# \frac command: height of the numerator vs height of denominator

I have the following code:

$$\underline{W}^1_{\,q,\rho} = \left\lceil \frac{\sum\limits_{v \in Q, v \neq q}\underline{C}_{\,v} + \sum\limits_{i=\rho+1}^{|\Omega^{(U)}_q|}p_i+ \sum\limits_{i \in U \backslash \Omega^{(U)}_q}p_i% +\underline{TT}_{\,q, \rho} }{m-1} \right\rceil\,,$$


that is rendered as:

As you may see, the numerator height is the same as the denominator. I don't need all this waste of empty space. How can I avoid this situation?

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You could use the nicefrac package to circumvent this issue. –  Ruben Mar 29 at 15:54
Consider \frac{1}{m-1} before the long expression in the numerator. –  Ethan Bolker Mar 29 at 15:56
@Ruben I got a look at the commands of the package. It seems that all the fractions provided by the package use a sort of slash! Am I wrong? Please, can you provide the command I should use? –  Roby Mar 29 at 15:58
@EthanBolker I don't understand really. Please, can you post an answer? –  Roby Mar 29 at 15:59

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\begin{document}

$$\underline{W}^1_{\,q,\rho} = \biggl\lceil \frac{1}{m-1} \biggl(\, \sum_{v \in Q, v \neq q}\underline{C}_{\,v} + \sum_{i=\rho+1}^{|\Omega^{(U)}_q|}p_i + \sum_{i \in U \setminus \Omega^{(U)}_q}p_i + \underline{TT}_{\,q, \rho} \biggr) \biggr\rceil,$$
\end{document}


Note that you don't need \limits when in a display; also \backslash should be \setminus. Note also that \left and \right would give an inferior result, because they would cover also the big upper limit, which is not necessary.

You can easily adapt this for a two column format:

\documentclass[twocolumn]{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\begin{document}

\begin{multline}
\underline{W}^1_{\,q,\rho} =
\biggl\lceil \frac{1}{m-1}
\biggl(\,
\sum_{v \in Q, v \neq q}\underline{C}_{\,v} + {}\\
\sum_{i=\rho+1}^{|\Omega^{(U)}_q|}p_i +
\sum_{i \in U \setminus \Omega^{(U)}_q}p_i +
\underline{TT}_{\,q, \rho}
\biggr)
\biggr\rceil,
\end{multline}
\end{document}


Why does that horrible result appear? Because the main fraction line is set on the “formula axis” and fences are set to cover the material and be centered on the axis.

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Thank you for pointing out the above issues and for the explanations. –  Roby Mar 29 at 16:10
@Roby I added also the “two column” way. –  egreg Mar 29 at 16:11

I think this is easier to read than the fraction you're trying to write:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\begin{document}

$$\underline{W}^1_{\,q,\rho} = \left\lceil \frac{1}{m-1} \left( \sum\limits_{v \in Q, v \neq q}\underline{C}_{\,v} + \sum\limits_{i=\rho+1}^{|\Omega^{(U)}_q|}p_i+ \sum\limits_{i \in U \backslash \Omega^{(U)}_q}p_i% +\underline{TT}_{\,q, \rho} \right) \right\rceil\,,$$

\end{document}

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Good point. However, sometimes the a double-column template is used in many journals. Thus, this solution could not be compliant with the available column width. I should scale the font size, but I guess it is not allowed by the editorial office. –  Roby Mar 29 at 16:07
Whatever you do be sure to use @egreg 's improvements. –  Ethan Bolker Mar 29 at 16:09
I'll do it! I'm sorry I cannot upvote! –  Roby Mar 29 at 16:18

While the other answers may be preferable alternatives to answer your question, you did mention "I don't need all this waste of empty space." Here is a different way to avoid the empty space, while preserving your original intent. The \stretchleftright macro of scalerel package using glyph stretching to simulate a \left\...\right effect, but only as far as necessary to match the vertical extent of the middle argument. In this case, the optional argument of [300] tells the macro to not let the aspect ratio of the stretch exceed 300%, increasing the width as necessary to maintain it.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{scalerel}
\begin{document}
$$\underline{W}^1_{\,q,\rho} = \stretchleftright[300]{\lceil}{% \frac{\sum\limits_{v \in Q, v \neq q}\underline{C}_{\,v} + \sum\limits_{i=\rho+1}^{|\Omega^{(U)}_q|}p_i+ \sum\limits_{i \in U \backslash \Omega^{(U)}_q}p_i% +\underline{TT}_{\,q, \rho} }{m-1} }{\rceil}\,,$$
\end{document}


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