# How can I keep superscripts the same size in tex?

Currently I have a vector in latex represented by

\left(V_i^{L^{(1)}}, K_i^{\mathcal{N}^{(1)}}, G_i^{(1)}\right)


However, the (1) in the superscripts are not the same size, in that the first two variables have them sized the same, but not the third. Is there a way to keep them all the same size? Thanks!

• They are in different hierarchic positions. So, it makes sense to have different sizes. If you want to make the last one smaller, one possibility would be G_i^{^{(1)}}. – Sigur Oct 25 '19 at 13:31
• If you want to make the first 2 as the last one, so you have to state that they are in script position, like V_i^{L^{\scriptstyle(1)}}. – Sigur Oct 25 '19 at 13:37

As Sigur points out, there is a hierarchical difference in the script positions of the 1. However, if you wanted, in general, to not differentiate the size difference between a script and the script-of-a-script, you could use \DeclareMathSizes:

\documentclass{article}
\DeclareMathSizes{10}{10}{7}{7}
\begin{document}
$\left(V_i^{L^{(1)}}, K_i^{\mathcal{N}^{(1)}}, G_i^{(1)}\right)$
\end{document}


The four arguments to \DeclareMathSizes are the font size in \displaystyle, \textstyle, \scriptstyle, and \scriptscriptstyle, respectively.

Note that for a font, like the default (non-scalable) computer modern, with a finite number of fixed sizes, there is a lower limit to how small you can make these arguments. But with a scalable font (for example \usepackage{fix-cm} or \usepackage{lmodern}) an arbitrary range of sizes may be employed.

• @Sigur I'm always amazed at the seemingly fundamental stuff I continue to learn after many years, so I know what you are saying. – Steven B. Segletes Oct 25 '19 at 13:52
• And the most important part: it does not require additional packages!! – Sigur Oct 25 '19 at 13:54
• +1. To stay more in keeping with TeX's general distinction between \textstyle on the one hand and \scriptstyle on the other, I'd go with \DeclareMathSizes{10}{10}{7}{7}, though. – Mico Oct 25 '19 at 13:55
• Thanks, @Mico!! – Steven B. Segletes Oct 25 '19 at 13:56
• thanks, although note that by default latex always uses scalable cm, it just restricts itself to scaling the font to the old bitmap sizes, for compatibility with documents from the 1980s – David Carlisle Oct 25 '19 at 17:21