# Thread: A trivial problem . . . and solution

1. ## A trivial problem . . . and solution

Here's something that turned up from time to time.

I type:

. . $\text{[m{a}th]}\theta\text{[/m{a}th]}$ is in a right triangle.

. . And: $\text{[m{a}th]}\backslash \text{tan} \backslash\text{theta} = \backslash \text{frac}\{\text{opp}\}\{\text{adj}\}\text{[/m{a}th]}$

And this is what is produced:

. . $\theta$ is in a right triangle.

. . And: $\tan\theta = \frac{opp}{adj}$

Note that the first $\theta$ is smaller than the second one, $\theta.$
. . Yes, it's a trivial difference, I agree.

Quite by accident, I found a correction for it.

Precede the first $\theta$ with a space.

. . Type: . $\text{[m{a}th]}\;\theta\text{[/m{a}th]}$ is in a right triangle.

. . and we get: . $\theta$ is in a right triangle.

Always glad to be of service . . .

2. On my last few posts, I found that the "extra space" doesn't work.

I type: .[math ]D[/tex] and [math ]D+E[/tex]

. . and I get $D$ and $D + E$ . . (The first $D$ is smaller.)

Then I type: .[math ] D[/tex] and [math ]D+E[/tex]
. .
(note the space before the D)

. . and I still get $D$ and $D+E$

The solution is one I've been trying to avoid: .\large{D}

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I just completed some exhaustive experimenting
. . and found some "rules".

Upper-case letters

The combination: $A$ and $A+x$ .has different-sized A's.

The combination: $L$ and $L+x$ has same-sized L's.

The sizes are the same for: . $L,\:M,\:O,\:U,\:W,\:Z$
All the other upper-case letters appear in two sizes.

These can be corrected by the "extra space" trick
. . except for $A,\,B,\,D.$

Lower-case letters

The combination: $a$ and $a+x$ has different-sized a's.

The combination: $e$ and $e+x$ has same-sized e's.

The sizes are the same for $e$ and $o$ only.
All the other lower-case letters appear in two sizes.

These can be corrected by the "extra space" trick
. . except for $k\text{ and }m.$

Why these exceptions? . . . I have no idea!

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It finally occured to me . . .

I just spent an inordinate amount of time on a most trivial matter:
. . a barely discernible difference in the size of fonts.

I must get a life . . .

3. Originally Posted by Soroban

I just spent an inordinate amount of time on a most trivial matter:
. . a barely discernible difference in the size of fonts.
I think it's discernible enough. Do you know about the \displaystyle command? I assumed you were adding a space because it's a lot faster than typing \displaystyle, as a shortcut basically. Before the forum upgrade, \displaystyle was selected by default, now it's not.

Actually I think we might use \, (or \: or \; or "\ " without quotes) as a shortcut.

Test without anything $D$ versus $D+E$.

Test using space $D$ versus $D+E$.

Test using "\ " without quotes $\ D$ versus $D+E$.

Test using \; $\;D$ versus $D+E$.

Test using \: $\" alt="\" /> versus $D+E$.

Test using \, $\,D$ versus $D+E$.

Test using \displaystyle $\displaystyle D$ versus $D+E$.

It keeps fractions the smaller size

Test using \, $\,\frac{A}{B}$ versus $\frac{A}{B}$

Test using \displaystyle $\displaystyle\frac{A}{B}$ versus $\frac{A}{B}$

4. Hello, undefined!

Those are great tips . . . Thank you!

I didn't think of adding a space with \; etc . . . *blush*

If I want to enlarge a single fraction, I use \dfrac{2}{3}

. . So we have $\dfrac{2}{3}$ instead of $\frac{2}{3}$

When I use \boxed{ } around a fraction,
. . it automatically gives me the larger version.

. . . . . \frac{2}{3}. . . . . . . $\frac{2}{3}$

. . \boxed{\frac{2}{3}} . . $\boxed{\frac{2}{3}}$

If I prefer the smaller font, I reduce the size with \tfrac{2}{3}

. . \boxed{\tfrac{2}{3}}. . . $\boxed{\tfrac{2}{3}}$