# Why the pmatrix environment get a higher parenthese than pmatrix command?

I found the amsmath package's pmatrix environment have a bit difference with LaTeX's pmatrix command. You can see it from:

\documentclass{article}
% \usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
$\pmatrix{A&B\cr C&D\cr}$
% $\begin{pmatrix}A&B\cr C&D\cr\end{pmatrix}$
\end{document}


and:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
% $\pmatrix{A&B\cr C&D\cr}$
$\begin{pmatrix}A&B\cr C&D\cr\end{pmatrix}$
\end{document}


Is this a feature of amsmath?

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What version of amsmath are you using? Your first example gives me an error old form \pmatrix should be \begin{pmatrix}... So it looks like you are using a deprecated and no longer supported syntax. – Matthew Leingang Mar 15 '11 at 9:01
@Matthew: But the first example doesn't use amsmath. – Harald Hanche-Olsen Mar 15 '11 at 9:20
it is a feature of amsmath, it has some more environments for matrices, e.g. bmatrix – Herbert Mar 15 '11 at 9:22
Other than noting that the two are implemented quite differently, I don't think it's easy to give a useful answer to this question. But I do find the extra vertical space taken by the amsmath array constructs to be (slightly) annoying. – Harald Hanche-Olsen Mar 15 '11 at 9:31
@Harald: Ah, I get it now. Sorry to be thick. – Matthew Leingang Mar 15 '11 at 10:22

This seems to be due to the \linespread{1.3}. I'm not sure if this is a feature of amsmath or a bug. Depends on your point of view, I suppose. Feel like a bug. Especially if you use an absurd \linespread factor (e.g., 5).

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even so, there is few people concern... – Rushavski Mar 16 '11 at 0:08
@Rushavski: I don't know what you mean. Are you saying that only a few people care about the bug? It could be that the AMS doesn't know about the bug or they think it is a bug. It might be best to file a bug report with them. I don't have the URL handy, but I know it has been mentioned on tex.SX before, for what that's worth. – TH. Mar 16 '11 at 0:13
sorry for my rude behavior. Thanks for your explanation. – Rushavski Mar 16 '11 at 0:21
@Rushavski: Nothing seemed rude, I just didn't understand is all. – TH. Mar 16 '11 at 1:11

I never use \linespread, and if you look at the very fine document mathmode.pdf I think it will be difficult to find how to use \linespread. If you make some investigations on the web, you can find \linespread{1.3} \selectfont. I think if you really need to get some space, \renewcommand\arraystretch{1.3} is a better idea!

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\begin{document}

\linespread{1.3}% do nothing !!! without \selectfont

$\begin{pmatrix}A&B\cr C&D\cr\end{pmatrix}$

$\begin{pmatrix}A&B\cr C&D\cr\end{pmatrix}$
$\begin{pmatrix}A&B\cr C&D\cr\end{pmatrix}$

You don't understand me. The \linespread command is not use to stretch the array, but to get suitable text (it's omitted by me) line spacing. And, I put the \linespread command before the \begin{document} to get a globally setting, that don't need followed by \selectfont. – Rushavski Mar 16 '11 at 0:05