16

I have the problem with a symbol for symmetric difference (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symmetric_difference). In commonly used is

\triangle
\ominus

But in Polish tradition often is used:

\dot{-}

and I would like to ask if it is possible to make dot be a little bit down to (close to) line (here where is the red dot).

enter image description here

MC2DX
  • 2,447

2 Answers2

10

I've shifted the dot down relative to \dot{-}. You may adjust the value of .2\LMex to suit.

EDITED to make it more robust and to achieve a more uniform vertical spacing at the smaller math styles.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{stackengine}
\usepackage{scalerel}% IF YOU NEED IT FOR SCRIPTSTYLE MATH
\newcommand\symdif{\ThisStyle{\mathrel{\ensurestackMath{%
  \stackengine{.2\LMex}{\SavedStyle-}{\SavedStyle\dot{}}{U}{c}{F}{F}{L}}}}}
\begin{document}
\( A \symdif B \)
\(\scriptstyle A \symdif B \)
\(\scriptscriptstyle A \symdif B \)
\end{document}

enter image description here

Steven B. Segletes
  • 237,551
  • Why don’t you use a length register for \dysym, i.e. \newlength\dysym \setlength\dysym{-3pt}? – Tobi Aug 14 '13 at 19:03
  • @Tobi See revision with \scriptstyle. If length register were used, the dot-dash spacing would not shrink in the smaller math style. – Steven B. Segletes Aug 14 '13 at 19:20
  • @StevenB.Segletes -- well, i've tried out what i was suggesting, and you're correct -- it doesn't work. i retract (and have removed) my comment. (but i still feel there's a less complex way; i'll experiment.) – barbara beeton Aug 14 '13 at 20:36
9

The main problem is that the minus sign has usually the same height as the plus sign. With \ooalign one can avoid this problem:

\documentclass{article}
\providecommand{\dotminus}{\mathbin{\mathpalette\xdotminus\relax}}
\newcommand{\xdotminus}[2]{%
  \ooalign{\hidewidth$\vcenter{\hbox{$#1\dot{}$}}$\hidewidth\cr$#1-$\cr}%
}

\begin{document}
$A\dotminus B$
\end{document}

I use \providecommand because at least one package (MnSymbol) defines it; but it's not advisable to load the package, that changes all math symbols.

enter image description here

egreg
  • 1,121,712