1

Using \overline for a term in the denominator creates a cluttered look, and \Bar results in a really faint line. Also I only know how to use \Bar over one letter at a time.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath,amsfonts,mathtools}

\begin{document}
\begin{align*}
\frac{z_0 - z_1}{\overline{z_0 - z_1}} +
\frac{z_0 - z_1}{\Bar{z}_0 - \Bar{z}_1}
\end{align*}
\end{document}

enter image description here

I want to have a line that doesn't clash with the fraction line, but that also doesn't require squinting to observe. What are your recommendations? My best idea right now is to color the line gray, but I don't how to do that.

Edit: Actually, a thin line over the whole term, similar to the one produced by \Bar, might just work.

6
  • Please, don't color any line.
    – Sigur
    Nov 19, 2018 at 23:24
  • 1
    @Sigur "any color so long as it is black" (Henry Ford) Nov 19, 2018 at 23:30
  • Not so good solution, but.... \frac{\,z_0 - z_1\,}{\overline{z_0 - z_1}}
    – Sigur
    Nov 19, 2018 at 23:30
  • Wait a minute... \overline{z_0 - z_1} = \bar{z}_0 - \bar{z}_1 (if these are complex numbers) and hence the whole expression simplifies to 2 \frac{z_0 - z_1}{\bar{z}_0 - \bar{z}_1}. Nov 20, 2018 at 0:00
  • @HenriMenke The expression is meaningless I just wanted to demonstrate two styles of depicting the conjugate of the denominator. I suppose I shouldn't have separated the terms with a plus sign haha.
    – user475924
    Nov 20, 2018 at 19:03

1 Answer 1

3

How about this?

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsfonts,mathtools}
\newcommand{\conjug}[1]{{\fontdimen8\textfont3=0.25pt\mkern2mu\overline{\mkern-1mu #1\mkern-2mu}}\mkern2mu}

\begin{document}

\begin{align*}
\frac{z_0 - z_1}{\conjug{z_0 - z_1}} + \frac{z_0 - z_1}{\Bar{z}_0 - \Bar{z}_1}
\end{align*}

\end{document} 

enter image description here

5
  • This is an improvement over what I have currently, but I feel it's still quite cluttered looking. A thin line in the style of \Bar over both terms would be ideal I think. I don't know how to do that though.
    – user475924
    Nov 20, 2018 at 19:05
  • @user475924: I've modified the code to change the rule thickness and defined a \conjug command. Is that more like you want?
    – Bernard
    Nov 20, 2018 at 23:11
  • @Bernard May be make the change of the fontdimen local? Also <<<<<<<<<<<<<<; <is tjh :P
    – Manuel
    Nov 20, 2018 at 23:13
  • @Manuel: You're right. I've inserted a pair of braces in the code. I don't understand your last sentence.
    – Bernard
    Nov 20, 2018 at 23:20
  • @Bernard You had that in your comment, it was just a joke. I see you edited.
    – Manuel
    Nov 21, 2018 at 0:05

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