How to get more space in piecewise function on LaTeX?

Question

I'm writing a paper and I have inserted a piecewise function into my tex-code. My problem is that the piecewise function is very tightly packed. How could I stretch the bracket and get more space between the formulas? See code and result below:

$$
\displaystyle{
P(Y_i = j) = \left\{
        \begin{array}{ll}
            \frac{1}{1+\sum_{k=1}^{K-1}e^{\beta_k\cdot x_i}} & \quad k=K \\
            \frac{e^{\beta_j\cdot x_i}}{1+\sum_{k=1}^{K-1}e^{\beta_k\cdot x_i}} & \quad 1 \leq k \leq K-1
        \end{array}
    \right.,
    }
$$

enter image description here

I think that what you are looking for is the cases environment, as described in How to write conditional equations with one-sided curly brackets — yo', Dec 11 '13 at 13:15
And also, do you perhaps mean $P(Y_{i=j})$ ? I've just never seen notation such as it is currently (with my limited exposure). — Sean Allred, Dec 11 '13 at 13:26

score 8 · Accepted Answer · edited Jun 10 '20 at 12:32

Don't use $$ for display math.

\displaystyle is not needed.

Option -1:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
[
P(Y_i = j) = \left{
        \begin{array}{ll}
            \frac{1}{1+\sum_{k=1}^{K-1}e^{\beta_k\cdot x_i}} & \quad k=K \[1em]
            \frac{e^{\beta_j\cdot x_i}}{1+\sum_{k=1}^{K-1}e^{\beta_k\cdot x_i}} & \quad 1 \leq k \leq K-1
        \end{array}
    \right.,
]
\end{document}

enter image description here

Option - 2

You can use cases.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
[
P(Y_i = j) = \begin{cases}
            \frac{1}{1+\sum_{k=1}^{K-1}e^{\beta_k\cdot x_i}} & \quad k=K \[1em]   %%% <--- here
            \frac{e^{\beta_j\cdot x_i}}{1+\sum_{k=1}^{K-1}e^{\beta_k\cdot x_i}} & \quad 1 \leq k \leq K-1
        \end{cases}
]
\end{document}

In either case, you can use \\[<dimen>] to change the vertical separation.

Beautification

To make your sums to look less cramped, you can use \limits as in

\sum\limits_{k=1}^{K-1}

Code:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
[
P(Y_i = j) = \begin{cases}
            \frac{1}{1+\sum\limits_{k=1}^{K-1}e^{\beta_k\cdot x_i}} & \quad k=K \[2em]
            \frac{e^{\beta_j\cdot x_i}}{1+\sum\limits_{k=1}^{K-1}e^{\beta_k\cdot x_i}} & \quad 1 \leq k \leq K-1
        \end{cases}
]
\end{document}

enter image description here

if you are loading amsmath anyway you could use the cases environment which is specifically for this use. — David Carlisle, Dec 11 '13 at 13:16
@HarishKumar However, by that time, the OP will very likely leave, using quite not as good solution as he could. — yo', Dec 11 '13 at 13:17

score 4 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 15 '17 at 20:56

4

I had no idea that amsmath had such a useful redefinition, so that should be the correct answer (after use of cases). However, for completeness (or if you want more space) you have a few options:

reformulate your terms to allow for more vertical leg-room
modify \arraystretch to a desired scale (but will cause potentially awkward space on top)

use a strut, as in the example below:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{array}

%\renewcommand\arraystretch{4}

\begin{document}
\[
P(Y_i = j) = \left\{
  \begin{array}{>{\displaystyle}ll}
    \biggl(1+\sum_{k=1}^{K-1}e^{\beta_k\cdot x_i}\biggr)^{-1}
    & \quad k=K \\
    \biggl(1+\sum_{k=1}^{K-1}e^{\beta_k\cdot x_i}\biggr)^{-1}
    e^{\beta_j\cdot x_i}
    & \quad 1 \leq k \leq K-1

    \rule{0pt}{8ex} % called a 'strut' -- a vertical rule of nil width
  \end{array}
  \right.,
\]
\end{document}

output

edited Jun 15 '17 at 20:56

David Carlisle

757,742

answered Dec 11 '13 at 13:23

Sean Allred

27,421

1

No, this is wrong. The parentheses are too large. Try \biggl(...\biggr) instead of \left(...\right), please. After all, why \displaystyle when `\textstyle would fit there much better? Anyways, +1 for getting rid of the fractions. – yo' Dec 11 '13 at 13:25
1

@tohecz Ah, yes - \left and \right don't take the limits into account very well... And personally, while I haven't much of a leg to stand on as for conventions, if you're going to have a large cases like this, it should be \displayed, not so cramped as in \textstyle. Just personal preference probably prejudiced by handwritten math :) – Sean Allred Dec 11 '13 at 13:29

score 4 · Answer 3 · edited Jun 08 '17 at 22:56

The dcases environment by »mathtools« from the »mh« bundle seems to be quite handy here.

\documentclass[11pt]{article}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage{mathtools}  % loads »amsmath«

\begin{document}
  \[
    P(Y_i=j)=
    \begin{dcases}
      \frac{1}{1+\sum\limits_{k=1}^{K-1}e^{\beta_k\cdot x_i}} & \quad k=K \\
      \frac{e^{\beta_j\cdot x_i}}{1+\sum\limits_{k=1}^{K-1}e^{\beta_k\cdot x_i}} & \quad 1 \leq k \leq K-1
    \end{dcases}
  \]
\end{document}

enter image description here

How to get more space in piecewise function on LaTeX?

3 Answers3

Option -1:

Option - 2

Beautification