TeX Resources

TeX is a program for typesetting mathematics. If you have a version of TeX installed on your computer, you can try it out by downloading any of the following example files and double clicking on them. All the examples are LaTeX files; be sure to select LaTeX in the menu when you typeset the file. Many Macintosh computers across campus (including the Walker Hall labs and, thanks to Bryan Estel, the macs in the library) have the MacTeX distribution installed. All of these files should work on any of those machines. The files may not always open with a typesetting application; you may need to search applications for "tex ". (A space after the x will filter out stuff that works on text files.)

• simple.tex prints a simple page suitable for short notes and quizzes.
• problems.tex is a format for typing up problems and their solutions.
• template.tex is a template for producing a four slide report on a mathematician.
• slideheader.tex is an old format for producing landscape transparencies.
• Beamer is a nice package for preparing presentations that will be delivered with a computer and a projector. Here is a presentation built from the file bdemo.tex, including the graphic bdemog.pdf.
• withbib.tex provides a format for printing articles using the AMSrefs bibliography system.
• posterheader.tex is a way to produce an A0 (46.8" by 33.1") poster using the sciposter package in Latex. This package is included in the MacTeX distribution, which is installed on all the lab Macs on campus. If you want to use nsf logo, you will need to also download nsf1.pdf. A manual for the sciposter package can be downloaded from CTAN. To print a 8 1/2 by 11 draft of your poster, typeset the file, open the resulting pdf file with Adobe Reader or Preview, and print it in landscape mode, scaled to 22%.
• You can also use beamer to produce posters. See the instructions on the department's TeX page.

Here are pointers to some additional resources:

• The ASU math department's TeX page.
• The CTAN distribution of materials related to the (More) Math into LaTeX multimedia short course on installing and using TeX.
• The site for the MacTeX distribution, a free TeX installation for Macintoshes.
• The site for the ProTeXt distribution, a free TeX installation for Windows.
• How to install the AMSrefs package for easy typesetting of math bibliographies. (MacTeX and ProTeXt both automatically install this package.)
• The Wiki page for latex contains many examples and ends with a short list of frequently used symbols. A comprehensive (and huge) list of symbols is available from CTAN, with math symbols on pages 23-77.

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