• ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org
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    2 days ago

    I’m guessing a typesetter was too lazy to add a different-size font and although they knew how to type “√”, didn’t realize “²” is in Unicode too. They added a horizontal line as separate graphics to extend the square root symbol but only realized too late the whole thing is in a fraction: maybe someone reminded them and they misinterpreted the advice, or just decided not to split the text box to put the nominator higher.

    • vaionko@sopuli.xyz
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      1 day ago

      Can you even do that “proper” square root with unicode? Or is it always just that single character?

      • ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org
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        5 hours ago

        Unicode isn’t meant to replace all typesetting like LaTeX. For example, I can’t make proper horizontal fractions (as opposed to slashed like ⅝ or ⁹⁄₁₆) that are normal in my part of the world because that would be too much scope creep. Even the TeX logo is not really doable (Markdown with ASCII: TEX, Unicode ᵀᴇˣ).

        An imperfect solution is adding ̅ U+0305 COMBINING OVERLINE above everything. For example, it does not sit at consistent height (√4̅a̅c̅) and Windows renders it incorrectly (centered to the right edge of the character, not its center).

        This is how I’d render the numerator using Unicode only:
        𝑏² ± √4̅𝑎̅𝑐̅

        A correct Markdown interpreter can improve the look ogf the superscript:
        𝑏2 ± √4̅𝑎̅𝑐̅

        • vaionko@sopuli.xyz
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          16 hours ago

          So they had to use something “fancier” like TeX so they must’ve known about suoerscriots and the like

          • ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org
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            6 hours ago

            Nope, it looks like a basic vector graphics editor, think Inkscape, PowerPoint or whatever is built into their animation/effects software. They just used straight horizontal lines for the fraction and the bar of the square root.