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In \begin{align} or \[\], \bigcup or bigwedge appear in normal size. However, in regular math-mode, they appear the same size as cup or wedge. The sample code is:

$X\in V_{\alpha}=\underset{\beta<\alpha}{\bigcup}V_{\beta}$

I wonder what is the problem and how to solve it.

Eugene Zhang
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  • You have to remember that inline maths is supposed to be used ... well ... inline. As a consequence it is more economical with space especially when it comes to line height. If it weren't it would cause irregular line spacing. You could go full $X\displaystyle\in V_{\alpha}=\bigcup_{\beta<\alpha}V_{\beta}$ but for real inline maths that probably results in bad typesetting. Is there no option of making this a display formula if you insist on big symbols? – moewe May 22 '22 at 06:09
  • For the same reason (bad line spacing) I would avoid a construction like \underset{\beta<\alpha}{\bigcup} in inline maths, which appears to be a way to work around the more space-saving default behaviour of \bigcup_{\beta<\alpha} in inline maths. (I think the more classical way to force the display-style behaviour of limits in inline maths is \bigcup\limits_{\beta<\alpha} instead of the \underset trick.) – moewe May 22 '22 at 06:11
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    See https://tex.stackexchange.com/a/205127/4427 – egreg May 22 '22 at 08:54
  • \bigcup is usually larger than \cup even in inline mode but it depends on the fonts, about which you have given no infomation. \underset can't really be used in inline math though it is more or less not inline by definition. – David Carlisle May 22 '22 at 10:31
  • @moewe, thanks. \displaystyle\bigcup works. Sometimes, big font for certain symbols are needed in inline math mode, i.e. numerical list and so on. – Eugene Zhang May 22 '22 at 16:03

1 Answers1

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When you put single $ around the math equations, you are putting them inside the in-text math mode, which are smaller than the display mode. If you want to force a display size in the in-text environment, you can use the \displaystyle command.

Andi Xie
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