# Double vertical bar notation

A common notation used for information divergence is D(P||Q). I hope to get something like D(S||Q) where S=||P||/2. I wonder if it is possible to display it nicely ? In such a way that the middle double bar has the right height. I tried

$D \left( \frac{\|P\|}{2} \right| \left| Q \right)$


The above do not work as the middle bar are not of the same vertical height but its closest to what I hope to achieved. Using just \| instead of \right| \left| for the middle double bar results in a short middle double bar.

Does anyone has a good idea on how to achieve that. Thanks Else, I could just create a new notation.

-- Update -- I managed to find out how to do it with this useful operator \middle

$D \left( \frac{\|P\|}{2} \middle\| Q \right)$


Hope someone else may find this useful.

• I'd rather recommend not using auto scaling unless it is absolutely necessary. Try you construction as part of the text, using P^2 instead of P. The fences will become too large. – daleif Dec 31 '13 at 23:11
• We'd like to keep answers separate from questions, so you should write a separate answer instead of editing your answer into the question. Self-answers are perfectly admissible, and a well-written answer may earn you additional reputation. Welcome to TeX.SX! – Adam Liter Dec 31 '13 at 23:24

This double bar should be treated as a binary relation, so it will be distinguishable from other usages, such as a norm.

The simplest way to cope with the problem is to use mathtools facilities:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{mathtools}

\DeclarePairedDelimiterX{\infdivx}[2]{(}{)}{%
#1\;\delimsize\|\;#2%
}
\newcommand{\infdiv}{D\infdivx}
\DeclarePairedDelimiter{\norm}{\lVert}{\rVert}

\begin{document}

\begin{gather}
D\left(P \middle\| Q\right) \rlap{\quad\itshape WRONG!} \\
% normal size
\infdiv{P}{Q} \\
% fixed size delimiters
\infdiv[\bigg]{\frac{\norm{P}}{2}}{Q} \\
% extensible delimiters
\infdiv*{\frac{\norm{P}}{2}}{Q}
\end{gather}

\end{document}


Note that number 1 is wrong in two respects: there is an unwanted space between the "D" and the left parenthesis; the two bars are too near the symbols, making for ambiguity.