PA0

This “programming assignment” is intended to help you to get set up with the tools you’ll need for the coming semester, namely: Java, Python, and LaTeX (Overleaf). Unlike with all future programming assignments, you will not actually be asked to submit a program. Instead, you will be asked to submit a pdf generated with LaTeX.

Setting up your programming Environment

To set up your Java or Python3 programming environments, follow this guide.

Getting Started with LaTeX

LaTeX is essentially a programming language for documents. It’s the most powerful and widely-used tool for producing highly-readable documents with combinations of code, pseudo-code, mathematics, figures, etc. We will be using it for all written assignments this semester.

Register for Overleaf

While you’re welcome to use any LaTeX tool that you’d like, we highly recommend using Overleaf. To use this tool, first visit https://www.overleaf.com and register an account (if you don’t already have one). UVA has a site license, so if you register with your @virginia.edu email address you will have full access to all the Overleaf features for free.

Set Up Your Project

You will have a separate Overleaf project for each exercise. The easiest way to set up the repository is to upload the zip file posted with each exercise. To do this:

  1. Download the pa0.zip file
  2. In Overleaf, click on Create First Project or New Project and select Upload Project from the menu.
  3. Select the pa0.zip file you downloaded in step 1.

Editing The LaTeX Template

  1. Add your information to the top of the file:
    • yourid - replace mst3k with your computing id
    • collabs - Add your collaborators here
    • sources - Reference any sources you used when completing this assignment
  2. Then, try rebuilding the PDF by clicking Recompile. You should see a file that includes your name and collaborators.

Deliverable

  • Modify the pa0.tex file to complete each problem. To see an example of what your submission might look like, see this pdf. You should verbatim reproduce the proof seen there for problem 2.
    • Learn how to include drawings in your documents with the includegraphics{file} command by including a caricature of Prof Hott or Horton (or some other image) in the same pdf. Make sure the entire image fits on a single page. You may need to resize the image.
    • Submit the generated pdf (NOT a .tex or .zip file) to Gradescope.

Resources

You may find these resources to be helpful

  • Tutorial: A nice extensive tutorial of LATEX.
  • Example: A good example of a very simple LATEX document to get you started.
  • Symbols: A nice extensive list of the symbols LATEX can create.
  • More Symbols: More symbols, including set theory symbols.

Copyright © 2023 John Hott and Thomas Horton.
Released under the CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.
Creative Commons License