[Tex/LaTex] Why does the exp(x) not work in Latex

Question

I am currently working on a paper and require an equation with e^x. I tried using the suggested layout of $\exp(x)$ but my output only shows an equation with exp(x) in the PDF output. Is there something that I am doing wrong is is there a specific package I need to use?

Any help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

I think you may have misunderstood what you have been told.

\exp(x) is not an alternative to e^{x} in LaTeX, exp(x) is an alternative to e^x in maths and physics etc.

The exp(x) notation is useful where x is some large or complicated expression, e.g.:

\[
  \exp\biggl(\, \sum_{n=1}^{10} \frac{1}{n} \biggr)
\]

Which I certainly think is a big improvement over:

\[
  e^{\sum_{n=1}^{10} \frac{1}{n}}
\]

The e^x notation is useful where x is something nice and small, like, well:

\[
  e^{x}
\]

So LaTeX supports both, \exp(x) for exp(x) and e^{x} for e^x. \exp(x) is not a LaTeX shorthand (longhand?) for e^{x} = e^x.