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Could someone please teach me how to raise the height of an exponent attached to a fraction?

I tried many of the fixes in various forums without success.

Also, please explain the difference between using \struct^ vs ^.

Many thanks!

Here's my code...

\begin{document}

\makebox[\textwidth]{Name:\enspace\hrulefill}


\vspace{4mm}

\fbox{\fbox{\parbox{7.5 in}{
\textbf {Directions:} Solve the equations below. 
\newline
\newline \textbf {REQUIRED 1st step: Rewrite the original equation and place parentheses ( ) around each variable.} \\
\newline
YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CREDIT IF YOU SKIP THIS STEP!!!}}}


%Use the 'tasks' tool to double column itemize and enumerate
%Credit to: https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/402222/two-column-enumerated-list
%the first item sets the spacing
\settasks{after-item-skip=8em,
          after-skip=2cm,
          label-width=3ex,
          %change '1' to 'a' if you want letters instead of numbers
          counter-format=(tsk[1]),
          column-sep=2em
          }

\begin{tasks}(2)
\frac{n!}{k!(n-k)!}\task $\frac{2}{3} \div \biggr(-\frac{2}{7}\biggr)\strut^{2}$
Siuslaw Math
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    Please complete the code such that it starts with \documentclass and ends with \end{document}, and can be compiled. –  Oct 23 '19 at 03:46
  • How or where are the tasks environment and the \task and \settasks macro defined? – Mico Oct 23 '19 at 04:43
  • \mathstrut is bigger than \strut, but as Mico pointed out, removing the strut is better. – John Kormylo Oct 23 '19 at 13:50

1 Answers1

3

You asked,

Could someone please teach me how to raise the height of an exponent attached to a fraction?

I've simplified your code snippet to the bare minimum and made it compilable:

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
\[
\biggl(-\frac{2}{7}\biggr)\strut^{2}
\]
\end{document}

(Aside: I also replaced \biggr( with \biggl(.) l and r stand for "left" and "right", respectively.)

I have no idea why the \strut instruction is in there. For sure, it completely messes up the typesetting. If you omit it, the exponent (2) will be placed at the correct height.

enter image description here

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
\[
\biggl(-\frac{2}{7}\biggr)\strut^{2} \quad  % awful
\biggl(-\frac{2}{7}\biggr)^{2}       \quad  % better
\biggl(-\frac{2}{7}\biggr)^{\!2} % even better: place exponent closer to closing parenthesis
\]
\end{document}

You also asked, "Also, please explain the difference between using \struct^ vs ^." (Aside: I will assume you meant \strut, not struct.) Basically, I have no idea what the purpose of writing \strut^{2} might be; where did you pick up this bad habit? Unlearn it as quickly as you can, please.

Mico
  • 506,678
  • Mico: Please accept my long-delayed thanks for your very helpful answer. As a latex newbie, I have to rely on whatever answers I can find on the www. Can't thank you enough for helping me out! – Siuslaw Math Dec 10 '19 at 22:32