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Psychic | Style Guide
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Psychic - LaTeX Formatting Style Guide

LaTeX is a powerful typesetting tool used to render mathematics into a readable style. This
guide is not aimed at teaching you how to use LaTeX but instead what styles and conventions
are required by this project. We include several resources below if you wish to brush up or learn
LaTeX.

Suggested LaTeX Resources

The best way to learn LaTeX is through examples and by using online resources like

​ Art of Problem Solving

​ LaTeX Symbols

​ LaTeX Gen Tool for Psychic

Note the last item is a Psychic Project specific tool that will help you convert math to
proper LaTeX format required in this project.

Required LaTeX Deliminators

In this project the only acceptable deliminators for math-mode are

​ \(...\) to be used for inline math

​ \[...\] to be used for display math

Display LaTeX
Markdown

A basic
fact from
trig is
\(\sin(\pi/2
) = 1\).
 A famous
formula in
Physics is
\[
E = mc^2\,.
\]

Delimiters & Punctuation

In this project proper punctuation is paramount! When combining this with math delimiters
please take special note:

Math
Punctuation
Mode Example
Rule
Style

Punctuation If \(x=2\)
Inline
→ OUTSIDE then
math
\(x^2 =
4\).

Display Punctuation If \(x=2\)

Style → INSIDE then
math \[
x^2 = 4.
\]

Delimiter Warning

DO NOT USE $...$ or $$...$$ in this project – they are not permitted
as they confuse with the dollar symbol.
Required Style for Multiple Steps Equations

Often you will need to write math that consists of a series of equalities or a series of steps. In
this project, there is a specific way this needs to be done. The allowed and a few not
allowed options are shown below:

Allowed? Display LaTeX Rationale

Markdown

\[ Uses the
\begin{aligned aligned
} environment
f(x) &= x^2 + which is the
Good 5x + 7 -6x -9 \\ required
& = x^2 -x-2\\ style for this
&= (x+1)(x-2) project.
\end{aligned}
\]

\[ Uses the
aligned
\begin{aligned environment
} for systems
of
z &= 3x-5y+w equations.
\\
Good
z &= x+y+w\\

z &= 2x+2y+2w

\end{aligned}

\]

\(5(x - 2) - 3 = All the steps

5x - 10 - 3 = 5x are on one
- 13\) line. This is
Bad
not
permitted in
this project.
 \(12x - 3 = Although
57\) these related
\(12x = 60\) steps are on
\(x = 5\) multiple
lines, they
are each in
Bad
their own
math
environment.
This is not
permitted in
this project.

Important Details about Aligned Environment

When using the aligned environment note the following crucial details:

​ The equations are encapsulated by \begin{aligned} \end{aligned}.

​ The symbol ‘&’ is a special symbol here which lines up the ‘=’ signs for us.

​ Each line is seperated by another special symbol ‘\\’

​ The whole alignment environment is in math mode using \( \). If we want

to display this we could use \[ \].

Special Symbol Warning

Symbols like & and $ are reserved LaTeX symbols

and must be used with appropriately. If you want
to write something like the

Then you would need to write it as

If $x = \$4$ \& $y = $\$5 then $x+ y = \$9$.
Note that we use the escape character \ in front of
these special symbols. We strongly recommend
avoiding these situations if possible.

Symbols & Operators

 Greek Symbols

Often you will need to use Greek symbols such as

Δ, θ, π, λ

In LaTeX these symbols can be written in math-mode as

\Delta, \Theta, \pi, \lambda.

Although most of the time, the LaTeX code is just the symbol name, please
consult the links at the top of this document for complete documentation on
this. For example

Display LaTeX
Markdown

\[
\alpha\sin(\thet
a + \delta) =
\beta
\]

Symbol Warning

Never copy/paste rendered math symbols like the ones shown above directly into
LaTeX. Instead use the appropriate command – it is not only easier but right!

Multiplication, Division, and Fraction Style

Operation Display LaTeX Rationale

Markdown
 \(a b\) or ​ Use
\(4\cdot 3\) juxtapo
sition
when
there is
no
ambigu
ity, as
in
multipl
ying
variabl
es.
​ Use
\cdot if
Multiplication there is
ambigu
ity such
as with
number
s, i.e.,
43
doesn’t
mean 4
times 3
​ DO
NOT
use ‘x’
or * for
multipli
cation.
 \(\frac{a^2+
​ Use
1}{b-3}
\frac{}{
\(4/3\)
} for
most
fraction
s and
certainl
y when
the
fraction
s are
compli
cated.

​ You
can
also
use
variant
Division s of
this like
\dfrac
for
displayi
ng
larger
fraction
s

​ Use ‘/’
only
when
the
fraction
s are
simple
as
shown
here.
 \(e^{i\theta}
​ Use the
\)
symbol
\( 2^{2^2} \)
^
\(x^y\)
​ Note
that we
need
curly
bracket
s { } if
Exponents the
expone
nt is
more
than
one
symbol

​ DO
NOT
use **

\(\pi \approx ​ Use the

3.1415\) \appro
x
symbol
whenev
er an
approxi
mation
is
involve
Approximation d, such
as
roundin
g.

​ DO
NOT
use
\appro
x
directly
 after an
operato
r (e.g.
\(10
\times
\appro
x 5\)).

Plain Text & LaTeX Typeface

Mathematical functions

When writing any mathematical function like cos(x) or sqrt(x) or ln(x) they require ‘\’ to
be rendered correctly.

If you want to write plain text inside math mode then use \text{} or \textrm{}.

Allowed? Display LaTeX Rationale

Markdown

\( Correct
\sqrt{x^2-1 usage with
} \) ‘\’
Good \( \cos(\pi)
\)
\(\ln e =
1\)

\( cos(\pi) The ‘\’ is

\) missing
\(ln e = 1\) causing
Bad the math
to not
render
correctly
 \( \cos(x)} Proper use
\textrm{ of
and \textrm{}
Good }\sin(x)\) to render
are trig text in
functions. math
mode

\( \cos(x)} Improper,
and\sin(x)\ as ‘and’
) are trig was
Bad functions. incorrectly
interpreted
as math

Lists

Lists should be in Markdown format.

Bulleted Lists

​ Do NOT use \begin{itemize} \end{itemize} or latex syntax for lists.

​ If each item is a full sentence, punctuate accordingly, i.e, start with a

capital letter and with a period

​ If each item is a phrase or sentence fragment,

​ capitalization of items is optional (but needs to be consistent),

​ it should not have end-of-sentence punctuation.

Numbered Lists

​ Numbered list items should always be complete sentences.

Units
Default

Always use metric and SI values unless the prompt specifically requests
imperial units.

Formatting

Plaintext

Units must be rendered in plaintext a space between the value and the
unit

Ex:

​ \(m =\mathrm{5\, kg}\)

​ \(m = 5\text{ kg}\)

​ (NOT \(m = 5 kg\))

Spacing

Units should be separated from the numerical value using thin spaces (\,)
in \mathrm{} or a space within \text{}

​ Ex: \(W =\mathrm{2\, J}\)

​ Ex: \(W = 2\,\text{J}\)

​ Ex: \(W = 2 \text{ J}\)

In display mode only, there should be a thin space between the unit and the
end-of-sentence punctuation.

There should be no spaces before degrees (°), angular minutes (‘), or angular
seconds (“).

Capitalization

Only the abbreviations of units should be capitalized.

Ex: newtons (N), pascals (Pa), coulombs (C)

 (NOT Newtons, Pascals, Coulombs)

No periods for units except with "in."

Inches can also be denoted with " instead.

Multiplication of Units

Use \cdot, recommended to do so within the \mathrm{} command

Ex: \(2\mathrm{\,kg \cdot m}\)

Division of Units

Use / for the division of units within the command.

​ Ex: \(2\mathrm{\,m/s}\)

​ Ex: \(2\text{ m/s}\)

Exponents

Exponents can be rendered within \mathrm{} or outside of \text{}

​ Ex: \(2\mathrm{\,m/s^2}\)

​ EX: \(2\,\text{ m/s}^2\)

Negative exponents can also be used to show the division of units.

Final Answers

Rounding

​ Do not round until the final answer. Do not approximate known

values like e or pi unless specified in the prompt, or required for the
problem context.

​ Answers can be rounded to two decimal places as a default unless

otherwise specified by the prompt.
Format

​ Do not use \boxed{} for final answers.