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Thursday, March 12, 2026, 6:00 AM
Site: Trinity Moodle
Course: Trinity Moodle (Home)
Glossary: Math Notation Help
A

array

$$\begin{array}{|ccc|}a_1&a_2&a_3\\ b_1&b_2&b_3\\ c_1&c_2&c_3\end{array}$$ is \begin{array}{|ccc|}a_1&a_2&a_3\\ b_1&b_2&b_3\\ c_1&c_2&c_3\end{array}

B

beta (lower case greek letter)

$$\beta$$ gives \beta

big sum

$$\bigsum_{n+2}^x$$   is   \bigsum_{n+2}^x

braces

  • Syntax: \left{...\right}
  • Ex.: $$M=\left{a, b, c\right}$$ gives

M=\left{a, b, c\right}

C

cdot (multiplication)

$$a\cdot~b$$ gives a\cdot~b

chi (lower case greek letter)

$$\chi$$ gives \chi

constants

  • Numbers in formulas are interpreted as constants and they are rendered in non-italic roman font face, which is a widely used convention.
  • Following this convention, variables are shown in italic.
  • Exp.: $$f(x)=3a+x$$ gives

f(x)=3a+x

contour integral

  • General syntax for symbols with a kind of lower and upper limits:

\symbolname_{lowerexpression}^{upperexpression}

  • In general, there are two ways how these lower and upper expressions can be placed: centered below and above the symbol or in a subscript / superscript manner. In the first case the symbol name is preceded by the word "big", in the second there is no prefix.
  • Syntax for the contour integral symbol:

$$\bigoint_{0}^{\infty}$$   gives  

\bigoint_{0}^{\infty}

and

$$\oint_{0}^{\infty}$$   gives 

\oint_{0}^{\infty}

  • Use font size commands for a nicer picture:

$$\LARGE\bigoint_{\small0}^{\small\infty}$$   gives  

\LARGE\bigoint_{\small0}^{\small\infty}

and

$$\large\oint_{\small0}^{\small\infty}$$   gives 

\large\oint_{\small0}^{\small\infty}

coproduct

  • General syntax for symbols with a kind of lower and upper limits:

\symbolname_{lowerexpression}^{upperexpression}

  • In general, there are two ways how these lower and upper expressions can be placed: centered below and above the symbol or in a subscript / superscript manner. In the first case the symbol name is preceded by the word "big", in the second there is no prefix.
  • Note: mimeTeX seems currently only to support the \bigcoprod command.
  • Syntax for coproduct symbol:

$$\bigcoprod_{i=k}^{n}$$   gives  

\bigcoprod_{i=k}^{n}

  • Use font size commands for a nicer picture:

$$\LARGE\bigcoprod_{\small{i=k}}^{\small~n}$$   gives  

\LARGE\bigcoprod_{\small{i=k}}^{\small~n}

D

delimiters (overview)

Delimiters (parentheses, braces, brackets. ...)
CommandExampleResult

\left(... \right)

$$2\left(a+b\right)$$2~\left(a+b\right)
\left[... \right]$$\left[a^2+b^2~\right]$$\left[a^2+b^2~\right]
\left{... \right}$$\left{x^2, x^3, x^4,... \right}$$\left{x^2, x^3, x^4,... \right}
\left\langle... \right\rangle$$\left\langle a,b~\right\rangle$$\left\langle a,b~\right\rangle
\left| ... \right| $$\det\left|\array{a&b\\c&d}\right| $$\det\left|\array{a&b\\c&d}\right|
\left\| ... \right\| $$\left\|f~\right\|$$\left\|f~\right\|

\left{ ... \right.

(note the dot!)

$$f(x)=\left{{x^2, \rm~if x>-1\atop~0, \rm~else}\right.$$

(\rm switches to roman style)

f(x)=\left{{x^2, \rm~if x>-1\atop~0, \rm~else}\right.

\left.{ ... \right\}

(note the dot!)

$$\left.{{\rm~term1\atop\rm~term2}\right}=y$$\left.{{\rm~term1\atop \rm~term2}\right}=y

Note: The delimiters are automatically sizes.