8

' is defined in latex.ltx as follows

\def\active@math@prime{^\bgroup\prim@s}
{\catcode`\'=\active \global\let'\active@math@prime}
\def\prim@s{%
  \prime\futurelet\@let@token\pr@m@s}
\def\pr@m@s{%
  \ifx'\@let@token
    \expandafter\pr@@@s
  \else
    \ifx^\@let@token
      \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\pr@@@t
    \else
      \egroup
    \fi
  \fi}
\def\pr@@@s#1{\prim@s}
\def\pr@@@t#1#2{#2\egroup}

I can see that the catcode of ' is changed to \active in a group. When the group ends, the catcode of ' falls back to 12 (other). So how could it possibly be that $f'$ means $f\active@math@prime$?

I also tested 

\catcode`!=12
{\catcode`!=\active \global\let!=\active@math@prime}
$f!!!$

It does not give the same result as $f'''$. What happens to '?

Symbol 1
  • 36,855

1 Answers1

12

The key is \mathcode set to hexadecimal 8000 (decimal 32768), which will set ! active, but only in math mode. Also, \pr@m@s needs redefinition to point to ! rather than '.

Ref: How can I make every occurrence of `+` and `-` be replaced by a macro, but only in math mode?

\documentclass{article}

\begin{document}
\makeatletter
\catcode`!=12
\mathcode\number`\!="8000 %
\def\pr@m@s{%
  \ifx!\@let@token
    \expandafter\pr@@@s
  \else
    \ifx^\@let@token
      \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\pr@@@t
    \else
      \egroup
    \fi
  \fi}

{\catcode`!=\active \global\let!=\active@math@prime}
$f!!!$
\end{document}

enter image description here

If you needed both ! and ' to function in the prime way, you could really edit \pr@m@s:

\documentclass{article}

\begin{document}
\makeatletter
\catcode`!=12
\mathcode\number`\!="8000 %
\def\pr@m@s{%
  \ifx'\@let@token
    \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\pr@@@s
  \else
  \ifx!\@let@token
    \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\pr@@@s
  \else
    \ifx^\@let@token
      \expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\expandafter\pr@@@t
    \else
      \egroup
    \fi
  \fi\fi}

{\catcode`!=\active \global\let!=\active@math@prime}
$f!'!^3$
\end{document}
egreg
  • 1,121,712
Steven B. Segletes
  • 237,551
  • 1
    OK so I didn't need to define ! nor did I need a back up of '. But that \mathcode is (probably) exactly what I am missing. – Symbol 1 Nov 20 '19 at 21:32
  • 2
    A character with \mathcode set to "8000 is not really active: only when TeX is processing math codes it gets replaced by its definition as if it were active. If you try $\edef\test{'}\show\test$, you'll see that no expansion is done to ' even if TeX is in math mode. Also, only characters with category code 11 or 12 can be math active. – egreg Nov 20 '19 at 21:46
  • @egreg I did think that maybe it is active in math so I tried $\def'{what?}$. And I got inaccessible. Now the rule is clear. – Symbol 1 Nov 20 '19 at 21:52
  • Thanks @egreg, both for the edit and clarifying comment. – Steven B. Segletes Nov 21 '19 at 01:36