How to Use LaTeX in Markdown
LaTeX is a popular typesetting system used for creating professional-looking documents, particularly in the academic and scientific fields. Markdown, on the other hand, is a lightweight markup language commonly used for writing content that can be easily converted to HTML or other formats. In this post, we will discuss how to use LaTeX in Markdown to enhance the visual appearance of your documents.
1. Inline LaTeX
To include LaTeX expressions within your Markdown text, you can use the dollar sign ($) symbols. For example, to display a mathematical equation like “E = mc^2”, you can write $E = mc^2$. Make sure to enclose the LaTeX code within the dollar signs.
2. Displayed LaTeX
If you want to display a larger equation or mathematical expression on its own line, you can use double dollar signs. For instance, to show the equation for the area of a circle, you would write:
$$
A = \pi r^2
$$
3. LaTeX Environments
LaTeX environments are useful for writing complex mathematical structures, equations, or equations with multiple lines. In Markdown, you can use the double dollar signs along with the desired environment name. For example, to write a system of linear equations, you can utilize the align environment:
$$
\begin{align*}
2x + 3y &= 6 \\
4x - 2y &= 8
\end{align*}
$$
4. Custom LaTeX Packages
Markdown has limited LaTeX support by default, but you can include additional LaTeX packages if needed. To do this, you would typically use a tool or converter that supports custom LaTeX packages, such as pandoc. Consult the documentation of your Markdown converter for instructions on incorporating custom LaTeX packages.
5. Rendering LaTeX in HTML or PDF
Once you have included LaTeX expressions in your Markdown document, you can convert it to HTML or PDF using various tools and converters. For example, you can use pandoc to convert Markdown to HTML with LaTeX expressions rendered correctly. Alternatively, LaTeX to PDF converters like pdflatex or xelatex can convert Markdown files with embedded LaTeX into PDF documents.
By using LaTeX in Markdown, you can combine the simplicity and flexibility of Markdown with the elegance and typesetting capabilities of LaTeX, resulting in beautifully formatted documents.