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Inline vs Display Math

Math is LaTeX's super power. There are two primary modes for typesetting mathematics:

1. Inline Mode ($...$)

Use inline mode to mix mathematical symbols within the flow of text. For example, writing $E=mc^2$ produces \(E=mc^2\) right here.

Syntax

  • Wrap your math expression in single dollar signs: $ ... $
  • Alternatively, use \( ... \) (LaTeX standard).

Example: The equation for a line is \(y = mx + b\), where \(m\) is the slope and \(b\) is the y-intercept.

2. Display Mode (\[...\] or $$...$$)

Display mode centers the equation on its own line and uses larger symbols for readability. For example: $$ \int_0^\infty e{-x2} dx = \frac{\sqrt{\pi}}{2} $$

Syntax

  • Unnumbered Equation: Use \[ ... \] (recommended) or $$ ... $$ (TeX primitive, often used but less robust).
  • Numbered Equation: Use the equation environment for automatic numbering.

Example (Numbered):

\begin{equation}
    x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}
    \label{eq:quadratic}
\end{equation}

This will produce a centered equation with a number like (1) on the right side. You can reference it later using \ref{eq:quadratic}.

Aligning Equations

For multi-line equations, use the align environment (requires amsmath package). alignment points are marked with &.

\begin{align}
    f(x) &= (x+1)^2 \\
         &= x^2 + 2x + 1
\end{align}

The \\ creates a new line. The & aligns the equals signs.

To suppress numbering for specific lines, use \nonumber or switch to align*.