Fractions in small font size when they are inside <mtable>

[samimaattaCelia]

I noticed that fractions appear really small when they are rendered inside the <mtable> element compared to "free flowing".

Here is an example:

At least I couldn't figure out how to make the fractions bigger. Any ideas?

I think this might affect other expressions as well when they are inside a <mtable>. Same thing happens in Firefox.

[TimArborealis]

I have noticed the same thing with big MathML expressions inside regular HTML tables (read in Thorium). No ideas for a solution.

[samimaattaCelia]

I think this might come down to browser and reading system development. I think we could have a small chat about what our involvement should be.

I think we should test reading systems using the test ebook I made and commit issues to different reading systems.

[TimArborealis]

MTM are already on this with Thorium, your book is very useful for it. :)

[MartheGjelstad]

Sami will test changing the CSS for the <mtables>.

[MartheGjelstad]

When <mtable>s are used for solving equations, MathCAT speaks "row number" for each row. Marthe will look at the rules in MathCAT to see if this can be changed.

[samimaattaCelia]

Just documenting here:
<mtable scriptlevel="-2">

makes the table and contents bigger:

[samimaattaCelia]

The scriplevel="-2"does not seem to make a difference in MathJax in Thorium 3.3.0:

MathJax also seems to override changes to CSS that target MathML. In CSS I have a red border around <mtable>, which doesn't show when MathJax is enabled in Thorium (above).

Here MathJax disabled and scriplevel="-2"

[samimaattaCelia]

Fractions seem to be small anyway regardless of used browser or reading system. Maybe we should think about using CSS rules to target <mfrac> elements specifically? Do you agree or disagree? Have you noticed in books that it's hard to read fractions?

[samimaattaCelia]

Ok. I think I have figured this out.

In MathML Core there is a math-style property in CSS: MathML Core math-style. For <mfrac> element this styling is used:

mfrac > * {
  math-depth: auto-add;
  math-style: compact;
}

The math-style: compact; is used and this makes the font size smaller in fractions. It must have good reasons to be so, but to me it seems that the default behaviour of browsers and reading systems is to render the fractions too small.

With compact value (default):

With normal value:

CSS:

mfrac {
math-style: normal;
}

Conclusion

This is a feature, not a bug. I still think there should be something about it, but should it be done on our side or from the user's side?

[MartheGjelstad]

Rules in MathCAT for speaking rows: see issue #83