# Using old style numerals in XeLaTeX in math mode

I am using XeLaTeX and the Linux Libertine font to typeset my thesis. I set it up to use old style numerals in the text by:

\setromanfont[Ligatures={Common}, Numbers={OldStyle}]{Linux Libertine O}


Sometimes I use inline math, and these numbers are in Lining format, which looks strange with other numbers in the text (e.g. referring to a figure). I didn't specify a specific math font, if I do so (e.g. \usepackage[oldstylenums]{kpfonts} ), I do get the old style numerals in math mode but the font is not balanced with the text, so I'd like to stick with the default math font, or something that goes well with Linux Libertine. Of course, I can put all numbers outside the , but that just seems like a hack, not something that you're supposed to do.

Am I trying to do something that is typographically incorrect? How do I use old style numerals for math mode?

• Welcome to TeX.SX! You can highlight your code by indenting lines with 4 spaces or putting the text between backquotes as I have done. Sep 21, 2011 at 13:44
• Why don't you keep the kpfonts family as a whole? Sep 21, 2011 at 14:14
• Raphink: Thanks! @Pluton: I'm not sure what you mean; I tried to use the kpfonts package as I indicated but it doesn't look good with the text (a bit too black).
– Ivo
Sep 21, 2011 at 14:37
• My experience with using "oldstyle" figures in math mode is that it's ok to do so if the numerals show up mainly on the baseline of some formula or by themselves in the limits of a sum or integral. However, trouble an arise with an expressions such as $2^{36}$, which can look disquietingly similar to $2^{3^6}$ (because the "3" has a descender and the "6" has an ascender part). Tellingly, in opentype fonts that have numerator- and denominator-style numerals, these are always in "lining" and never in "oldstyle" format, even if the text font has oldstyle numerals.
– Mico
Sep 21, 2011 at 16:02
• there's an article by don knuth in tugboat on "the typesetting of concrete mathematics" that goes into the differences between old-style and lining numerals and reasons for using one or the other (in particular, not using old-style numerals in math). it's a personal opinion, of course, but you may find it interesting. Sep 21, 2011 at 17:30

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{mathspec}
\setmainfont[Mapping=tex-text]{Linux Libertine O}
\setmathfont(Digits,Greek,Latin)[Numbers=OldStyle]{Linux Libertine O}
\begin{document}

$0123456789$

\end{document}


• After resolving some conflicts with other packages (mathspec seems to behave a bit peculiar with amsmath), it works! Not sure about these strange figures above, though.
– Ivo
Sep 21, 2011 at 14:52
• I had two versions of libertine, that was the problem. Now everything is ok
– user2478
Sep 21, 2011 at 15:04

The classic work,

has the following remarks in paragraph 95, p. 63:

Relative size of numerals in tables.

-- André says on this point: "In certain numerical tables, as those of Schrön, all numerals are of the same height. In certain other tables, as those of Lalande, of Callet, of Houël, of Dupuis, they have unequal heights: the 7 and 9 are prolonged downward; 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 extend upward; while 1 and 2 do not reach above nor below the central body of the writing.... The unequal numerals, by their very inequality, render the long train of numerals easier to read; numerals of uniform height are less legible." (D. André, Des notations mathématiques (Paris, 1909), p .9)