# varkappa: amssymb AND kpfonts

Between the two packages amssymb and kpfonts, whichever is loaded last determines the look of \varkappa. With the usual tricks using \let and \LetLtxMacro, I have not found a way to simultaneously have both amssymb's \varkappa and kpfonts'

How can I have both versions of \varkappa available within a given document?

So far, I've been able to ascertain that the second package (whichever one that might be at the given compile time) redefines what AMSb is/does, but how to use that information is presently beyond my capacity.

• So what is the actual question? Can you make it into something more precise? May 23 '19 at 16:44
• Do you really want to use both in the same documents? May 23 '19 at 17:31
• One possibility is to, after loading the first package, \let\altvarkappa\varkappa. Then \varkappa will be as assigned by the second package, and the other shape can be accessed by \altvarkappa. There may be situations (probably in moving arguments) where additional measures are needed, but others are better able to provide that information. May 23 '19 at 17:32
• Did you see the posting Importing a Single Symbol From a Different Font?
– Mico
May 23 '19 at 17:35
• Please advise which math alphabet -- CM or kpfonts -- is supposed to be the main math font and which math alphabet is supposed to serve as the source of the alternative \varkappa symbol.
– Mico
May 23 '19 at 17:37

You surely can:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{kpfonts}

\DeclareSymbolFont{AMSAMSb}{U}{msb}{m}{n}
\DeclareMathSymbol{\amsvarkappa}{\mathord}{AMSAMSb}{"7B}

\begin{document}

$\varkappa+\amsvarkappa$

\end{document}


I feel sympathetic towards the poor readers that will not be able to distinguish the two symbols.

• Very nice the first kappa :). My upvote. May 23 '19 at 20:56