Dealing with matrices with large symbolic expressions

Question

I have been trying to express my matrices in a clear way. The problem I have is that the symbolic terms inside the matrices are sometime large and this kind of disturbs the matrix look of the matrix. I mean

\begin{pmatrix}
x & y
\end{pmatrix}

looks like how a matrix should. But if you have an expression there, like

\begin{pmatrix}
x + y cos(\theta) & y + x sin(\theta)
\end{pmatrix}

the matrix resembles less like a 2X1 matrix and more like two terms with a little space in between and surrounded by brackets. Is there a better command that makes matrices with reasonably large terms appear 'normal'. I can imagine my question maybe a bit unclear.

Edit: Maybe a better font for math dominated text would be better for representation? Suggestions?

Answer 1

I see nothing wrong with the usual typesetting: the large space between entries is sufficient. I probably would use bmatrix anyway.

You can see whether the following trick is what you need: we reduce the space around binary operation symbols.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\newsavebox{\rpmatrixbox}
\newenvironment{rpmatrix}
 {\begin{lrbox}{\rpmatrixbox}
  \setlength{\medmuskip}{.5\medmuskip}%
  $\begin{pmatrix}}
 {\end{pmatrix}$\end{lrbox}\usebox\rpmatrixbox}

\begin{document}

$\begin{pmatrix} x+y\cos(\theta) & y+x\sin(\theta)\end{pmatrix}$

\medskip

$\begin{rpmatrix} x+y\cos(\theta) & y+x\sin(\theta)\end{rpmatrix}$

\end{document}