Using resizebox on sub-expressions in math mode

Question

As part of an image that I am generating I need the ability to shrink or grow part of a math expression by a numerically controlled/arbitrary amount. Can anyone think of a way to do this? For example I would like to shrink or grow the radical and everything in it, but leave the rest of the standard quadratic formula standard size.

See the scalerel package as a possibility – Steven B. Segletes May 28 '13 at 10:32 — Steven B. Segletes, May 28 '13 at 10:32

John Wickerson · Answer 1 · 2013-05-27T14:27:03.027

1

You might have some luck using the \scalebox command in the graphicx package. In the example below, I have defined a \grow{n}{...} command that scales the given expression by a factor n.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{graphicx}

\newcommand\grow[2]{\ensuremath{\scalebox{#1}{$#2$}}}
\begin{document}
\[
x = \frac{-b \pm \grow{3}{\sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}}{2a}
\]
\end{document}

enter image description here

edited May 27 '13 at 14:27

answered May 27 '13 at 14:21

John Wickerson

14,559

1

There is no need for \ensuremath here. – Werner May 27 '13 at 14:47
It worked perfectly. Thank you so much. – denny May 27 '13 at 14:57
It should be x_{1,2}=... ;-) – Marco Daniel May 27 '13 at 15:52
@Werner Hm. But I'd need \ensuremath if I'd used a raisebox or makebox, no? – John Wickerson May 27 '13 at 16:13
@JohnWickerson: It depends. Some people are strictly opposed to \ensuremath. I've had my own problems with it and therefore base most of my decisions on whether it is really necessary. I mean, what's a couple of $s between friends? ;) \scalebox, \raisebox and \makebox internally switch to text mode via \hbox and text inside math is fine. It's about trying to maintain the current math style which is difficult. Consider \sum_{i=1} in your case. – Werner May 27 '13 at 18:33

Using resizebox on sub-expressions in math mode

1 Answers1