Jordan Watts' Homepage

LaTeX Template

Here you will find the basics needed to begin using LaTeX, the typical math-writing language that mathematicians and other scientists use for math-heavy writing.

The first thing that you need is the software (all of this is free, by the way). Then, grab the template below, and play around with some of the commands and environments that you see at the provided links.

  1. One option is Overleaf, which is an online collaborative LaTeX editor. But if you want to have the software on your computer, you should have MiKTeX, and an editor (see the following).
  2. I recommend first downloading and installing MiKTeX. This installs all of the common and even not-so-common LaTeX packages that you will be using. CMU computers should already have this installed (or ask to have it installed).
  3. Next, download a LaTeX editor. I have come to like TeXworks, although there are plenty of other free editors out there that are decent. CMU computers should already have TeXworks installed (or ask to have it installed).
  4. A LaTeX template is available here.
  5. Here is a link to the basic LaTeX commands for Greek letters, math symbols, etc., hosted by the OEIS Foundation. Another good website is Detexify, where you can draw a symbol that you need, and you are given the code for the symbol (and the package required).
  6. To make theorem, proof, list, equation, etc. environments, a good primer can be found here, managed by Agnès Beaudry at the University of Colorado Boulder.

If you are looking for a LaTeX way of doing a PowerPoint presentation, what you want is Beamer. You create these the same way that you create a LaTeX file, but use the Beamer package. (You should set your LaTeX editor to download packages automatically as needed; otherwise, you will need to install it on your own.) I have created a Beamer template: