# equal spacing for 'ordinary' limit and one-sided limit

The problem is that one-sided limits have subscripted symbols above $a$. I tried adding a blank subscript to the 'ordinary' limit, but that didn't seem to even out spacing.

\underline{Theorem:} $\lim \limits_{x \to a^{}} f(x) \Longleftrightarrow \lim \limits_{x \to a^{-}} f(x) = \lim \limits_{x \to a^{+}} f(x)$

• You would use a "phantom" glyph, as in \limits_{x \to a^{\phantom{-}}} to leave extra space in the ordinary limit, but I don't like the look of it at all. – Steven B. Segletes Dec 18 '18 at 15:31
• A bit off-topic, but it seems like you are missing the word "exists". – Andreas Rejbrand Dec 18 '18 at 19:52

Use \vphantom{+} to have the same height as the RHS.

\underline{Theorem:} $\lim\limits_{x \to a^{\vphantom{+}}} f(x) \Longleftrightarrow \lim\limits_{x \to a^{-}} f(x) = \lim\limits_{x \to a^{+}} f(x)$


Here's a possibility, but takes a lot of work to get there. It uses the \vphantom mentioned by AboAmmar, but it also horizontally centers the \to under the \lim.

It does it by placing a phantom scripted - to the left of the one-sided limits. But then it must also introduce \!\!\! negative space to compensate.

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
\underline{Theorem:} $\lim \limits_{x \to a^{\vphantom{-}}} f(x) \Longleftrightarrow \!\!\!\lim \limits_{^{\phantom{-}}x \to a^{-}} f(x) = \!\!\!\lim \limits_{^{\phantom{-}}x \to a^{+}} f(x)$
\end{document}


If a is a constant, I'd suggest you use \uparrow and \downarrow to indicate unambiguously that the x is supposed to approach a from below and above, respectively. A very nice side-effect of this notation is that x\uparrow a and x\downarrow a take up less space than x\to a -- obviating any need to make spacing adjustments.

If, in addition, you wish to assure that x\to a and x\uparrow a (and x\downarrow a) are typeset at same distance below "lim", just change x\to a to x\to a\vphantom{\uparrow}.

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
$\displaystyle \lim_{x\to a} f(x)\Longleftrightarrow \lim_{x\uparrow a} f(x)= \lim_{x\downarrow a} f(x)$
\end{document}