Feature Request: Support for \nicefrac in Discourse Math (\KaTeX/\MathJax)

Ethsim2
Thu, 03 Jul 2025 21:27:58 +0000
Feature

Feature Request: Add Support for \nicefrac in Discourse Math Rendering

Summary

Please add support for the \nicefrac{a}{b} command in Discourse math rendering. This diagonal-style fraction is compact and ideal for inline expressions, improving readability without disrupting line spacing.

Why \nicefrac?

Produces clean, diagonal (slashed) fractions like $ \nicefrac{1}{2} $

More elegant than 1/2 and less bulky than \dfrac{1}{2}

Common in physics, statistics, and mathematical writing

Implementation Notes

Discourse might be able to support math via KaTeX or MathJax, depending on the installed plugin. This feature request outlines implementation for both:

MathJax

MathJax might support \nicefrac if an extension is loaded:

MathJax.Hub.Config({
  TeX: {
    extensions: ["AMSmath.js", "nicefrac.js"]
  }
});

This could mean no core changes are needed — so you could just update the plugin config to enable the extension.

KaTeX

KaTeX does not support \nicefrac natively. It might be possible that the following workaround macro can be added:

macros: {
  "\\nicefrac": "\\raisebox{.5ex}{\\footnotesize #1}/\\raisebox{-.25ex}{\\footnotesize #2}"
}

Alternatively, it might be worth investigating support through third-party KaTeX extensions such as katex-extension.

Reproduction

Try rendering the following:

$\nicefrac{3}{4}$

Result in KaTeX:

`KaTeX parse error: Undefined control sequence: \nicefrac

Result in MathJax (if extension not loaded):

LaTeX Error: Command \nicefrac undefined `MathJax parse error: Undefined control sequence: \nicefrac

Expected Behavior

$ \nicefrac{3}{4} $ renders a proper diagonal fraction

Might be able to work consistently across both KaTeX and MathJax installs providers

Hopefully, No parse errors or user confusion

Motivation

\nicefrac is widely used in LaTeX documents and teaching materials

Inline fractions appear more naturally in text

Improves math formatting in STEM-heavy Discourse communities

References

KaTeX GitHub Issue – \nicefrac support

MathJax Docs – nicefrac.js Extension

Thank you for considering this small but valuable improvement to math rendering in Discourse!

1 messaggio - 1 partecipante