How can I size the center bar in my LaTeX code for sets with constraints?

  • Context: LaTeX 
  • Thread starter Thread starter gauss^2
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Latex Sizing
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the formatting of sets with constraints in LaTeX, specifically focusing on how to size the vertical bar that separates the set elements from the constraints. Participants explore different approaches to achieve a visually appealing and mathematically accurate representation in their LaTeX code.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes their use of LaTeX shortcuts for expressing sets with constraints and presents a specific issue with the sizing of the vertical bar in their custom command \SetWithConstraint.
  • Another participant suggests modifying the command to use \middle| instead of | to adjust the sizing of the vertical bar based on the height of the surrounding expressions.
  • A third participant expresses satisfaction with the suggested solution, noting its absence in a common LaTeX guide.
  • Another participant proposes an alternative approach to relate the bar character with the left-hand side expression, suggesting it might yield a less aesthetically pleasing result but could still be functional.
  • There is a reiteration that the original poster's intention was to have the bar scale with the taller side, indicating a potential misunderstanding of the proposed solutions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the need to improve the sizing of the vertical bar, but multiple competing views on how to achieve this remain. The discussion does not reach a consensus on the best approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying preferences for visual aesthetics in LaTeX formatting, and there are unresolved considerations regarding the effectiveness of the proposed solutions in different contexts.

gauss^2
Messages
50
Reaction score
0
When I write something in LaTeX, I always try to create shortcuts for things I use a lot, so my code looks has semantically meaningful constructions like \[\CountableUnion{U_n}{n}\] instead of complicated strings of symbols like \[\bigcup_{n=1}^{\infty}U_n\], for example. I have run into a difficulty in trying to create something to express sets with constraints such as the set B_N in the image below:

[PLAIN]http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/6616/screenshot1rg.png

The code I used for that B_N is

Code:
Let us define the countable collection of sets $\CountableCollection{B_N}$ by
\[
   \Defined
      {B_N}
      {\SetWithConstraint
         {
            \SetMember
               {
                  \FiniteSum{a_i x^{n-i}}{i}{0}{n}
               }
               {
                  \Polynomials{\Integers}{x}
               }
         }
         {
             \FiniteSum{\AbsoluteValue{a_i}}{i}{0}{n} \neq 0
             \quad\text{and}\quad n +
             \FiniteSum{\AbsoluteValue{a_i}}{i}{0}{n} = N
        }
     }
\]

where \Defined{a}{b} is translated to a := b and \SetWithContraint{The_set}{The_constraint} is translated to { The_set | The_constraint }. The command \SetWithConstraint is defined in my preamble as:

Code:
\newcommand{\SetWithConstraint}[2]{\left\{\,#1\ \left|\ #2\,\right.\right\}}

My main problem is sizing that center bar | between the set to draw elements from and the constraint the elements must satisfy. As I have it set up right now, its size is determined by the height of the expression in the constraint area (e.g., the expression on the rhs). However, this looks very bad on something like the set K' in the image below, where the expression on the lhs is taller:

[PLAIN]http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/445/screenshottc.png

The relevant code there is

Code:
Hence, we have now shown that $x$ is a limit point of $K$ if and only if
$x = 0$ or there is an integer $m > 0$ with $x = 1/m$. In other words,
\[
   \LimitPoints{K} =
   \Union
      {\Singleton{0}}
      {\SetWithConstraint{\frac{1}{m}}{\SetMember{m}{\PositiveIntegers}}}
\]

where \LimitPoints{K} displays K'. Does anyone know how to size this middle bar | in the \SetWithConstraint command I defined so that it will match the maximum of the height of the expression on the lhs and height of the expression on the rhs? Thanks!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Change:
Code:
\newcommand{\SetWithConstraint}[2]{\left\{\,#1\ \left|\ #2\,\right.\right\}}

To:
Code:
\newcommand{\SetWithConstraint}[2]{\left\{\,#1\ \middle|\ #2\,\right\}}
 
Thanks NeoDevin; that's exactly what I was looking for. I can't believe that's not included in The Not So Short Introduction to LaTeX2e.
 
Very nice NeoDevin!

also a less beautiful result might be, to relate the bar character with lhs by
Code:
\newcommand{\SetWithConstraint}[2]{\left\{\left.\,#1\ \right|\ #2\,\right\}}

Did not try but should work...
 
trambolin said:
Very nice NeoDevin!

also a less beautiful result might be, to relate the bar character with lhs by
Code:
\newcommand{\SetWithConstraint}[2]{\left\{\left.\,#1\ \right|\ #2\,\right\}}

Did not try but should work...

That would work to scale it with the lhs, but my understanding was that the OP wanted it to scale with whichever side what taller.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
5K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
25K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K