I'm trying to display a caret (^) in math mode in LaTeX to represent the exclusive or operation implemented in the `C languages'. By default ^ is for creating a superscript in math mode. The closest I can seem to get is by using \wedge which isn't the same.
\verb is never allowed inside the argument to other commands, so is of limited use for this sort of thing.
Will Robertson
2008-12-01 04:56:08
Actually I found this editor seems to double backslashes before passing to LaTeX, so e.g. `\alpha\beta` produces the output *alpha* and then *beta* on the next line, rather than the actual Greek symbols for alpha and beta on a single line. OTOH the "original" equation editor page worked: http://www.codecogs.com/latex/eqneditor.php
j_random_hacker
2010-10-07 10:41:34
A:
\^ is an accent character that applies to other characters, \^{4} gives a 4 with a carat on its head. It takes up no horizontal space. if you write $7 \^{} 3 = 4$ you get a 73 with a mark smashed onto both the 7 and the 3. What you need then is to fill out the space a little bit. Through trial and error and a nice application called LatexIt, I found this sequence to work beautifully:
\hspace{1.5} \^{} \hspace{1.5}
This gives a 3 unit width with the carat centered in it, it looks nice.
It is a pointy carat though, and \verb|^| gives a more flattened one that looks more like a monotype font used in programming languages frequently.
Karl
2008-12-01 04:22:09
I'm not sure this should be the accepted answer. As noted below, \^ isn't valid in math mode. Furthermore, rather than inserting manual spaces, use \mathbin{} instead to get the spacing right (see fntguide.pdf).
Will Robertson
2008-12-01 04:55:08
I know it's not the cleanest answer, but it works on my machine, you know how that goes...
Karl
2008-12-01 05:15:06
If by "works" you mean "gives an error" :)I think it's a bad design decision that some LaTeX IDEs are set up to scroll past all the errors and warning.
Will Robertson
2008-12-01 05:24:52
+11
A:
You might want to use the common symbol for exclusive or instead, \oplus (but give it a proper name with something like \newcommand\XOR{\oplus}).
The caret is a bit too small to be noticeable as a binary operator. However, if you do insist using a caret instead, use this:
\newcommand\XOR{\mathbin{\char`\^}}
$x \XOR y$
The \mathbin puts the right spacing around the symbol for a binary operator, and the \char ensures that the glyph is obtained from the roman font.
Will Robertson
2008-12-01 04:53:25
There are at least four "common symbols" for exclusive or, depending on context. I wanted the one used in the "C languages" which is the carat.The real question that hasn't been mentioned is "why am I using math mode for code?" I probably should have just used a verbatim environment.
Anthony Cramp
2008-12-01 05:02:27
Good point with which symbol to use. Take a look at the listings package, if you haven't already. It can do code printing very nicely.
Will Robertson
2008-12-01 05:23:22
A:
I highly recommend the short math guide which includes a list of symbols.
dreeves
2008-12-29 20:37:46
A:
Use \textasciicircum in text mode. If you are in math mode, you need to use something like $\mbox{\textasciicircum}$
Dayo Adetoye
2009-10-20 14:09:48