Seps for installing  the software (for Windows User):

First, go to www.miktex.org and download the most recent version of MiKTeX listed below the word "Download." The current version is MiKTex2.9. You may choose   "Basic MiKTeX 2.9" Installer or ``Complete MiKTeX2.9" Installer. 

Next, run the  MiKTeX installer executable file. Follow the instructions and you should have MiKTeX installed.  This could take  as much as 1 hr depending on your connection speed.

Steps of using the latex

Now you can open up your first LaTeX file and try to compile it. Download the "Intro to latex"   which can be found below.  Now do the following 

All Programs -> MiKTeX 2.9 -> TeXworks

Then click on "File" and then on "Open" and navigate to select the downloaded "Intro to latex".

Now you should have   the "Intro to latex" opened in TeXworks.   Clicking on the green button on the top to compile the file and produce a .pdf file. You may be prompted to install   missing packages. If so, then install them each time you are prompted to do so.   In the end, you should see a pdf file open up next to your TeXworks window. Congrats! You have compiled your first tex file!

You may have TeXworks add line numbers and syntax coloring. This is useful to find errors in your LaTeX code. Go to "Format" -> "Line Numbers" to get line numbers and go to "Format" -> "Syntax Coloring" -> "LaTeX" to get syntax coloring.

Winedt: You might want to purchase Winedt for permanent use. This is a more user-friendly interface to use MikTex. They have student license available which is very reasonable.

GSVIEW/GhostScript: You might also want to install GSview/GhostScript to handle .ps files.

Common documents for tex/latex.

• The not so short introduction to latex
• All kinds of symbols in latex
• Short intro to tikz This is a much shorter document on tikz for handling pictures/graphs/figures in LaTeX.
• tikz/pgf Manual This is the full-length document for tikz.
• Intro to latex (sample file)
• Homework Template 

additional LaTeX help: webpage
examples of pictures/graphs/figures made with the tikz package: webpage