Resource guide
Beginner's LaTeX Guide
LaTeX is the standard typesetting system for math, physics, and CS. This guide walks you through installing it on macOS, Windows, and Linux, picking an editor, and writing your first problem set.
Why LaTeX?
Math looks the way it should
LaTeX (pronounced "LAY-tek" or "LAH-tek") is the tool mathematicians, physicists, and computer scientists use to write papers, theses, and homework. You write in plain text with markup like $x^2 + y^2 = r^2$, and LaTeX produces a beautifully typeset PDF.
It's worth learning early. Most upper-level Tulane math courses expect typed proofs, and every graduate program, REU, and research advisor will assume you can write in LaTeX. Once you've done one problem set in it, you'll never want to go back to Word's equation editor.
Two paths
- Overleaf runs in your browser. Easiest start, great for group work.
- Local install runs on your laptop. Fast, offline, and what you'll want for long documents.
You can switch between them anytime. The .tex files are identical.
Pick a setup
Overleaf vs. a local install
Both produce identical PDFs. The trade-off is convenience vs. control.
Overleaf
Browser-based, no install. The fastest way to start.
Pros
- Nothing to install. Works in any browser.
- Real-time collaboration with classmates.
- Forced cloud backup and version history.
- Always-fresh package versions.
- Free tier is enough for most coursework.
Trade-offs
- Requires an internet connection to compile.
- Free tier limits compile time on long documents (slow theses).
- Free tier limits collaborators per project.
- You don't learn how a real TeX install works.
- Files live on a third-party server.
Local install
Runs on your machine. Better for long documents and offline work.
Pros
- Compiles offline, instantly, with no time limits.
- Works on huge documents (theses, lecture notes, books).
- Integrates with your editor of choice (VS Code, Vim, Emacs, TeXShop).
- Full control over packages and fonts.
- Your files stay in your own Git repo / Drive / Dropbox.
Trade-offs
- First install is 2 to 5 GB and can take a while.
- Collaboration needs Git or a shared folder.
- You manage updates yourself (one command, but still).
- Slightly steeper learning curve.
Our recommendation: start on Overleaf to learn the syntax in your first week, then install a local distribution once you're writing anything longer than a problem set. Tulane students working on a thesis or REU paper almost always end up local.
Install LaTeX locally
Pick your operating system
Each distribution is free, official, and maintained by the TeX User Group (TUG) or its community. The download is large (2 to 5 GB), so give it some time.
macOS
MacTeX
Download: ~5 GB
- 1Open https://www.tug.org/mactex/ and download MacTeX.pkg.
- 2Double-click the .pkg and follow the installer (admin password needed).
- 3Open TeXShop from /Applications. It comes with MacTeX.
- 4File → New, paste the starter template below, hit ⌘T to typeset.
- 5If you'd rather use VS Code, install the LaTeX Workshop extension and point it at /Library/TeX/texbin/.
Windows
MiKTeX
Download: ~2 GB (basic) or ~5 GB (full)
- 1Open https://miktex.org/download and download the Windows installer.
- 2Run it. Choose 'Install missing packages on the fly: Yes' so you don't have to babysit it.
- 3Install TeXstudio from https://www.texstudio.org/ (or use VS Code + LaTeX Workshop).
- 4Open TeXstudio, paste the starter template below, press F5 to build and view.
- 5Alternative: TeX Live for Windows works the same way but is one big up-front download.
Linux
TeX Live
Download: ~5 GB
- 1Use your package manager. On Ubuntu / Debian: sudo apt install texlive-full.
- 2Fedora: sudo dnf install texlive-scheme-full. Arch: sudo pacman -S texlive-most texlive-lang.
- 3For the very latest TeX Live (newer than your distro ships), use the official installer from https://www.tug.org/texlive/.
- 4Install TeXstudio (sudo apt install texstudio) or use VS Code + LaTeX Workshop.
- 5Open the editor, paste the starter template, build with F5 or pdflatex on the command line.
Editors
Pick where you'll actually write
The distribution is the compiler. The editor is where you do the work. Try one; you can always switch.
TeXShop
macOS only
Bundled with MacTeX. Clean, simple, native Mac feel. Great default for new Mac users.
TeXstudio
macOS, Windows, Linux
Cross-platform, free, with a built-in symbol palette and structure view. Friendly for beginners on any OS.
VS Code + LaTeX Workshop
macOS, Windows, Linux
Modern editor most CS-minded students already use. Install the LaTeX Workshop extension and you get live PDF preview, snippets, and Git integration.
Overleaf
Browser
If you'd rather not install anything, Overleaf is a great starting point. You can always export the .tex source later and switch to a local setup.
Your first document
A starter template for problem sets
Copy this into a new file called problem-set-1.tex. Compile it. You're done.
It uses amsmath, amssymb, and amsthm (the AMS packages every math student needs) and defines a problem / solution environment so your homework looks tidy.
\documentclass[11pt]{article}
\usepackage[margin=1in]{geometry}
\usepackage{amsmath, amssymb, amsthm}
\usepackage{hyperref}
\newtheorem{problem}{Problem}
\newenvironment{solution}
{\noindent\textit{Solution.}\quad}
{\hfill$\square$\par\medskip}
\title{Math 1230 Problem Set 1}
\author{Your Name}
\date{\today}
\begin{document}
\maketitle
\begin{problem}
Prove that $\sqrt{2}$ is irrational.
\end{problem}
\begin{solution}
Suppose, for contradiction, that $\sqrt{2} = p/q$ in lowest terms with
$p, q \in \mathbb{Z}$ and $\gcd(p, q) = 1$. Then $p^2 = 2 q^2$, so $p^2$
is even, so $p$ is even. Write $p = 2k$. Then $4 k^2 = 2 q^2$, so $q^2$ is
even, so $q$ is even. But then $\gcd(p, q) \geq 2$, contradicting our
assumption.
\end{solution}
\end{document}Going further
Trusted references
When you get stuck, these are the first places to look.
Not So Short Intro to LaTeX2e
Tobias Oetiker et al.
The classic free PDF. ~150 pages, covers everything you'll need for the first two years.
Overleaf Documentation
overleaf.com
Excellent topic-based tutorials. Useful even if you compile locally.
TeX Stack Exchange
tex.stackexchange.com
Where every weird LaTeX error you'll ever hit has already been answered.
Detexify
detexify.kirelabs.org
Draw a symbol, get the LaTeX command. Genuinely magical.
AMS Short Math Guide
American Mathematical Society
A 17-page cheat sheet for math typesetting. Print it.
CTAN
ctan.org
The Comprehensive TeX Archive Network. Every LaTeX package lives here.
Stuck on the install?
Email us. We'll walk you through it, or pair up at the next meeting. We also run a hands-on LaTeX workshop most semesters.