Is there a preferred way to typeset an empty sqrt
? What I'm doing now is \sqrt{\phantom{a}}
, are there other/preferred ways like a standalone symbol? Or should I just create a new macro with the phantom a
?
1 Answer
The \surd
command just produces the radical symbol √ as opposed to \sqrt{stuff}
which typesets the square root of stuff
with a bar over stuff
. The Chicago Manual of Style uses just the radical symbol in the text "The radical sign √ is used to denote the square root".
\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
Compare:
\begin{itemize}
\item The radical sign $\surd$ is used to denote the square root.
\item The radical sign $\sqrt{}$ is used to denote the square root.
\item The radical sign $\sqrt{\phantom{x}}$ is used to denote the square root.
\end{itemize}
Alternatively: the square root of $x$ is denoted $\surd x$ or $\sqrt{x}$.
\end{document}
The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics also just uses the radical sign (without an over bar) when defining both the terms "radical" and "square root".
-
7Notice that
\surd
places the symbol a bit higher, hence producing more pleasant vertically centered output.– yo'Dec 15, 2013 at 17:51 -
Let me add that the bar used in root notation historically was used as parentheses, before parentheses were introduced. So it is correct to write √(2 + 2) = 2.– AlexeyJul 24, 2022 at 17:18
\surd
unless you specifically need the top bar.\surd
When the sqrt is introduced in mathematical textbooks, how is the empty symbol printed? Is it ok to print it without the top bar?The radical sign $\surd$ is used to denote the square root
.