TeX resources
Throughout the quarter you will be asked to submit typed solutions to some of your assignments, and the writiting project must also be typed. You're welcome to use any mathematical typesetting program that produces high-quality printable output files. If you've never used such a program before, this page has a few resources and tips for using LaTeX.
LaTeX is a program that allows you to typeset mathematical notation. You, as the author,produce a .tex file including both the body or your work and appropriate formatting codes. A TeX editor program turns this into a beautifully typeset pdf file, as well as producing a collection of auxilliary files (.dvi, .aux, .log). (One note of caution: mathematical nonesense that properly compiles will have the same font and formatting as a brilliant journal article, but ultimately, content is what matters!) Most people learn to use TeX with some amount of trial and error, but a sample can be helpful in getting started.
If you're new to TeX, compare this | tex | document and the
| pdf | it generates to get a sense of how it works. (You may have trouble opening the tex file if you're using a computer without an editor; this
| Word | document shows the code as it would look if you could open the tex file.)
If you're making your own TeX document, it's often convenient to copy an existing file (like the one above) and replace the content between "\begin{document}" and "\end{document}" with your own.
The process of turning your tex file into a pdf varies depending on what program you're using. The computers on campus with TeX run TeXShop, which is fairly easy to use. The upper left corner of the screen has a "Typeset" button; if your file is written properly, clicking this button will produce the .pdf, .aux, .dvi, and .log files, and the pdf file will open to show you what your output looks like.
If, however, you have a mistake in your file, it may not compile. A console will appear that tells you something about what went wrong. For example, this is a
| screenshot | of what happens when I try to compile a tex file with an error. Specifically, I removed the closing "$" from the expression "$x_1$" (about 8 lines below the bottom edge of the console) in the sample file above. This means that I entered math mode but didn't leave it, so the file can't compile. It's not always easy to find errors like this, so it's a good idea to typeset often as you go along.
These are some links that you may find helpful:
Introduction to LaTeX
| TeXShop on Campus |
If you'd prefer to download a copy of TeXShop for your Mac, click
here. (Please note that this is an external link and I can't offer technical support on installation.)
If you are a Windows user, visit this (external) site to find information and downloads for WinEdt(5.5), GSview(4.9), Ghostscript(8.57) and MikTex(2.7). (Kaiyuan can answer questions about using these programs once they're fully installed.)
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