Subscripts actually under a union of sets sign

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the proper formatting of mathematical symbols in LaTeX, specifically how to place subscripts and superscripts under a union symbol. Participants explore different methods to achieve clarity and neatness in mathematical expressions, referencing specific examples from literature.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Peter seeks assistance in formatting the union symbol with subscripts for clarity, referencing a specific text by R.Y. Sharp.
  • Jameson suggests using the \underset command to achieve the desired formatting, demonstrating it with an example.
  • Evgeny.Makarov explains the distinction between display style and text style in LaTeX, noting how this affects the placement of limits for big operators like \bigcup.
  • Evgeny.Makarov also points out that enclosing the operator in curly braces can change its behavior in LaTeX, leading to unexpected formatting results.
  • Peter acknowledges the information provided by Evgeny.Makarov and expresses appreciation for the clarification on formatting styles.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of formatting in LaTeX and share methods to achieve the desired results, but there is no consensus on a single best approach, as multiple methods are discussed.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the use of display style versus text style can significantly impact how mathematical expressions are rendered, and that specific commands can alter this behavior. There is also mention of deprecated practices in LaTeX formatting.

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I recently made a post on Linear and Abstract Algebra and used the following symbol

$$ {\bigcup}_{\Omega \subseteq \Gamma , | \Omega | \lt \infty} $$

However, I really wanted (for neatness and clarity) to have the term $$ {\Omega \subseteq \Gamma , | \Omega | \lt \infty} $$ actually under the set union symbol as in the commutative algebra text by R.Y. Sharp - see attachment page 7 exercise 1.12.

Can someone please help in this matter?

Peter
 
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Peter said:
I recently made a post on Linear and Abstract Algebra and used the following symbol

$$ {\bigcup}_{\Omega \subseteq \Gamma , | \Omega | \lt \infty} $$

However, I really wanted (for neatness and clarity) to have the term $$ {\Omega \subseteq \Gamma , | \Omega | \lt \infty} $$ actually under the set union symbol as in the commutative algebra text by R.Y. Sharp - see attachment page 7 exercise 1.12.

Can someone please help in this matter?

Peter

Hmm, let's see if this works...

$$\underset{\Omega \subseteq \Gamma , | \Omega | \lt \infty}{{\bigcup}}$$

It does! Here you go:

\underset{\Omega \subseteq \Gamma , | \Omega | \lt \infty}{{\bigcup}}
 
Jameson said:
Hmm, let's see if this works...

$$\underset{\Omega \subseteq \Gamma , | \Omega | \lt \infty}{{\bigcup}}$$

It does! Here you go:

\underset{\Omega \subseteq \Gamma , | \Omega | \lt \infty}{{\bigcup}}

Thanks Jameson, appreciate the help

Peter
 
If subscripts and superscripts of big operators are typeset below and above the operator, they are referred to as limits. Whether TeX uses limits depends on whether the formula is in display style (limits are used) or text style (normal sub- and superscipts are used). By default, inline formulas beginning with \( and $ are typeset in text style, while those beginning with \[ and $$ use display style. (Note that $$ is deprecated, at least in PDF documents.) The tags [math]...[/math] on this site apparently create an inline formula but use display style. The style determines many other parameters besides whether to use limits; most noticeable are the size of operators and fractions.

You used the [math] tag, so the formula is in display style, but you enclosed \bigcup in curly braces. This turned it into a generic subformula and TeX did not take into account that inside is a big operator, which treats subscripts in a special way. That's why the subscript was not made into a limit.

Without changing the position of a formula (display or inline), its style can be modified using \displaystyle and \textstyle commands. Independently of this, you can type \limits or \nolimits immediately after a big operator to direct TeX to use limits or not.

Edit: See https://driven2services.com/staging/mh/index.php?threads/283/ for examples of formulas in display style and text style.

Edit 2: The info above relates to big operators (in TeX terminology) like \bigcup. The command \underset can be used in other contexts.
 
Last edited:
Interesting and good to know, Evgeny.Makarov! I'll test this out.

Here is without putting \bigcup in curly brackets:

$$\bigcup_{\text{testing if this works}}$$

And here is with curly brackets:

$${\bigcup}_{\text{testing if this works}}$$

Yep, this way is much faster than my solution. :D
 
Evgeny.Makarov said:
If subscripts and superscripts of big operators are typeset below and above the operator, they are referred to as limits. Whether TeX uses limits depends on whether the formula is in display style (limits are used) or text style (normal sub- and superscipts are used). By default, inline formulas beginning with \( and $ are typeset in text style, while those beginning with \[ and $$ use display style. (Note that $$ is deprecated, at least in PDF documents.) The tags [math]...[/math] on this site apparently create an inline formula but use display style. The style determines many other parameters besides whether to use limits; most noticeable are the size of operators and fractions.

You used the [math] tag, so the formula is in display style, but you enclosed \bigcup in curly braces. This turned it into a generic subformula and TeX did not take into account that inside is a big operator, which treats subscripts in a special way. That's why the subscript was not made into a limit.

Without changing the position of a formula (display or inline), its style can be modified using \displaystyle and \textstyle commands. Independently of this, you can type \limits or \nolimits immediately after a big operator to direct TeX to use limits or not.

Edit: See https://driven2services.com/staging/mh/index.php?threads/283/ for examples of formulas in display style and text style.

Edit 2: The info above relates to big operators (in TeX terminology) like \bigcup. The command \underset can be used in other contexts.

Thanks Evgeny

A most informative post!

Peter
 

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