LaTeX Tip: Displaystyle with Bigger Expressions

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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.

alexmahone
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Use \displaystyle in the beginning for bigger expressions.

Normal: $\sum\frac{n^5}{2^n}$

Using \displaystyle: $\displaystyle\sum\frac{n^5}{2^n}$
 
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Alexmahone said:
Use \displaystyle in the beginning for bigger expressions.

Normal: $\sum\frac{n^5}{2^n}$

Using \displaystyle: $\displaystyle\sum\frac{n^5}{2^n}$

We had this same issue on MHF as well.
 
Alexmahone said:
Use \displaystyle in the beginning for bigger expressions.

Normal: $\sum\frac{n^5}{2^n}$

Using \displaystyle: $\displaystyle\sum\frac{n^5}{2^n}$

The thing is that single dollar sign delimiters $\displaystyle \frac{x}{y}$ are for in-line maths-notation, making it larger means that the maths will foul the text in following lines.
Or make the line spacing irregular, though you have too keep typing for a long time to get test wrapping to test this
 

More uses for \displaystyle . . .\lim{x\to3}\frac{x^2-9}{x-3} . . . . . . . . . . . . . $\lim_{x\to3}\frac{x^2-9}{x-3}$

\displaystyle \lim_{x\to3}\frac{x^2-9}{x-3} . . . $\displaystyle \lim_{x\to3}\frac{x^2-9}{x-3} $sum^{\infty}_{n=1}\frac{1}{n^2} . . . . . . . . . . . . . $\sum^{\infty}_{n=1} \frac{1}{n^2}$

\displaystyle \sum^{\infty}_{n=1}\frac{1}{n^2} . . . $\displaystyle \sum^{\infty}_{n=1}\frac{1}{n^2}$\int^3_1 x^2\,dx . . . . . . . . . . . . $\int^3_1 x^2\,dx $

\displaystyle \int^3_1 x^2\,dx . . . $\displaystyle \int^3_1 x^2\,dx$
If \displaystyle makes a fraction too large:

. . \displaystyle \frac{x-3}{x+4} + \frac{1}{2}x^3 . . . . $\displaystyle \frac{x-3}{x+4} +\frac{1}{2}x^3$

it can be reduced with \tfrac:

. . \displaystyle \frac{x-3}{x+4} + \tfrac{1}{2}x^3 . . . $\displaystyle \frac{x-3}{x+4} + \tfrac{1}{2}x^3$
 
soroban said:
If \displaystyle makes a fraction too large:

. . \displaystyle \frac{x-3}{x+4} + \frac{1}{2}x^3 . . . . $\displaystyle \frac{x-3}{x+4} +\frac{1}{2}x^3$

it can be reduced with \tfrac:

. . \displaystyle \frac{x-3}{x+4} + \tfrac{1}{2}x^3 . . . $\displaystyle \frac{x-3}{x+4} + \tfrac{1}{2}x^3$

If you want to displaystyle fractions, it's easier to use the \dfrac{}{} command.

\frac{x+1}{x-1} yields $\frac{x+1}{x-1}$, but \dfrac{x+1}{x-1} yields $\dfrac{x+1}{x-1}$

So in the example you provided, we could say \dfrac{x-3}{x+4} +\frac{1}{2}x^3, which would give $\dfrac{x-3}{x+4}+\frac{1}{2}x^3$ (thus, \tfrac{}{} can be avoided in the inline case). I would say that the \tfrac{}{} option is most useful in scenarios when the rendered code is centered by $$ or \[ (the cases where the equations are automatically displaystyled).
 
Hello, Chris L T521!

I did know all that . . . and didn't get around to explain it,
. . but thanks for clarifying it.I intended the \tfrac feature to be used when \displaystyle must be used.$\displaystyle \text{Here's an example: }\:\int^5_3\frac{x^2-4}{x-2}\,dx$

To produce the large integral sign, I used \displaystyle.
. . It also produced the large fraction.

. . $\displaystyle \int^5_3\frac{(x-2)(x+2)}{x-2}\,dx \;=\;\int^5_3(x+2)\,dx \;=\;\frac{1}{2}x^2 + 2x\,\bigg]^5_3 $To me, the $\dfrac{1}{2}$ seems awkwardly large (but maybe that's just me).
. . I would use \tfrac here.
 

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