Writing Tex Notation

Using TeX Notation with the UVLe Tex filter

Go to Course Administration > Filters and make sure that the Tex Notation is ON

Language Conventions

To invoke the TeX filter, use the $$ symbols to open and close statements. To invoke a particular command or control sequence, use the backslash, \. A typical control sequence looks like:

 $$ x\ =\ \frac{\sqrt{144}}{2}\ \times\ (y\ +\ 12) $$  

Fraction and square root.

Available Characters

There seems to be a number of differences between what characters are available in Tex Notation and what are not and what is described in Mimetex. There also seems to be great discrepancies between what the Tex and Latex manuals tell you is available and what is actually available. If you are using such manuals or web sites, they are likely to be more confusing than helpful. Using TeX Notation 2 shows a lot of what is available, but not all.

Reserved Characters and Keywords

Most characters and numbers on the keyboard can be used at their default value. As with any computing language, though, there are a set of reserved characters and keywords that are used by the program for its own purposes. TeX Notation is no different, but it does have a very small set of Reserved Characters. This will not be a complete list of reserved characters, but some of these are:

 @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) . 

To use these characters in an equation just place the \ in front of them \$ or \%. If you want to use the backslash, just use \backslash. The only exception here seems to be the &, ampersand. See the characters listed in Using TeX Notation 2 for more details.

Maths Mode

A full TeX version has three modes, a "text mode", an "inline maths mode" and a "maths display mode" but UVLe seems to stay in "inline maths mode". Perhaps a better description of what happens is that UVLe allows a writer to enter "inline maths mode" when the $$ symbols are written and leave it when the $$ symbol appears a second time. UVLe does not appear to use the "maths display mode". The command sequences beginning with the $$ are not current practice in any major version of TeX, and why they are used and work in UVLe is not an issue for discussion here. Current common practice in most other flavours of TeX uses a different set of command initiation sequences.

Superscripts, Subscripts and Roots

Superscripts are recorded using the caret, ^, symbol. An example for a Maths class might be:

 $$ 4^2 \ \times \ 4^3 \ = 4^5 $$
 This is a shorthand way of saying: 
 (4 x 4) x (4 x 4 x 4) = (4 x 4 x 4 x 4 x 4)
 or
 16 x 64 = 1024.
 
 Failed to parse (syntax error): {\displaystyle 4^2\\times\4^3\=4^5}

Subscripts are similar, but use the underscore character.

 $$ 3x_2 \ \times \ 2x_3 $$
 
 $3x_{2}\ \times \ 2x_{3}$

This is OK if you want superscripts or subscripts, but square roots are a little different. This uses a control sequence.

 $$ \sqrt{64} \ = \ 8 $$
 
 ${\sqrt {64}}\ =\ 8$

You can also take this a little further, but adding in a control character. You may ask a question like:

 $$ If \ \sqrt[n]{1024} \ = \ 4, \ what \ is \ the \ value \ of \ n? $$  
 
 $If\ {\sqrt[{n}]{1024}}\ =\ 4,\ what\ is\ the\ value\ of\ n?$ 

Using these different commands allows you to develop equations like:

 $$ The \sqrt{64} \ \times \ 2 \ \times \ 4^3 \ = \ 1024 $$
 
 $The{\sqrt {64}}\ \times \ 2\ \times \ 4^{3}\ =\ 1024$

Superscripts, Subscripts and roots can also be noted in Matrices.

Fractions

Fractions in TeX are actually simple, as long as you remember the rules.

 $$ \frac{numerator}{denominator} $$ which produces ${\frac {numerator}{denominator}}$ .

This can be given as:

 ${\frac {5}{10}}\ is\ equal\ to\ {\frac {1}{2}}$.

This is entered as:

 $$ \frac{5}{10} \ is \ equal \ to \ \frac{1}{2}.$$

With fractions (as with other commands) the curly brackets can be nested so that for example you can implement negative exponents in fractions. As you can see,

 $$\frac {5^{-2}}{3}$$ will produce ${\frac {5^{-2}}{3}}$

 $$\left(\frac{3}{4}\right)^{-3}$$ will produce $\left({\frac {3}{4}}\right)^{-3}$  and

 $$\frac{3}{4^{-3}}$$ will produce ${\frac {3}{4^{-3}}}$

 You likely do not want to use $$\frac{3}{4}^{-3}$$ as it produces ${\frac {3}{4}}^{-3}$

You can also use fractions and negative exponents in Matrices.

Brackets

As students advance through Maths, they come into contact with brackets. Algebraic notation depends heavily on brackets. The usual keyboard values of ( and ) are useful, for example:

  $d=2\ \times \ (4\ -\ j)$

This is written as:

 $$ d = 2 \ \times \ (4 \ - \ j) $$

Usually, these brackets are enough for most formulae but they will not be in some circumstances. Consider this:

 $4x^{3}\ +\ (x\ +\ {\frac {42}{1+x^{4}}})$ 

Is OK, but try it this way:

 $4x^{3}\ +\ \left(x\ +\ {\frac {42}{1+x^{4}}}\right)$ 

This can be achieved by:

 $$ 4x^3 \ + \ \left(x \ + \ \frac{42}{1 + x^4}\right) $$

A simple change using the \left( and \right) symbols instead. Note the actual bracket is both named and presented. Brackets are almost essential in Matrices.

Ellipsis

The Ellipsis is a simple code:

 $x_{1},\ x_{2},\ \ldots ,\ x_{n}$ 

Written like:

 $$ x_1, \ x_2, \ \ldots, \ x_n  $$

Source:
Documentation on Tex Notation
Tex Tutorial