Cheat Sheet
Equation to LaTeX: Symbols & Commands
A quick reference for the LaTeX commands that render Greek letters, operators, fractions, matrices and arrows. Search by name or command, copy to clipboard.
| Symbol | LaTeX Command | Requires |
|---|---|---|
| Greek lettersα | \alpha | — |
| β | \beta | — |
| γ | \gamma | — |
| δ | \delta | — |
| ε | \epsilon | — |
| ζ | \zeta | — |
| θ | \theta | — |
| λ | \lambda | — |
| μ | \mu | — |
| π | \pi | — |
| σ | \sigma | — |
| ω | \omega | — |
| Operators± | \pm | — |
| × | \times | — |
| ÷ | \div | — |
| · | \cdot | — |
| ≠ | \neq | — |
| ≈ | \approx | — |
| ≤ | \leq | — |
| ≥ | \geq | — |
| ∞ | \infty | — |
| Fractions & Roots⁄ | \frac{numerator}{denominator} | amsmath |
| √ | \sqrt{x} | — |
| ∛ | \sqrt[n]{x} | — |
| C | \binom{n}{k} | amsmath |
| Sums, Integrals & Limits∑ | \sum_{i=1}^{n} | — |
| ∫ | \int_a^b | — |
| ∬ | \iint | amsmath |
| lim | \lim_{x \to a} | amsmath |
| Matrices( ) | \begin{pmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{pmatrix} | amsmath |
| [ ] | \begin{bmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{bmatrix} | amsmath |
| | | | \begin{vmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{vmatrix} | amsmath |
| Arrows→ | \rightarrow | — |
| ← | \leftarrow | — |
| ↔ | \leftrightarrow | — |
| ⇒ | \Rightarrow | — |
| Sets & Relations∈ | \in | — |
| ∉ | \notin | — |
| ⊂ | \subset | — |
| ∀ | \forall | — |
| ∃ | \exists | — |
| ∅ | \emptyset | — |
| ∪ | \cup | — |
| ∩ | \cap | — |
Worked Example
Building the Quadratic Formula in LaTeX
Below is a step-by-step example showing how to construct the quadratic formula from individual commands. Each step builds on the previous one, and the final result is ready to copy and compile.
$ ... $ for inline and $$ ... $$ for display mode.
Related Tool
Build LaTeX tables
This cheat sheet pairs with the LaTeX Table Generator, which handles the more complex task of constructing tabular and booktabs code. That tool is for table structure; this page is for the symbols and commands that go inside them.
FAQ
Questions about LaTeX symbols
What is the difference between $ and $$ in LaTeX?
$...$ creates inline math mode — the formula flows within a paragraph of text. $$...$$ or \[...\] creates display math mode, which centers the equation on its own line. Use inline for short expressions within a sentence, and display mode for prominent equations.
Do I need \usepackage{amsmath} for every equation?
Basic equations work without it. However, amsmath is recommended for nearly all mathematical typesetting because it provides environments like align, multline, and enhancements to equation. Most LaTeX preambles include \usepackage{amsmath} by default. Check the "Requires" column in the table for symbols that need specific packages.
Why doesn't my symbol display correctly in LaTeX?
Unicode symbols in your source need explicit package support. If you are using pdfLaTeX with Unicode characters, add \usepackage[utf8]{inputenc} to your preamble. Better yet, use XeLaTeX or LuaLaTeX, which handle Unicode natively and require fewer package declarations.
What is the difference between \frac and \dfrac?
\frac uses the current style (smaller in superscripts and subscripts). \dfrac forces display-size fractions even in inline math. Use \frac for most cases and \dfrac only when you need larger fractions for readability in inline math.
Can I use these commands in Google Docs or Microsoft Word?
These are native LaTeX commands. Google Docs and Word do not use LaTeX by default — they have their own equation editors. However, some add-ons like TeXsword or AutoLatex can render LaTeX in Google Docs. For native LaTeX support, use Overleaf or a LaTeX editor on your computer.
Sources