Typing math symbols with LaTeX

Instead of repeatedly searching on the internet for how to type math symbols with LaTeX, each time I look one up I’ll add it here. This is not intended to be a complete list of LaTeX syntax or commands.

What is a LaTeX command? #

A LaTeX command is an instruction that tells the LaTeX typesetting system how to format the text. LaTeX commands begin with a backslash (\):

• \commandname: e.g., \alpha
• \commandname{required argument}: e.g., \mathbb{R}
• \commandname[optional argument]{required argument}: (hasn’t come up for me yet)

The symbol for the set of real numbers #

The symbol for the set of real numbers is $\mathbb{R}$.

LaTeX:

$$
\mathbb{R}
$$

The degree symbol #

To add the degree symbol after a number: $12^\circ$:

$$
12^\circ
$$

omega #

The lowercase Greek letter omega ($\omega$) is typically used to represent angular velocity.

Angular velocity #

Angular velocity is the rage of change of angular displacement ($\theta$) ($\theta$) over time ($t$). Therefore

or

Delta (the math symbol for “change”) #

The Greek capital letter Delta ($\Delta$) is used in math notation as the symbol for change.

Latex:

$$
\Delta
$$

delta (lowercase) (the math symbol for infinitesimal change) #

The lowercase Greek letter delta ($\delta$) is used to represent very small changes.

LaTeX:

$$
\delta
$$

Left right arrow #

$x \leftrightarrow y$ ($x \leftrightarrow y$)

The bar and overline symbols #

Often used for the _complex conjugate. For example, $\bar{z}$, or $\overline{a + b}$

LaTeX:

$$
\bar{z}
\overline{a + b}
$$

phi and varphi #

Often used to describe the angular component of polar coordinates in 3D (and on Wikipedia). phi ($\phi$), varphi ($\varphi)$. Note that varphi doesn’t render a symbol for me on Vim, but it does in Hugo math code.

LaTeX:

$$
\phi
\varphi
$$

theta ($\theta$) is more commonly used for the angular part of polar coordinates.

less than #

Less than ($\lt$): \lt. Note this is not rendering correctly for me on Neovim. For textmode, \textless can be used. This is working for me on Neovim, but triggers an error on Hugo:

The KaTeX display engine threw the following error at <transform.ToMath>: error calling ToMath: KaTeX parse error: Undefined control sequence: \textless at position 1:

less than or equal to #

Less than or equal to ($\leq$): \leq

greater than #

Greater than ($\gt$): \gt

Note, this isn’t rendering correctly on Neovim.

greater than or equal to #

Greater than or equal to ($\geq$): \geq

References #

York University. “The Macdonald Polynomial Web Page: Mathematical symbols for LaTeX.” Accessed on January 17, 2026. https://garsia.math.yorku.ca/MPWP/LATEXmath/latexsym.html .