\documentstyle{article}
\begin{document}
An 11 point LaTeX document should start with
\documentstyle[12pt]{article}
\begin{document}
A 12 point LaTeX document should start with
\documentstyle[12pt]{article}
\begin{document}
It should end with
\end{document}
\section{Your Section Title Here}
subsections, e.g.,
\subsection{Your Subsection Title Here}
subsubsections, e.g.,
\subsubsection{You Subsubsection Title Here}
and paragraphs, e.g.,
\paragraph{Your Paragraph Title Here}
An in-line mathematical expression is enclosed between two $ signs. For
example, if I want to include a slope-intercept line equation within
the text line, I will write $y = mx + b$.
If I wanted the same line equation as a displayed equation (i.e., formatted in the center of a line by itself) I would write it as
\[ y = mx + b \]A greek letter would be $\theta$ for lower case, $\Theta$ for upper case. So, $Cos \theta$ and $Sin \theta$ will give you these trigonometric functions.
A subscript is written $a_1$ or $a_{one}$; for superscripts replace the _ with ^ (a single character doesn't need the {}; multiple char's must be enclosed).
Can you tell the following formula: $c^2 = \sqrt{a^2 + b^2}$?
A 4x4 matrix, enclosed in big square brackets should look like this:
\[
\left[
\begin{array}{cccc}
a_{11} & a_{12} & a_{13} & a_{14} \\
a_{21} & a_{22} & a_{23} & a_{24} \\
a_{31} & a_{32} & a_{33} & a_{34} \\
a_{41} & a_{42} & a_{43} & a_{44}
\end{array}{cccc}
\right]
\]
For rounded parenthesis rather than square brackets, replace \left[ and \right] with \left( and \right).
LaTeX will automatically number for you sections (\section{Section title}), subsections within sections (\subsection{}), subsubsections (\subsubsections{}), and paragraphs (\paragraph{}).
You can create an itemized list (all items are marked by bullets)
\begin{itemize}
\item
\item
...
\end{itemize}
or an enumerated list (items will be automatically numbered)
\begin{enumerate}
\item
\item
...
\end{enumerate}
You can nest enumerate and itemize list within themselves and within
each other as you please.
This should probably be enough for you for now; check the LaTeX manual for specific details. If you can't find a manual, stop by my office to look up what you need.
prompt> latex file[.tex]The .tex is optional; any other extension is required for LaTeX to be able to find the file. LaTeX will produce a file.dvi (for device independent) file. You can preview your document now by running:
prompt> xdvi file[.dvi] &xdvi will update the preview every time you run LaTeX and cause an event to happen in the preview window. Do not try to look at the preview window while LaTeX is running, as there will be no valid .dvi file. If you are satisfied with your document, make a PostScript file from it:
prompt> dvips file[.dvi]LaTeX will produce a file.ps PostScript file, which you can print on the laser printer (using lpr) or view on the screen (using ghostview).
haim@cs.uml.edu