Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the use of the LaTeX command \displaystyle for formatting mathematical expressions, particularly in relation to making larger expressions more readable. Participants explore its applications, advantages, and potential drawbacks in various contexts, including inline and display math.
Discussion Character
- Technical explanation
- Conceptual clarification
- Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- Some participants suggest using \displaystyle at the beginning of expressions to enhance their visibility, particularly for sums and limits.
- Others note that using \displaystyle with single dollar sign delimiters can lead to formatting issues, such as irregular line spacing or text fouling.
- One participant provides examples of various expressions using \displaystyle, indicating its versatility for different mathematical constructs.
- Some participants propose using \tfrac to reduce the size of fractions when \displaystyle makes them too large, while others argue that \dfrac may be more suitable for display-style fractions.
- A later reply mentions that the choice between \tfrac and \dfrac may depend on whether the equations are centered using $$ or \[.
- One participant expresses a personal preference for using \tfrac in certain scenarios, citing that \dfrac can appear awkwardly large.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants generally agree on the utility of \displaystyle for larger expressions, but there is no consensus on the best practices for using \tfrac versus \dfrac, and opinions vary on the visual impact of these commands.
Contextual Notes
Some limitations include the potential for formatting issues when using \displaystyle in inline math, and the subjective nature of what constitutes an "awkward" size for fractions.