Math & Science ⇒ Math Commands Not Working

[gremlint]

I cannot figure out how to get any of the math commands to work (such as \infty).

I just get error messages.

Maybe I should just stick with pencil and paper and throw the computer (and this LaTeX software) out the window. It's clear as mud.

[Stefan Kottwitz]

You need to switch to math mode for math commands. Embed math commands within \( ... \) (LaTeX inline math) or $ ... $ (TeX inline math). For example:

Code: Select all

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
\( \infty \)

$ \infty $ 
\end{document}

This basic topic can be read in every LaTeX tutorial. You cannot expect to easily use LaTeX without reading something. A consistent way for a quick start can be reading a book, browsing tutorials on the internet can be a bit bothersome some times. That's why I wrote a LaTeX beginner's guide.

Perhaps have a look at the freely available mathmode guide.

Stefan

[localghost]

A good free tutorial is »LaTeX for complete Novices«. It has been updated recently.


Thorsten

[gremlint]

You cannot expect to easily use LaTeX without reading something.

Excuse me? That's insulting. Why do you assume that I have not? The fact is that I spent my entire evening reading not one but two of these tutorials. One of them is the reference that localghost recommends — http://theoval.cmp.uea.ac.uk/~nlct/latex/novices — and the other is "More Math into LaTeX" by Rainer Schöpf.

I find them poorly organized, and they fail to explain basic organizational structure, such as what the h*** "packages" are. I still don't know.

[Stefan Kottwitz]

Why do you assume that I have not? The fact is that I spent my entire evening reading not one but two of these tutorials. One of them is the reference that localghost recommends — http://theoval.cmp.uea.ac.uk/~nlct/latex/novices — and the other is "More Math into LaTeX" by Rainer Schöpf.

Well, so you have read 9. Mathematics:

In order to use any of the maths commands we need to be in one of the mathematics environments. There are two basic types of mathematics: in-line maths and displayed maths.

The next two small sections explain those two math modes. It's pretty similar to what I wrote above.

So, did it help you writing math symbols, are you able to write \infty now, is the problem solved?

Stefan

[localghost]

[…] I find them poorly organized, and they fail to explain basic organizational structure, such as what the h*** "packages" are. I still don't know.

But this is not the topic in this thread. So, please keep the point. If you are now able to write in math mode without complications, please accept the answer that led you to the solution.


Thorsten