Trusted teacherGetting started with LaTeX. The number one scientific publishing toolTranslate this text using Google Translate.
Getting started with LaTeX. The number one scientific publishing toolTranslate this text using Google Translate.
Session 1: Revolutionizing your Scientific Writing with LaTeX & AI
Duration: 2 Hours | Level: Beginner | Tools: Overleaf + AI**
First Hour: Foundations and Cloud Environment (60 min)
1. Introduction to LaTeX Philosophy (15 min)
- The "WYSIWYM" concept:** Explain the difference between Word (*What You See Is What You Get*) and LaTeX (*What You See Is What You Mean*). Why content takes precedence over form.
- Key advantages:** Unrivaled typographic quality, automatic reference management, stability on long documents (theses), and free of charge.
- The structure of a file:** Distinction between the **preamble** (the brain: settings and packages) and the **body of the document** (the heart: text).
2. Immersion in Overleaf (25 min)
- Configuration:** Creation of an account and first project "Blank Project".
- Exploring the interface:** The file panel (left), the code editor (middle) and the PDF preview (right).
- Real-time collaboration:** How to share a project and leave comments (like on Google Docs).
- History and versions:** How to revert to a previous version in case of a compilation error.
3. Practical Workshop: My First Document (20 min)
* Writing basic commands: `\documentclass`, `\usepackage[french]{babel}`, `\title`, `\author`.
* Compilation of the document and observation of the result.
* Structuring: Use of `\section` and `\subsection`.
Second Hour: Mathematics and the Magic of AI (60 min)
4. The Power of Mathematics (20 min)
- Mathematical modes:** Difference between the text (`$...$`) and the centered block (`\[...\]`).
- Essential syntax:** Fractions `\frac{}{}`, exponents `^`, indices `_`, and roots `\sqrt{}`.
- Introduction to AMS packages: Why amsmath and amssymb are essential for professional rendering.
5. From hand to screen: AI at the service of LaTeX (30 min)
- Presentation of OCR tools:** Use of **Mathpix Snip** (the leader) or models like Gemini/ChatGPT to transform a photo into code.
- Concrete demonstration:
1. Take a picture of a complex handwritten formula (e.g., an integral with matrices).
2. Use AI to generate the corresponding LaTeX code.
3. Correction and insertion: Learn to check the AI-generated code before copying and pasting it into Overleaf.
6. Conclusion and Q&A (10 min)
* Summary of achievements.
* Resources for further exploration
* Definition of the exercise for the next session.