Re: big braces in eqn

[Damian McGuckin]

On Tue, 12 Dec 2023, Douglas McIlroy wrote:

> In this real life example,  the bigger brace has a lot more freeboard* than
> the smaller one does.
> groff -ms <<!
> .nr PS 12
> .nr VS 14p
> .LP
> .EQ
> left "" rpile {sum from j=0 to j sub 0 v(j,2i) above
>              sum from j=0 to j sub 0 v(j,2i+1)}~
> right } =
> left { pile { 1 sub "" , above 0, }~~~
>         lpile { i=i sub 0 above i sub 0 <i< i sub 1 }
> .EN
> !
> I infer that the brace heights are rounded up to multiples of 1v and wonder
> whether the parts couldn't be slid up and down less jerkily to provide a
> consistent amount of freeboard.

Hi Doug,

I noticed that the freeboard is heavily influenced by the size of the "to" 
phrase on the top element of the pile and the "from" phrase on the bottom 
element. Without either, that freeboard looks proportionately similarly.

When I replace the "to" element with a tall letter like 'k' and the "from" 
element with a letter like 'i' with no dangling tail, the freeboard is 
very different.

I think there is an error so the issue is more fundamental than what you 
suggest. I could be chasing a "red herring" or just be plain wrong.

Regard - Damian

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