Latex, or (pronounced lah-TEK or lay-TEK), is a typesetting markup language that is useful to produce properly formatted mathematical and scientific expressions.

Using LaTeX in the Community, the AoPSWiki, or the Classroom

If you're starting and looking to learn more about what can do, see this non-technical introduction on . If you are just learning for use on the AoPS site, then go to the LaTeX on AoPS page or watch this Quick Start video. If you would like to produce full documents of your own LaTeX, please follow the directions below.

Getting Started with Writing Documents in LaTeX

1. The first step is to install the software to use LaTeX on your computer.
• For Windows, follow these instructions (in order):
  • Download and install TeX Live.
  • Download and install Texmaker.
• For Google Docs, you can get AoPS syntax (math only) through these steps:
  • Click +free at the top of the Google Docs add-on store page for Auto-Latex Equations.
  • Follow the popup instructions. For a full tutorial, visit the official website of the add-on.
All of these packages are free. They are not developed or distributed by Art of Problem Solving.
(You will also need a PDF viewer such as the free Adobe Reader; however this program is already installed on most computers as well as in Google Chrome.)
2. View the AoPS LaTeX Quick Start Video.
3. Work through the "Basics" pages:
• The First Document page walks you through creating your first LaTeX document.
• The Math page shows you how to typeset mathematics in LaTeX.
• The Style section shows you how to control the basic appearance of your document.
4. The Pictures section shows you how to add images to your LaTeX documents.
5. Use our LaTeX quick-reference guides to learn more about:
• The layout of your document.
• The different symbols available in LaTeX.
• Some of the commands in LaTeX, and how to define your own new commands.
• Various external packages that can extend LaTeX's native capabilities, and how to create your own new packages.
6. Use the TeXer to experiment and practice writing mathematical formulas.
7. Use the Help page and the LaTeX forum for more help.

See also

• Next: Downloads
• Asymptote (Vector Graphics Language)