Types of Math Mode

LaTeX provides two main types of math mode:

1. Inline Math Mode

   For mathematical expressions that are part of a text paragraph. Delimited by either $...$ or \(...\):

2. Display Math Mode

   For standalone equations. Delimited by $$...$$, \[...\], or the equation environment:

   \egin{equation}x = \rac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\end{equation}

Basic Mathematical Notation

Equation Environments

LaTeX provides several environments for displaying equations:

1. equation Environment

   For numbered equations:

   \egin{equation}E = mc^2\end{equation}

2. equation* Environment

   For unnumbered equations:

   \egin{equation*}F = ma\end{equation*}

3. align Environment

   For multiple aligned equations:

   \egin{align*}x &= 3 + 2 \\y &= 3x + 1 \\z &= x + y\end{align*}

Common Math Operators

LaTeX provides predefined commands for common mathematical operators:

Best Practices

• Use \(...\) instead of $...$ for better error detection
• Use display math mode for complex equations that might be hard to read inline
• Use the amsmath package for advanced mathematical typesetting
• Always use proper spacing commands (\,, \;, \quad) for better readability
• Use the align environment for equations that need alignment

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Don't use math mode for units - use the siunitx package instead
• Avoid using eqnarray environment (it's obsolete) - use align instead
• Don't forget to load required packages (amsmath, amssymb) in the preamble
• Avoid mixing text and math mode unnecessarily