The autoprob LaTeX Package

pygacity uses its own custom LaTeX document class called autoprob to create assignment and exam documents. This document class is built on top of the standard article document class, and includes several additional features specifically designed for creating problem-based documents. The autoprob document class is included with the pygacity package, and is automatically used when building documents with pygacity. If you want to use it outside pygacity, you can find the autoprob.cls file in the pygacity installation directory under resources/autoprob-package/tex/latex/autoprob.cls.

Document Class Options

autoprob accepts the following options via \documentclass[...]{autoprob}:

  • solutions — sets the \ifshowsolutions flag to true; solution content guarded by \ifshowsolutions … \fi is rendered.

  • answers — sets the \ifshowanswers flag to true.

  • givespace — sets the \ifgivespace flag to true; extra blank space is added after questions to give students room to work.

Any other option is passed through to the underlying article class.

LaTeX packages loaded by autoprob

  • Core packages

    • graphicx

    • xcolor

    • geometry (with margin=1in option)

    • calc

  • Math packages

    • amsmath

    • amssymb

    • amsfonts

    • amstext

    • mathtools

    • latexsym

    • euscript (with mathscr option)

    • nccmath

    • accents

    • mhchem (version 4)

  • Utility packages

    • xifthen

    • xfp

    • currfile

    • datatool

    • soul

  • Table packages

    • array

    • multirow

    • longtable

    • booktabs

    • caption (font=small, labelfont=bf options)

  • Graphics and coding

    • tikz (with the patterns library)

    • listings

    • pythontex

    • tcolorbox

  • Lists and headers

    • enumitem

    • fancyhdr

  • hyperref (loaded last)

Custom Commands in autoprob

Inline Code and Math Formatting

  • \inl[options] — Inline code formatting with lstinline, using mypython style.

  • \molar{arg} — Add underbar accent to argument (for molar quantities).

  • \parmol{arg1}{arg2} — Partial molar quantity: overline arg1 with subscript arg2.

Pint Quantity Formatting

These commands embed a pint.Quantity (or any Python value) in the typeset output via pythontex \py{}, with a configurable number of decimal places (default 2):

  • \pyff[n]{expr} — Plain float: f'{expr:.nf}'

  • \pypl[n]{expr} — Pint LaTeX format: f'{expr:.nf~L}' (renders units in LaTeX math notation)

  • \pypp[n]{expr} — Pint pretty-print format: f'{expr:.nf~P}' (renders units in Unicode notation)

Thermodynamic Symbols (Molar Quantities)

  • \Ub — Molar internal energy (U with underbar)

  • \Hb — Molar enthalpy (H with underbar)

  • \Sb — Molar entropy (S with underbar)

  • \Vb — Molar volume (V with underbar)

  • \Gb — Molar Gibbs energy (G with underbar)

  • \thetab — Molar theta (θ with underbar)

Thermodynamic Operations

  • \dm{arg} — Delta mix subscript: Δmix arg

  • \dr{arg} — Delta rxn subscript: Δrxn arg

  • \df{arg} — Delta f superscript: Δf arg°

Common Thermodynamic Properties

  • \hr — Standard enthalpy of reaction: Δrxn H°

  • \gr — Standard Gibbs energy of reaction: Δrxn G°

  • \hf — Standard enthalpy of formation: Δf H°

  • \gf — Standard Gibbs energy of formation: Δf G°

Derivatives

  • \deriv{num}{denom} — Ordinary derivative: d(num)/d(denom)

  • \pd{num}{denom} — Partial derivative: ∂(num)/∂(denom)

  • \tpd{num}{denom}{const} — Partial derivative at constant: (∂*num*/∂*denom*)const

  • \ppd{num}{denom} — Second partial derivative: ∂²(num)/∂(denom)²

Other Symbols

  • \pv — Vapor pressure: Pvap

Exam/Assignment Formatting

  • \tffillblank — True/false fill-in blank (short underlined rule)

  • \tfitem{label}{answer} — True/false item; shows answer in blue when solutions are on

  • \fitbfillblank — Fill-in-the-blank longer blank (underlined spaces)

  • \fitanswerslot{answer} — Fill-in-the-blank answer slot; shows answer in blue when solutions are on

  • \mcchoiceitem{choice}{correct} — Multiple-choice item; boxes and highlights choice in blue when it equals correct and solutions are on

Document Metadata

These zero-argument commands carry document identity strings used by the header commands. They are intended to be redefined via \renewcommand in the preamble (or via the commands sub-key of the pygacity preamble configuration):

  • \Universityname — University name (default: small-caps spaced placeholder)

  • \Departmentname — Department name

  • \Coursename — Course name

  • \Termname — Term name (e.g., “Fall 2024”)

  • \Termcode — Term code

  • \Instructorname — Instructor name

  • \Instructoremail — Instructor email address

  • \Subjectname — Subject name

Solutions Formatting

  • \Solutionscolor — Color used for solution text (default: blue)

  • \Solutionstitle — “SOLUTIONS” rendered in \Solutionscolor small-caps spaced text

  • \Solutionheader — “SOLUTION” rendered in \Solutionscolor small-caps text

Document Headers

  • \plainheader{title} — Centered header with university, department, course/term info, and title

  • \asnheader{assignment}{due_date} — Assignment header including due date; appends \Solutionstitle when solutions are on

  • \examheader{exam_name}{date} — Exam header with instructor contact; appends \Solutionstitle when solutions are on

  • \qualifierheader{date} — PhD qualifying exam header using \Subjectname

Environments

  • fmpage{width} — A framed minipage: wraps content in a box of the given width.

Special Effects

  • \cancelto[height]{to_value}{expression} — Draw a diagonal arrow through expression pointing to to_value (cancel-to notation), using TikZ.