LaTeX Workshop---Writing Mathematics Exams
On November 20, 2010, the Department of Mathematics held a workshop entitled "Writing Mathematics Exams in LaTeX." This page is designed so that people that did not attend the workshop can share the information obtained at the workshop.
Configuring Macintosh Computers
Instructions for configuring LaTeX on Macintosh computers are given at the following link.
Configuring Windows Computers
Instructions for configuring LaTeX on Windows computers are given at the following link.
Using eqExam
The first two hours of the workshop were dedicated to introducing Donald Story's eqExam package. This package allows instructors to create detailed examinations using Latex. Information on the eqExam package can be found at Donald's Story's eqExam Package site.
If you would like to learn how to use this package, one of the best sources is the eqExam manual, written by Donald Story.
Workshop participants were introduced to the eqExam package through a series of self-paced tutorials. The presentation slides for these activities can be viewed online by clicking on the following link.
Self Paced Introduction to eqExam
The workshop slides used a number of prewritten templates to help quicken the learning process. These templates can be extracted from the following file.
Graphics in eqExam
The second two hours of the workshop were dedicated to introducing graphics into the examination files. This was done by introducing the tikz package. The manual showing how to create using tikz can be downloaded at the following link.
Workshop participants worked through a number of self-paced activities designed to introduce participants to graphics using the tikz package. The presentation slides for these activities can be viewed online by clicking the following link.
Self Paced Introduction to tikz
The workshop slides used a number of prewritten templates to help quicken the learning process. These templates can be extracted from the following file.
Using tkz
We did not have time at the workshop to introduce the work of Allain Matthes and his tkz project, but without a doubt, this is one of the most efficient packages that exist for adding graphics to mathematics examinations.
The tkz-base manual shows how to set up basics such as axes, grids, labels, etc. The manual of use can be read at the following link. Although the manual is written in French, the code is in English, and if desperate, you can use Google Translate to translate blocks of writing.
The tkz-euclide package contains outstanding technique for creating and labeling geometric figures. The manual of use can be read at the following link.
And finally, the tkz-fct package is one of the most efficient ways to draw the graphs of mathematical functions. The manual of use can be read at the following link.
To use the tkz-fct package, you must have gnuplot installed and configured. Directions for installation and configuring of gnuploat can be found either at ConfigureMac or ConfigureWindows.
Latex Workshop Mailing List
Periodically throughout the semester, I send out sample quizzes and exams using the packages introduced at the LaTeX workshop. If you would like to be a member of this list, send an email to david-arnold@redwoods.edu.