# Small matrix spacing and sizing

I'm using the small matrix environment to define these 2x1 column vectors like so:

setting $\left(\begin{smallmatrix} \beta_x \\ \beta_y \end{smallmatrix}\right) = \left(\begin{smallmatrix} 0.01 \\ 0 \end{smallmatrix}\right)$ results in a ...


However I want the two to have the same height and bracket thickness, although I know having the width equal won't look good. Are there any solutions or alternatives to this?

• Welcome to TeX.SE... Use \bigl and \bigr instead of \left and \right, you can increase the size by using the tags \Bigl, \biggl, \Biggl... – MadyYuvi Apr 9 at 14:18
• Add \mathstrut in the first row of the second matrix.. – Bernard Apr 9 at 14:20

I wouldn't auto-size the parentheses; instead, I'd apply \bigl and \bigr to both smallmatrix environments. If you insist on auto-sizing, I'd go with the psmallmatrix environment (provided by the mathtools package) and save myself some keystrokes.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{mathtools}
\begin{document}
setting
$\bigl(\begin{smallmatrix} \beta_x \\ \beta_y \end{smallmatrix}\bigr) = \bigl(\begin{smallmatrix} 0.01 \\ 0 \end{smallmatrix}\bigr)$
results in a \dots

\medskip
setting
$\begin{psmallmatrix} \beta_x \\ \beta_y \end{psmallmatrix} = \begin{psmallmatrix} 0.01 \\ 0 \end{psmallmatrix}$
results in a \dots
\end{document}

• Thank you this works very well! (going with \bigl \bigr) – giladgh Apr 9 at 15:49

You can load mathtools and use the simple syntax:

setting $\begin{psmallmatrix} \beta_x \\ \beta_y \end{psmallmatrix} = \begin{psmallmatrix} 0.01\mathstrut \\ 0 \end{psmallmatrix}$ results in a ...


• Your solution looks good here but when I use it in my actual file: For instance, setting $\bm{\beta} = \begin{psmallmatrix} \beta_x \\ \beta_y \end{psmallmatrix} = \begin{psmallmatrix} 0.01\mathstrut \\ 0 \end{psmallmatrix}$ results in a... They don't actually match (and yes I did import mathtools) – giladgh Apr 9 at 15:41
• There must be something else, because I have no problem adding \bm{\beta}. Could you post a minimal, yet complete, code, reproducing the problem? – Bernard Apr 9 at 16:55

Use a \vphantom.

And as MadyYuvi correctly suggests, additional control can be gained at limiting the vertical height of the parens by replacing the \left...\right nomenclature with \bigl...\bigr

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{mathtools}
\begin{document}
setting $\bigl(\begin{smallmatrix} \beta_x \\ \beta_y \end{smallmatrix}\bigr) = \bigl(\begin{smallmatrix} 0.01\vphantom{\beta_x} \\ 0\vphantom{\beta_y} \end{smallmatrix}\bigr)$ results in a ...
\end{document}


A little possible alternative....using \tbinom{}{}.

\documentclass[12pt]{article}
\usepackage{mathtools}
\usepackage{amssymb}

\begin{document}
There are  possible little matrix, inlinemath $\tbinom{\beta_x}{\beta_y}=\tbinom{0.01}{0}$
and in displaymath you have the same result
$\tbinom{\beta_x}{\beta_y}=\tbinom{0.01}{0}$
\end{document}
`