# How to typeset basic arithmetic [duplicate]

What would be the best way to use TeX to typeset basic arithmetic as it's done in school - for example, to typeset equations like

 356
+ 42
---
398


written in this way?

## marked as duplicate by Werner, cmhughes, Adam Liter, user11232, Svend TveskægMar 10 '14 at 6:00

You could define a command to handle this:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{array}
\makeatletter
\def\ae@arithmetic{\@ifnextchar[%]
{\@ae@arithmetic}
{\@ae@arithmetic[+]}}
\def\@ae@arithmetic[#1]#2#3{%%
\def\ae@tmp{*}%%
\def\ae@tmp@mult{x}%%
\def\ae@operation{#1}%%
\ifx\ae@tmp@mult\ae@operation\def\ae@operation{*}\fi
\edef\ae@result{\number\numexpr#2\ae@operation#3\relax}%%
\ifx\ae@tmp\ae@operation\def\ae@operation{\times}\fi
\begin{tabular}{c@{}>{$}r<{$}}
& #2 \\
$\ae@operation$ & #3 \\\hline
& \ae@result
\end{tabular}
}
\newcommand\arithmetic{\ae@arithmetic}
\makeatother
\pagestyle{empty}
\begin{document}

\begin{tabular}{rcr}
\arithmetic{1234}{234}     &     &    \arithmetic[-]{1234}{234}   \\[1cm]
\arithmetic[x]{1234}{234}  & vs. &    \arithmetic[*]{1234}{234}
\end{tabular}

\end{document}


In the above code, I assume the default operation will be addition, but I allow an optional argument be provided to change the operation. I also allow multiplication be indicated by passing * or x in the optional argument.

• Very slick. I like the auto calculation. – cslstr Mar 10 '14 at 4:00

One approach would be to have the addition sign on the right (which I have seen on occasions), and would look something like this:

\documentclass[]{article}

\usepackage{amsmath,tabu}
\begin{document}

\begin{equation*}
\begin{tabular}{r@{\;}l@{}}
356  \\
42 & +\\
\hline
398
\end{tabular}
\end{equation*}

\end{document}


gives:

The code is a bit clunkier to have the addition symbol on the left side:

\documentclass[]{article}

\usepackage{amsmath,tabu}
\begin{document}

\begin{equation*}
\begin{tabular}{r@{\;}r}
& 356  \\
+ & 42\\
\hline
& 398
\end{tabular}
\end{equation*}

\end{document}


To get: