mathscr small later in latex

Lussy04

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22-01-2025

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LaTeX offers a wide array of mathematical fonts, enabling you to typeset equations with precision and elegance. One frequently sought font style is the calligraphic style, often used for denoting sets or other mathematical objects. This article delves into the specifics of using the \mathcal command in LaTeX to achieve the desired small calligraphic letters, specifically addressing common challenges and offering solutions. We'll explore various scenarios and provide clear examples.

Understanding the \mathcal Command

The \mathcal command is a straightforward way to typeset letters in a calligraphic style. Simply place the letter you want within curly braces after the command. For instance, $\mathcal{L}$ produces the calligraphic L shown above. This command is part of the standard LaTeX math mode, meaning no additional packages are generally needed.

However, the size of the resulting calligraphic letters might not always be ideal. Let's explore how to refine the size for better integration within your document.

Controlling the Size of $\mathcal{L}$ and Other Calligraphic Letters

The default size of calligraphic letters produced by \mathcal can sometimes appear too large or too small relative to the surrounding text. Fortunately, LaTeX provides mechanisms for controlling font sizes.

Method 1: Using Sizing Commands

LaTeX offers commands like \small, \footnotesize, \scriptsize, and \tiny to adjust font sizes. You can wrap these commands around your \mathcal command to control the size:

$\small \mathcal{L}$  % Slightly smaller
$\footnotesize \mathcal{L}$ % Even smaller

This approach is simple but might lead to inconsistencies in font sizes across your document if not used carefully.

Method 2: Using \mathsmaller

For finer control, particularly when aiming for subtle size adjustments, the \mathsmaller command from the relsize package proves invaluable. This package provides more granular size control within mathematical formulas.

First, you need to include the package in your preamble:

\usepackage{relsize}

Then, you can utilize \mathsmaller to reduce the size of your calligraphic letters:

$\mathsmaller{\mathcal{L}}$

This method offers a more elegant and consistent approach to size adjustments within mathematical expressions.

Method 3: Using \textstyle or \displaystyle

The size of mathematical symbols can also be influenced by the style in which they are typeset. \textstyle is often used for inline math mode and produces relatively smaller symbols, while \displaystyle is used for displayed equations and creates larger symbols.

$\textstyle \mathcal{L}$
$\displaystyle \mathcal{L}$

Experimenting with these commands might help achieve the desired visual balance.

Choosing the Right Approach

The best approach for controlling the size of your calligraphic letters depends on the context and your overall document design. For minor adjustments, \mathsmaller offers a clean solution. For more substantial changes, sizing commands such as \small can be employed, bearing in mind potential consistency issues. The \textstyle and \displaystyle commands offer a way to harmonize the size with the surrounding mathematical expressions.

Example Incorporating Different Size Adjustments

Let's illustrate how these methods work in a practical example. Assume you are writing a mathematical formula and need a smaller calligraphic L:

The Lagrangian $\mathcal{L}$ is defined as...  %Default size
However, in the simplified case, we use a smaller Lagrangian $\mathsmaller{\mathcal{L}}$.
Furthermore, we can express the Lagrangian as $\small \mathcal{L}$ within this context.

This example demonstrates how to smoothly integrate different sized calligraphic letters within a single paragraph.

Conclusion

Mastering the \mathcal command, and especially understanding how to control the resulting font size, is crucial for crafting professional-looking LaTeX documents. The methods outlined above – using sizing commands, the relsize package, and mode changes — provide the tools needed to achieve the perfect $\mathcal{L}$ and other calligraphic letters in your LaTeX work. Remember to prioritize consistency in your font choices for a polished and visually appealing result.