# Difference between revisions of "LaTeX"

 LaTeX About - Getting Started - Diagrams - Symbols - Downloads - Basics - Math - Examples - Pictures - Layout - Commands - Packages - Help

The $\LaTeX$ typesetting system (pronounced "Lay-Tek" by most, or "Lah-Tek" by some, or even "Lay-Tex) is widely used to produce well-formatted mathematical and scientific writing. With $\LaTeX$, it is very easy to produce expressions like $$\sqrt{\frac {a^2+b^2+c^2}3} \geq \frac {a+b+c}3 \geq \sqrt[3]{abc} \geq \frac 3 { \frac 1a + \frac 1b + \frac 1c } .$$ Nearly every serious student of math and science will use $\LaTeX$ frequently. Through these web pages, you will learn much of what you'll need to express math and science like a professional.

• Click here to start learning how to use $\LaTeX$ on AoPS
Main article: Asymptote

Asymptote is a powerful vector graphics language designed for creating mathematical diagrams and figures. It can output images in either eps or pdf format and is compatible with the standard mathematics typesetting language, LaTeX. It is also a complete programming language and has cleaner syntax than its predecessor, MetaPost, which was a language used only for two-dimensional graphics.

Here is an example of an image that can be produced using Asymptote:

In a sense, Asymptote is the ruler and compass of typesetting.

You can use Asymptote on the AoPSWiki right now, by enclosing the Asymptote code within <asy>...</asy> tags. For example, the following code

<asy>
draw((0,0)--(3,7),red);
dot((0,0));
dot((3,7));
label("Produced with Asymptote "+version.VERSION,point(S),2S);
</asy>

created the picture

$[asy] draw((0,0)--(3,7),red); dot((0,0)); dot((3,7)); label("Produced with Asymptote "+version.VERSION,point(S),2S); [/asy]$

And on the AoPS forums you can use [asy]..[/asy]

Another example:

[asy]
pair A,B,C,X,Y,Z;
A = (0,0);
B = (1,0);
C = (0.3,0.8);
draw(A--B--C--A);
X = (B+C)/2;
Y = (A+C)/2;
Z = (A+B)/2;
draw(A--X, red);
draw(B--Y,red);
draw(C--Z,red);
[/asy]

$[asy] pair A,B,C,X,Y,Z; A = (0,0); B = (1,0); C = (0.3,0.8); draw(A--B--C--A); X = (B+C)/2; Y = (A+C)/2; Z = (A+B)/2; draw(A--X, red); draw(B--Y,red); draw(C--Z,red); [/asy]$