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Document 190

How to use TeX brackets

Version: 2.5 - Scientific WorkPlace & Scientific Word

Instead of surrounding a mathematical expression with a pair of expanding brackets, you can use TeX brackets at either end of the expression. Like any other character, TeX brackets exist as independent objects; they behave just like large versions of the brackets that you obtain by pressing the bracket keys on your keyboard. If you surround an expression with TeX brackets, SW doesn't consider your expression to be a single unit as it does when you use expanding brackets.

To use TeX brackets, you must insert a TeX field containing a TeX bracket command at each end of your expression. The TeX bracket command has this syntax:

\SizeLocationSymbol\

where Size is

• ordinary--the size of the ordinary bracket (delimiter) that you get when you press the bracket key on the keyboard

• big--just enough taller than ordinary so that the difference can be perceived.

• Big--50% taller than big.

• bigg--twice as tall as big.

• Bigg--2.5 times as tall as big.

and Location is

• l--left bracket

• r--right bracket

  The l and r locations determine how TeX handles the spacing before and after the brackets. It is important to tell TeX whether the symbol (no matter what it is) is being used at the left or the right end of an expression.

and Symbol is

TeX input form	Name
(	left parenthesis
)	right parenthesis
\lbrack or \lbrack	left bracket
] or \rbrack	right bracket
\{ or \lbrace	left curly brace
\} or \rbrace	right curly brace
\lfloor	left floor bracket
\rfloor	right floor bracket
\lceil	left ceiling bracket
\rceil	right ceiling bracket
\langle	left angle bracket
\rangle	right angle bracket
/	slash
\backslash	reverse slash
\ or \vert	vertical bar
\\ or \Vert	double vertical bar
\uparrow	upward arrow
\Uparrow	double upward arrow
\downarrow	downward arrow
\Downarrow	double downward arrow
\updownarrow	up-and-down arrow
\Updownarrow	double up-and-down arrow

Note that some symbols, including { and }, cannot be entered directly. They must be entered as TeX macros. For example, the braces must be entered as \{ and \}.

Note too that you don't have to use a left bracket symbol for the left end or a right bracket symbol for the right end, but you should use the l form at the left and the r form at the right.

Here are some examples of TeX bracket commands:

• To get a left parenthesis delimiter in the Big size, the TeX command is \Bigl(.

• To enter a left square bracket as a right delimiter in the Bigg size, the TeX command is \Biggr[.

Here are the steps:

1. Place the insertion point at the beginning of the expression.

2. Make sure the insertion point is in math.

3. Enter a TeX field.

4. Enter the TeX bracket command for the left bracket.

5. Choose OK.

6. Enter your expression.

7. Enter another TeX field.

8. Enter the TeX command for the right bracket.

9. Choose OK.

Added 07/31/96, revised 08/22/05

This document was created with Scientific WorkPlace.