Re: super-super-scripts

Hi Matthias,

On Thu, Jul  2, 2026 at 12:19 (-0400), Matthias Weber wrote:

> Thanks for these examples.

> How does one make the exponents continue to shrink (like in \cfrac) , and
> the \udots appear slightly higher so that they are above the \sqrt?

> \starttext
> \permanent\protected\def\pow#1#2{\mathord{#1}^{#2}}  
> \im{\pow{\pow{\pow{\pow{\sqrt2}{\sqrt2}}{\sqrt2}}{\sqrt2}}{\udots}=2}
> \stoptext

Someone will probably give you a better answer.  But, for now, here are the
dots one level higher:

\starttext
\permanent\protected\def\pow#1#2{\mathord{#1}^{#2}}
\im{\pow{\pow{\pow{\pow{\sqrt2}{\sqrt2}}{\sqrt2}}{\sqrt2}}{{}^{\udots}}=2}
\stoptext

I don't immediately know how to make them continue to shrink (in any
reasonable way, anyway).

                                        Jim

>> On Jul 2, 2026, at 2:51 AM, Hans Hagen via ntg-context <[email protected]> wrote:

>> On 7/2/2026 3:38 AM, Jim Diamond via ntg-context wrote:
>>> Hi all,
>>> plain TeX typesets the expression
>>>         ${x^n}^3$
>>> so that the baseline of the 3 is higher than the baseline of the n.
>>> ConTeXt typesets the expression
>>>         \im{{x^n}^3}
>>> so that the baseline of the 3 is the same as the baseline of the n.
>>> Is this intentional?

>> Of course.

>> \setupbodyfont[pagella]

>> \starttext

>>     \permanent\protected\def\pow#1#2{\mathord{#1}^{2}}

>>     \im{x^n^3}

>>     \im{(x^n)^3}

>>     \im{{\green 21} {\blue +} {\red x^n}^{\darkgray 3}}

>>     \im{\mathord{x^n}^{\red 3}}

>>     \im{\pow{x^n}{3}}

>>     \im{\pow{x+n}{3}}

>> \stoptext

>> In Context math we want to focus on proper rendering without any need for manual intervention (these tiny used enforced spaces) that can mess up the result. We also want to focus on meaning and permits to set properties without interferance. For that reason there are some features that we enable by default, like {} being just grouping characters and not atom creators. In a similar fashion we have primes as native feature and multiscripts and such. Also, a lot is about classes.

>> Out big test cases are Mikaels math books and lecture notes and so far we have not seen any negative side effects.

>> \setupbodyfont[pagella]

>> \starttext

>>     \permanent\protected\def\pow#1#2{\mathord{#1}^{2}} % think \frac

>>     \im{x^n^3}

>>     \im{(x^n)^3}

>>     \im{{\green 21} {\blue +} {\red x^n}^{\darkgray 3}}

>>     \im{\mathord{x^n}^{\red 3}}

>>     \im{\pow{x^n}{3}}

>>     \im{\pow{x+n}{3}}

>> \stoptext

>> Maybe this should be stressed a bit (which you will now do on the wiki.)

>>> (And I do know that if I use \im{x^{n^3}} the 3 is higher than the n, but I
>>> was wondering about \im{{x^n}^3}.)

>> In general for inline math these super-super scripts sit somewhat low so they are not that disctinctive. In the perspective of hot-topic hyper-accessibility one can argue for (x^n) so make the super-super script stand out more.

>> We can have a vote on \pow I guess but I leave that to Mikael and Aditya and you as math {\red pow}er users.

>> Hans


>> -----------------------------------------------------------------
>> Hans Hagen | PRAGMA ADE
>> Ridderstraat 27 | 8061 GH Hasselt | The Netherlands
>> tel: 038 477 53 69 | www.pragma-ade.nl | www.pragma-pod.nl
>> -----------------------------------------------------------------
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> ___________________________________________________________________________________
> If your question is of interest to others as well, please add an entry to the Wiki!

> maillist : [email protected] / https://mailman.ntg.nl/mailman3/lists/ntg-context.ntg.nl
> webpage  : https://www.pragma-ade.nl / https://context.aanhet.net (mirror)
> archive  : https://github.com/contextgarden/context
> wiki     : https://wiki.contextgarden.net
> ___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________
If your question is of interest to others as well, please add an entry to the Wiki!

maillist : [email protected] / https://mailman.ntg.nl/mailman3/lists/ntg-context.ntg.nl
webpage  : https://www.pragma-ade.nl / https://context.aanhet.net (mirror)
archive  : https://github.com/contextgarden/context
wiki     : https://wiki.contextgarden.net
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