Using LaTeX in articles on CodeProject
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A brief intro to using LaTeX in your articles
Introduction
The development of the MathJax javascript library has dragged us kicking and screaming out of the dark days of ASCII math1. Gone are the days when n = n^2 is acceptable because it's just as easy to write \(n = n^2\).
Using MathJax in your articles
Enclose your mathematics within a tag of class "math" and use $...$ to wrap equation blocks and \(...\) to wrap inline equations. eg <div class="math">$...$</div> to wrap a block of equations, or <span class="math">\(...\)</span> for an inline equation.
View the MathJax Tex/LaTeX pages for information on the commands supported.
You also may find it handy to use this online LatTeX editor: http://www.codecogs.com/latex/eqneditor.php. There are a few useful items here:
- It is an easy way to find the particular syntax you need
- If you notice your formula is not rendering properly in the preview you can paste it into here for review. It will tell you, for example, "you have too many unclosed {"
Examples
Some quick examples taken directly from the MathJax pages (but adapted to our implementation) to get you started.
The Lorenz Equations
<div class="math">$\begin{aligned}
\dot{x} & = \sigma(y-x) \\
\dot{y} & = \rho x - y - xz \\
\dot{z} & = -\beta z + xy
\end{aligned} $</div>
becomes
The Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality
<div class="math">$\left( \sum_{k=1}^n a_k b_k \right)^2 \leq
\left( \sum_{k=1}^n a_k^2 \right)
\left( \sum_{k=1}^n b_k^2 \right)$</div>
becomes
A Cross Product Formula
<div class="math">$\mathbf{V}_1 \times \mathbf{V}_2 =
\begin{vmatrix}
\mathbf{i} & \mathbf{j} & \mathbf{k} \\
\frac{\partial X}{\partial u} & \frac{\partial Y}{\partial u} & 0 \\
\frac{\partial X}{\partial v} & \frac{\partial Y}{\partial v} & 0
\end{vmatrix}$</div>
becomes
<p>The probability of getting <span class="math">(k)</span> heads when flipping <span class="math">(n)</span> coins is</p>
becomes
The probability of getting (k) heads when flipping (n) coins is
<div class="math">$P(E) = {n \choose k} p^k (1-p)^{ n-k}$</div>
becomes
An Identity of Ramanujan
<div class="math">$ \frac{1}{\Bigl(\sqrt{\phi \sqrt{5}}-\phi\Bigr) e^{\frac25 \pi}} = 1+\frac{e^{-2\pi}} {1+\frac{e^{-4\pi}} {1+\frac{e^{-6\pi}} {1+\frac{e^{-8\pi}} {1+\ldots} } } } $</div>
A Rogers-Ramanujan Identity
<div class="math">$ 1 + \frac{q^2}{(1-q)}+\frac{q^6}{(1-q)(1-q^2)}+\cdots =
\prod_{j=0}^{\infty}\frac{1}{(1-q^{5j+2})(1-q^{5j+3})}, \quad\quad \text{for $|q|<1$}. $</div>
becomes
Maxwell’s Equations
<div class="math">$ \begin{aligned} \nabla \times \vec{\mathbf{B}} -\, \frac1c\, \frac{\partial\vec{\mathbf{E}}}{\partial t} & = \frac{4\pi}{c}\vec{\mathbf{j}} \\
\nabla \cdot \vec{\mathbf{E}} & = 4 \pi \rho \\
\nabla \times \vec{\mathbf{E}}\, +\, \frac1c\, \frac{\partial\vec{\mathbf{B}}}{\partial t} & = \vec{\mathbf{0}} \\
\nabla \cdot \vec{\mathbf{B}} & = 0 \end{aligned} $</div>