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Display style in math mode

Some mathematical elements change their style depending on the context, whether they
are in line with the text or in an equation-type environment. This article explains how to
manually adjust the display style.

Introduction
Let's see an example

Depending on the value of $x$ the equation \( f(x) = \sum_{i=0}^{n}

\frac{a_i}{1+x} \) may diverge or converge.

\[ f(x) = \sum_{i=0}^{n} \frac{a_i}{1+x} \]

Superscripts, subscripts and fractions are formatted differently.

  Open an example in Overleaf (https://www.sharelatex.com/project/new/template?

zipUrl=/project/5324b6561ce5af5a5e000d50/download/zip&templateName=DisplayStyl
e&compiler=pd atex)

Setting mathematical styles

The maths styles can be set explicitly. For instance, if you want an in-line mathematical
element to display as a equation-like element put \displaystyle before that element.
There are some more maths style-related commands that change the size of the text.

In-line maths elements can be set with a different style: \(f(x) =

\displaystyle \frac{1}{1+x}\). The same is true the other way around:

\begin{eqnarray*}
\begin{eqnarray*}
f(x) = \sum_{i=0}^{n} \frac{a_i}{1+x} \\
\textstyle f(x) = \textstyle \sum_{i=0}^{n} \frac{a_i}{1+x} \\
\scriptstyle f(x) = \scriptstyle \sum_{i=0}^{n} \frac{a_i}{1+x} \\
\scriptscriptstyle f(x) = \scriptscriptstyle \sum_{i=0}^{n}
\frac{a_i}{1+x}
\end{eqnarray*}
\end{eqnarray*}

  Open an example in Overleaf (https://www.sharelatex.com/project/new/template?

zipUrl=/project/5324b6561ce5af5a5e000d50/download/zip&templateName=DisplayStyl
e&compiler=pd atex)

Further reading
For more information see

Mathematical expressions (/learn/Mathematical_expressions)

Subscripts and superscripts (/learn/Subscripts_and_superscripts)
Aligning equations with amsmath (/learn/Aligning_equations_with_amsmath)
Spacing in math mode (/learn/Spacing_in_math_mode)
 Integrals, sums and limits (/learn/Integrals,_sums_and_limits)
Mathematical fonts (/learn/Mathematical_fonts)
The not so short introduction to LATEX 2ε (http://www.ctan.org/tex-
archive/info/lshort/)

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