There is only one way to type math papers: using latex. If you plan to become a mathematician, sooner or later you will need to learn it, as it is the only accepted format for pretty much all publications. It is also extremely convenient. Latex has a bit of a learning curve. For somebody like you (I am talking to my MAT347 students) it will be one afternoon. After you have typed a few papers in latex, you will wonder why anybody ever uses anything else to type any kind of paper ever.
MAT347 has a project that I will ask you to type in latex. In addition, I encourage you to consider typing some of your homework assignments in latex. It will give you a chance to practice in small chunks. Writing in latex is much more convenient than writing by hand because it makes modifying, fixing, or rearranging your proofs very, very easy. Once you learn, the only thing you will regret is not having learned earlier.
How to learn to use it?
You will first need to install in your computer one of various programs that allow you to use latex. If you are a windows user, I recommend WinTeX. If you are a Mac user, I recommend TeXShop. For Unix, I recommend Kile. All of them are user-friendly, and available for free online (legally).
The only way to learn is by experimenting. Take somebody else's latex files, copy them, and play with them. That is how we all learned.
Producing a document with LaTeX is different from using a word processor such as Microsoft Word. This is what happens:
.tex extension..tex file. This is usually accomplished by clicking a button in TexShop/Kile/WinTeX that is labeled "LaTeX to PDF" or something similar. This will output a .pdf file with the same name as the .tex file (but different extension) and which is saved in the same directory where the .tex file lives..pdf file is the nifty-looking typeset math you've been looking for.To help you get started, here is an example: the source file (latexexample.tex) and the output file (latexexample.pdf). Download both of them and open them side by side. Look at the pdf file to figure out what each line in the tex file does.
A tex file has two parts: the preamble and the body. The body is the part of the file that goes between the line \begin{document} and the line \end{document}. The preamble is what comes before \begin{document}. For your first file(s), use my example file above, keep the preamble exactly as it is. You will have time to worry about it later. Then experiment. Erase the body and replace it with your own, and see what comes out. Be audacious. You will only learn by trial and error. That is how the pros do it.
The example file contains a few online references at the end. If you used the above example and you have suggestions on how to improve it, please email me. If you have questions about latex itself, you can try to find the answer online. If you become frustrated, you can ask me. If you become very frustrated, set an appointment with me and bring your laptop. You can also ask in the Piazza group, so that other students can also benefit from your questions.
Happy latexing!