Latex Math Tips

Summations

• If summations become cramped, use \displaystyle before \sum.
• If summations should be cramped, use \textstyle before \sum.

Numbering lines of equations using align

• Use align to number all lines; use align* to switch off numbering
• In align, use \notag before \\ to switch off numbering for a line
• In align*, use \tag{...} to number (or rather tag) a line
• Given a numbered/tagged line, use \label{...} before \\ to refer to the line using \ref{...}.
• Use \allowdisplaybreaks to allow a single equation block to be split over two pages.

Canceling terms in expressions

• \usepackage{cancel}
• Four options: \cancel{...}, \bcancel{...}, \xcancel{...}, \cancelto{<val>}{...} (in math mode)
• Use \usepackage{ulem}, \sout{...} to strike out text.

Others

• Use \boxed{} to put a box around equations(to highlight them). Note: If you use it within the align environment, it should not contain the `&'; otherwise it will give an error.
• Use \newcommand{\myfrac}[2]{\ensuremath{\frac{#1}{#2}}} to define new commands (\myfrac) with many (2) arguments, and specify replacement latex code (\ensuremath...), including references to the arguments (#1, #2, ...). The new command can now be used in normal latex code (\myfrac{a}{b}). Aside: \ensuremath{} forces its contents to be interpreted in a math environment.