# special symbol for matrix index l

In the following image there are two different styles used for matrix index l. The first one is the default one. How can one get the second one?

The code is for the first equation is

$\sum_{kl}V_{ki}V_{lj}A_{kl}$

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The symbol is called \ell, but I would recommend not using it, at least in that context where a normal "l" is not subject to confusion. On older typescripts it was difficult to distinguish between "l" and "1", so many took the habit of using a different letterform for "l". –  egreg Jan 27 '12 at 16:48
–  N.N. Jan 27 '12 at 16:48
I'm not sure which difference you mean. You obtain the 2nd one by 1) using \ell as egreg suggests and 2) removing all \rm{...} from your code and removing \, from the end: $\sum_{k\ell}V_{ki}V_{\ell j}A_{k\ell}.$ –  tohecz Jan 27 '12 at 16:52
@egreg I prefer $\ell$ over $l$, I really want to avoid the confusion, especially when half of the digits in the manuscript are 1. –  tohecz Jan 27 '12 at 16:53
@tohecz "l" is slanted enough not to be confused with "1"; but it's question of personal tastes, mainly. Talking about high quality printing, \ell should not be necessary at all. –  egreg Jan 27 '12 at 16:58
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The symbol is called \ell, but I would recommend not using it, at least in that context where a normal l (italic ell) is not subject to confusion. On older typescripts it was difficult to distinguish between l (italic ell) and 1 (one), so many took the habit of using a different letterform for l (italic ell).
$\sum_{k\ell}V_{ki}V_{\ell j}A_{k\ell}$

In my opinion \ell makes matrix equations easier to read. –  liberias Jan 27 '12 at 17:24