Research Guides: LaTeX: Useful Commands

Commonly Used LaTeX Commands

Here are some commands to get you started. If you'd like to insert an equation within your text, surround your equation with single dollar signs ($). If you'd like the equation to be on its own line, use double dollar signs ($$).

Formula

How to type it

Comments

$$\approx$$

$$\equiv$$

$$\neq$$

$$\le$$

$$\ge$$

\approx

\equiv

\neq

\le

\ge

$$\mathbb{N}, \mathbb{Z}, \mathbb{Q}, \mathbb{R}, \mathbb{C}$$

$$\aleph$$

\mathbb{N}

\aleph

natural, integers, rational, real, complex

aleph

$$\gamma, \delta, \lambda$$

$$\Gamma, \Delta, \Lambda$$

\gamma

\Gamma

lowercase Greek

Capital Greek

$$x^2$$

$$2^{xy}$$

x^2

2^{xy}

superscript

$$C_8 H_{10} N_4 O_2$$

C_8 H_{10} N_4 O_2

subscript

$$\frac{a}{b}$$

\frac{a}{b}

fraction

$$\sqrt{n}$$

$$\sqrt[n]{ab}$$

\sqrt{n}

\sqrt[n]{ab}

radical (root)

$$\sum_{j=0}^n$$

$$\prod_{i=0}^m$$

\sum_{j=0}^{n}

\prod_{i=0}^m

sum

product

$$\lim_{x \to \infty}$$

\lim_{x \to \infty}

limit

$$\int x \, dx$$

$$\int_1^5 x \, dx$$

\int x \, dx

\int_1^5 x \, dx

integral

( \, adds a space)

Stuck?

Having trouble finding the command for the symbol you need?

Try Detexify. This site allows you to draw a symbol with your mouse. Then it tries to guess the symbol you want and gives you the LaTeX command. A new version is on the way that will have more features. Accessed 05/8/14.