Useful Symbols and Commands
LaTeX sybmols and command
The type of editor you choose will dictate how your commands will be entered.
- WPQuickLaTeX: For an equation to display in Pressbooks using the QPLaTeX editor, it must be contained within \) and a \).
For example, \)\dfrac{1}{2}\) - MathJax: for an equation to display in Pressbooks using MathJax, it must be contained within [latex][/latex] and [\latex].
For example, [latex][/latex]\dfrac{1}{2}[\latex]
Here are some commonly used symbols
| Symbol | Symbol in LaTeX | Example Code |
| ≈ almost equal to | \approx | z\approx 3.5 z ≈ 3.5 |
| ∠ angle sign | \angle | m\angle A
m∠A |
| \ backslash | \backslash
Since the backslash is used in so many commands, you must write it out like this if you wish for it to appear in LaTeX |
x\backslash y
x\y |
| bold | \textbf{}
\mathbf{} — to bold equations |
\textbf{text}
text |
| ✓ checkmark | \checkmark | 3=3\checkmark
3 = 3 ✓ |
| Δ delta | \Delta (MUST be capital)
\triangle (not bold, like \Delta) |
\Delta x
Δx |
| ° degree sign | ^{\circ} | 180^{\circ}
180° |
| ÷ division sign | \div | 16\div 4
16 ÷ 4 |
| $ dollar sign | \$ (NOTE: $ means something else in code, so use \$ whenever [latexpage] is activated) | \$4
$4 |
| · dot | \cdot | 6\cdot 3
6 · 3 |
| ∈ element o | \in | 3\in {3,5,7,\dots}
3 ∈ {3,5,7, …} |
| … ellipsis | \dots | 1,3,5,\dots 13
1, 3, 5, … 13 |
| ½ fraction | \dfrac{1}{2}
\dfrac{}{} creates a larger (or “display”) fraction than \frac |
\dfrac{1}{2}
½ |
| > greater than | > | 6 > 3 |
| ≥ greater than or equal to | \ge | 6 \ge y
6 ≥ y |
| ∞ infinity | \infty | (3,\infty)
(3, ∞) |
| ∩ intersection | \cap | (3,5) \cap (8,\infty)
(3,5) ∩ (8,∞) |
| italics | \emph{} | \emph{text}
text |
| Less than | < | 6 < 8 |
| ≤ less than or equal to | \le | 3 \le x
3 ≤ x |
| − minus sign | - | -3
−3 |
| × multiplication sign | \times | 5\times 2
5 × 2 |
| ≠ not equal to | \neq | 3 \neq 6
3 ≠ 6 |
| # number sign | \# | \#1
#1 |
| ∥ parallel to | \parallel | A \parallel B
A ∥ B |
| ( ) parentheses | \left( OR ( \right) OR )The more complicated notation is only required when used with certain other symbols, such as fractions. To save yourself time, try the simple parentheses first. |
\left(3+4\right) (3 + 4)(3+4) (3 + 4) |
| % per cent sign | \% | 6\%
6% |
| ⟂ perpendicular to | \perp | CD \perp EF
CD ⟂ EF |
| ℼ pi | \pi | A=\pi r^2
A=ℼr2 |
| ± plus-minus sign | \pm | \pm3
±3 |
| £ pound sign | \pounds | \pounds 14
£14 |
| ≟ questioned equal to | \stackrel{?}{=} | 3 \stackrel{?}{=} x
3 ≟ x |
| √ square root ∛ nth root |
\sqrt{} \sqrt[n]{} |
\sqrt{25} √25\sqrt[3]{81} ∛81 |
| Subscript and superscripts
-Subscripts and superscripts can be nested and combined in various ways. When nesting subscripts/superscripts, remember that each command must refer to a single element; this can be a single letter or number, as in the examples above, or a more complex mathematical expression collected in braces or brackets. |
Subscript use _
Superscript use ^ |
1_2
1^2 |
| ⊂ subset of | \subset | x \subset y
x ⊂ y |
| underline | \underline{} | \underline{text}
text |
| ∪ union | \cup | (1,3) \cup (5,10)
(1, 3) ∪ (5, 10) |
Find more symbols at: http://tug.ctan.org/tex-archive/info/symbols/comprehensive/symbols-a4.pdf
