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# Typing latex

I have a few questions about typing LaTeX. However, I know the basics of LaTeX, but the answers to my following questions would help my LaTeX equations look better. Any kind of help is appreciated.

1) In certain submitted solutions I have seen the LaTeX equations to be aligned at the center instead of beside the text. Is there any code which aligns the equations at the center?

2) When I type summations or definite integrals in LaTeX, for example \sum{i=0}^{n} i^2 or \int{0}^{2 \pi} cos( \theta) d\theta, they appear respectively as $$\sum_{i=0}^{n} i^2$$ and $$\int_{0}^{2 \pi} cos( \theta) d\theta$$. Note that the subscripts and superscripts do not appear exactly above the $$\sum$$ or the $$\int$$ sign, but to a little right of them. However in some comments in Brilliant discussions, for example this one, I have seen that the superscripts and subscripts can be written directly above the mathematical signs. What is the code to do it?

I am asking it here only because I know it is possible, but the LaTeX guideline does not seem to answer it. Any kind of help will be appreciated. $$☺$$

Thanks!

Note by Sreejato Bhattacharya
3 years, 7 months ago

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\ [ latex \ ] aligns in the center and on a new line while \ ( latex \ ) aligns right or with text. At least I think so. · 3 years, 7 months ago

\displaystyle \sum_{i=0}^{n}i^2 in math brackets will appear as $$\displaystyle \sum_{i=0}^{n}i^2$$ · 3 years, 7 months ago

$\displaystyle \sum_{i=0}^n i^2= \frac{n(n+1)(2n+1)}{6}$

Thanks! · 3 years, 7 months ago

The intention of display style is to let inline equations, i.e. those of the form \ ( \ ), be allowed to take up more than 1 line of space, for example $$\displaystyle \sum_{i=0}^n i^2$$. This could cause your paragraph of text to appear jumpy, since the subscripts and superscripts now require more line width, as you can see in this paragraph.

Conversely, since stand-along equations, i.e. those of the form \ [ \ ], already take up a chunk of their own space, and hence the equations (tend to) display as intended. It is not required to use \displaystyle (which you did in your code above) Staff · 3 years, 7 months ago

Now that your queries are answered, I would like to add that you can write "cos" in a neater way. Use \cos in your latex code i.e $$\displaystyle \cos$$. You see that it looks much better than simply writing "cos" in your code. The same works for other trig functions too.

Limits can be applied to a definite integral the same way you would do for a summation. $\int_{0}^{1} f(x) dx$ · 3 years, 7 months ago

Now I have a tip for you, instead of just appending $$dx$$ to your integral, you should seperate it by \, like this:

$\text{\int_0^1 f(x) \, dx } \implies \int_0^1 f(x) \, dx$

It's not really a big deal, but it does look a tiny bit nicer. · 3 years, 7 months ago

It does look better, thanks! · 3 years, 7 months ago

$\text{\sum\limits_{i=0}^n i^2 } \implies \sum\limits_{i=0}^n i^2$ · 3 years, 7 months ago

Or use the $$\LaTeX$$ \displaystyle · 10 months ago