | Command
|
 | \sum_{i=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{i}
|
 | \prod_{n=1}^5\frac{n}{n-1}
|
 | \lim_{x\to\infty}\frac{1}{x}
|
Note that we can use sums, products, and logarithms without _ or ^ modifiers.
| Symbol | Command
|
 | \sum\frac{1}{i}
|
 | \frac{n}{n-1}
|
 | \log n^2
|
 | \ln e
|
Mods
| Symbol | Command
|
 | 9\equiv 3 \bmod{6}
|
 | 9\equiv 3 \pmod{6}
|
 | 9\equiv 3 \mod{6}
|
 | 9\equiv 3 \pod{6}
|
Combinations
| Symbol | Command
|
 | \binom{9}{3}
|
 | \binom{n-1}{r-1}
|
These often look better in display mode:
| Symbol | Command
|
 | \dbinom{9}{3}
|
 | \dbinom{n-1}{r-1}
|
Trigonometric Functions
| Symbol | Command | Symbol | Command | Symbol | Command
|
 | \cos |  | \sin |  | \tan
|
 | \sec |  | \csc |  | \cot
|
 | \arccos |  | \arcsin |  | \arctan
|
 | \cosh |  | \sinh |  | \tanh
|
 | \coth
|
Here are a couple examples:
| Symbol | Command
|
 | \cos^2 x +\sin^2 x = 1
|
 | \cos 90^\circ = 0
|
Calculus
Below are examples of calculus rendered in LaTeX. Most of these
commands have been introduced before. Notice how definite integrals are
rendered (and the difference between regular math and display mode for
definite integrals). The , in the integrals makes a small space before
the dx.
| Symbol | Command
|
 | \frac{d}{dx}\left(x^2\right) = 2x
|
 | \int 2x\,dx = x^2+C
|
 | \int^5_1 2x\,dx = 24
|
| | \int^5_1 2x\,dx = 24
|
 | \frac{\partial^2U}{\partial x^2} + \frac{\partial^2U}{\partial y^2}
|
 | \frac{1}{4\pi}\oint_\Sigma\frac{1}{r}\frac{\partial U}{\partial n} ds
|
Overline and Underline
| Symbol | Command
|
 | \overline{a+bi}
|
 | \underline{431}
|
Other Functions
| Symbol | Command | Symbol | Command | Symbol | Command
|
 | \arg |  | \deg |  | \det
|
 | \dim |  | \exp |  | \gcd
|
 | \hom |  | \inf |  | \ker
|
 | \lg |  | \liminf |  | \limsup
|
 | \max |  | \min |  | \Pr
|
 | \sup
|
Some of these functions take 'bottom' parts just like sums and
limits. Some render differently in display mode and regular math mode.
| Symbol | Command | Symbol | Command | Symbol | Command
|
 | \dim_x |  | \gcd_x |  | \inf_x
|
 | \liminf_x |  | \limsup_x |  | \max_x
|
 | \min_x |  | \Pr_x |  | \sup_x
|
Matrices
We can build an array or matrix with the \begin{array} command, and
use \left and \right to properly size the delimiters around the matrix:
The characteristic polynomial $f(\lambda)$ of the
$3 \times 3$ matrix
\[
\left(
\begin{array}{ccc}
a & b & c \\
d & e & f \\
g & h & i \end{array}
\right)\]
is given by the equation
\[ f(\lambda)
= \left|
\begin{array}{ccc}
\lambda - a & -b & -c \\
-d & \lambda - e & -f \\
-g & -h & \lambda - i \end{array}
\right|.\]
More simply, we can use the shortcut commands in the amsmath package:
The characteristic polynomial $f(\lambda)$ of the
$3 \times 3$ matrix
\[
\begin{pmatrix}
a & b & c \\
d & e & f \\
g & h & i
\end{pmatrix} \]
is given by the equation
\[ f(\lambda)
= \begin{vmatrix}
\lambda - a & -b & -c \\
-d & \lambda - e & -f \\
-g & -h & \lambda - i
\end{vmatrix}.\]
You can read more about how the array command works
here (it works the same as tabular) and more about using \left and \right
here.
We can also use this environment to typeset any mathematics that
calls for multiple columns, such as funky function definitions like this
one:
\[ f(x) = \left\{ \begin{array}{ll}
x+7 & \mbox{if $5< x$};\\
x^2-3 & \mbox{if $-3 \le x \le 5$};\\
-x & \mbox{if $x < -3$}.\end{array} \right. \]
But it would be better to use the cases environment and \text command that the amsmath package provides:
\[
f(x) = \begin{cases}
x+7 & \text{if $5< x$}; \\
x^2-3 & \text{if $-3 \le x \le 5$};\\
-x & \text{if $x < -3$}.
\end{cases}
\]
Text Styles in Math Mode
You can render letters in various styles in math mode. Below are
examples; you should be able to use these with any letters. The \mathbb
requires the amsfonts package to be include in your document's preamble.
| Symbol | Command | Symbol | Command | Symbol | Command | Symbol | Comand
|
 | \mathbb{R} |  | \mathbf{R} |  | \mathcal{R} |  | \mathfrak{R}
|
 | \mathbb{Z} |  | \mathbf{Z} |  | \mathcal{Z} |  | \mathfrak{Z}
|
 | \mathbb{Q} |  | \mathbf{Q} |  | \mathcal{Q} |  | \mathfrak{Q}
|
If you're persistent, you can dig a few more out of
this document.
If you want to drop a little bit of text in the middle of math
mode, you can use the \text command. The \text command is most useful in
$$...$$ or $...$ mode, where breaking up the math mode would force the
output on to a new line entirely.
So
$$n^2 + 5 = 30\text{ so we have }n=\pm5$$
gives
How to Build Your Own Commands
The command \newcommand is used to create your own commands. We'll start with an example:
\documentclass[11pt]{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\pdfpagewidth 8.5in
\pdfpageheight 11in
\newcommand{\reci}[1]{\frac{1}{#1}}
\newcommand{\hypot}[2]{\sqrt{#1^2+#2^2}}
\newcommand{\cbrt}[1]{\sqrt[3]{#1}}
\begin{document}
The reciprocal of 2 is $\reci{2}$.
The hypotenuse has length $\hypot{3}{4}$.
I'm sick of writing `$\backslash$sqrt[3]{2}' all the time, just to get $\cbrt{2}$.
\end{document}
The \newcommand declarations are in the preamble. Each is of the form
\newcommand{name of new command}[number of arguments]{definition}
The name of the new command, which must begin with a \, is the
name you'll use in the document to use the command. The number of
arguments is how many inputs will be sent to the command. The definition
is just normal LaTeX code, with #1, #2, #3, etc., placed where you want
the inputs to go when the new command is called.
New commands can be used for all sorts of purposes, not just for
making math commands you'll use a lot easier to call. For example, try
this:
\documentclass[11pt]{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\pdfpagewidth 8.5in
\pdfpageheight 11in
\newcounter{prob_num}
\setcounter{prob_num}{1}
\newcommand{\prob}[5]{\bigskip \bigskip\arabic{prob_num}.\stepcounter{prob_num} #1
\par\nopagebreak[4]\medskip A.\ #2\hfill B.\ #3\hfill
C.\ #4\hfill D.\ #5\hfill E.\ NOTA}
\begin{document}
\prob{What is $2+2$?}{4}{5}{6}{7}
\prob{What is $\sqrt{100}$?}{81}{10}{9}{1}
\prob{Evaluate $\displaystyle\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{1}{n^2}$.}
{$\displaystyle\frac{1}{e}$} {$\displaystyle\frac{2}{\pi}$}
{$\displaystyle\frac{\pi^3}{8}$} {$\displaystyle\frac{\pi^2}{6}$}
\end{document}
In the example above, we create a new command called \prob. Each time
we call \prob, we supply 5 arguments, one for the question and one for
each of the multiple choices.
In the preamble and the definition of \prob, you'll see a few new LaTeX commands:
\newcounter{prob_num} creates a counter variable called prob_num
\setcounter{prob_num}{1} setsprob_num to equal 1.
In the definition of \prob, the \bigskip and \medskip commands create vertical space.
\arabic{prob_num} prints out the current value of the counter prob_num as an arabic numeral.
\stepcounter{prob_num} increments the counter prob_num by 1.
\nopagebreak[4] tells LaTeX not to break the page between the problem and the choices unless it really, really, really has to.
The \hfill commands put roughly equal space between the choices.
Once you build a body of custom commands that you will be using in many LaTeX documents, you should learn about
creating your own package so you don't have to copy all your custom commands from document to document.
See Also
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