Nested exponents look too small

Question

When I type $e^{\frac{\ln(r)}{2^{j}}}$, the output is:

In the exponent, the denominator looks like 2j (especially in normal font), but it is supposed to look like 2^j. How can I make the term 2^j look more distinguishable? More precisely, how to move the letter j "higher", so to speak?

I have tried \dfrac instead of \frac, but it doesn't give me the desired result.

Thanks for the help!

Answer 1

I think you have two options:

• write the fraction in the exponent in inline form (with a / rather than with a horizontal bar), with or without pairs of inner parentheses; or

• don't use an exponent and write \exp ....

Your original form and the two alternatives look like this:

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
$e^{\frac{\ln(r)}{2^{j}}}$

$e^{(\ln(r)/(2^j))}$ or $e^{(\ln r/2^j)}$

$\exp\bigl(\frac{\ln(r)}{2^{j}}\bigr)$
\end{document}

For (much) more on the subject of why it may be a good idea to avoid fractions with horizontal bars in inline math expressions and in exponent terms, do check out the posting Guidelines for typesetting fractions.