# Is there an easy way to raise or lower the hat operator in math mode

Using the hat operator in math mode in beamer, the hats are smashing into the characters. I can use \skew{n} to move them n points to the right, but I need to raise them a point or two. Is there an easy way to do this?

For example, the identity operator:

$\skew{4} \hat{\textrm{\emph{I}}$


ends up looking like an anemic lollipop. (I use an italicized text mode I because in the math font, the capitol I is a angled straight line that could easily be a 1 or a lowercase l.)

Regards, Martin

You can raise them with the help of an invisible rule:

\documentclass{beamer}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
\begin{frame}
$\skew{4} \hat{\textrm{\emph{\rule{0ex}{1.7ex}I}}}$
$\skew{4} \hat{\textrm{\emph{\rule{0ex}{2ex}I}}}$
\end{frame}
\end{document}


To lower them, you need to \smash the variable I and adjust the height of the rule:

\documentclass{beamer}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
\begin{frame}
$\skew{4} \hat{\textrm{\emph{\rule{0ex}{1.5ex}\smash{I}}}}$
\end{frame}
\end{document}