# Formula with numerator and denominator of a fraction in display mode [duplicate]

I have the following formula and I want the nominator and the denominator to appear in display style. I use \everymath{\displaystyle} so I don't understand why they are not in display mode. How can I make this happen? Also why doesn't \everymath{\displaystyle} do the trick? Thanks!

C=\frac{\iint \vec{E}\epsilon\cdot \vec{dS}}{-\int_{A}^{B}\vec{E}\cdot\vec{dl}}


• When in display math mode, the fractions have \textstyle in both numerator and denominator. – Manuel Aug 3 '14 at 21:01
• @DavidCarlisle I used \dfrac but I don't see any different result. – Adam Aug 3 '14 at 21:05
• @Mico My fault, you're of course right :) – yo' Aug 3 '14 at 21:56

When you are calling \displaystyle, the numerator and denominator are one level lower, i.e. in \textstyle. It seems that you are expecting a definition of the form

\def\ddfrac#1#2{\displaystyle\frac{\displaystyle #1}{\displaystyle #2}}


used in place of your \frac.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\def\ddfrac#1#2{\displaystyle\frac{\displaystyle #1}{\displaystyle #2}}

\begin{document}

$C=\ddfrac{\iint \vec{E}\epsilon\cdot \vec{dS}}{-\int_{A}^{B}\vec{E}\cdot\vec{dl}}$

But rather (cdots removed and replaced by thinspace):

$C=\ddfrac{\iint \vec{E}\epsilon\, \vec{dS}}{-\int_{A}^{B}\vec{E}\,\vec{dl}}$
\end{document}

• For an earlier posting that defines a macro called \ddfrac in much the same way as you do (though using LaTeX's \newcommand instead of TeX's \def), see tex.stackexchange.com/a/173980/5001. – Mico Aug 3 '14 at 21:12
• @Mico Really similar, however I'd prefer a slighty wider spacing invoked by the first \displaystyle. – Przemysław Scherwentke Aug 3 '14 at 21:38
• @Mico I thougt about more general usage, e.g. in array-like context. But when the math mode is just outer, there are no differences, indeed. – Przemysław Scherwentke Aug 3 '14 at 22:05