Post: Reactive discussion¶

Goals of session are to give an overview of a number of minor issues I am used to seeing when students write LaTeX.

Ask students to pick a subject and we will write a “small paper” on this subject.

Using the example, aim to write a report but showcase the following things in LaTeX:

• Discuss referencing, specifically highlighting Mendeley and what it does.

• Discuss using columns:

\usepackage{multicol}

\begin{multicols}{2}

\begin{align}
p_n &= \left(1 - \frac{1}{n + 1}\right)\left(\frac{1}{n - 1}\right)\\
p_n &= \left(\frac{n + 1 - 1}{n + 1}\right)\left(\frac{1}{n - 1}\right)\\
p_n &= \frac{n}{(n + 1)(n - 1)}\\
p_n &= \frac{n}{(n^2 - 1)}
\end{align}

\columnbreak

Using Python to verify the algebra:

\begin{minted}{python}
import sympy as sym
n = sym.symbols('n')
p_n = (1 - 1 / (n + 1)) * (1 / (n - 1))
p_n.simplify()
\end{minted}

\end{multicols}


import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.figure()
plt.scatter(range(5), range(20))
plt.savefig("plot.pdf")


Then upload the picture to overleaf and include in document.

• Including tables in LaTeX:

• Get some data and create a pandas dataframe.
• Get pandas to convert that to LaTeX. Copy and paste but also show how to write to file and copy that in and use input.

REMIND STUDENTS ABOUT THE PLAN NEXT WEEK