# [NTG-context] \setupmathradical[sqrt] crunches denominator in an \over fraction

Hans Hagen pragma at wxs.nl
Thu Apr 24 10:40:15 CEST 2014

On 4/22/2014 1:53 AM, Sanjoy Mahajan wrote:
> I have been trying out the newish
> \setupmathradical[sqrt][alternative=mp], which has been very nice
> because of the fine control over the radical sign.
>
> I've noticed that it crunches the denominator in \sqrt{a\over b}
> For example:
>
> \starttext
> \placeformula\startformula
> \stopformula
>
>
> \placeformula\startformula
> \stopformula
>
> \stoptext
>
> In the first line, the fractions come out fine.  In the second line, the
> first k\over m has a small, inline-math m in the denominator but a
> display-math k in the numerator.  The second sqrt is fine.
>
> Is the problem that my plain-TeX habits, from decades using \over,
> should be over, and that \frac is the recommended way?

indeed. this is what (sort of) happens in case of a plugged in renderer:

\sqrt{#1} -> ...\mathstylehbox{#1}... -> ...\hbox{\stylecommand #1}...

when #a = a \over b the style gets applied to the a only as \over
creates two (pseudo) groups i.e. the \over isolates a and b

would work ok

Hans

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