Math mode space after id

Question

I need to write idb in math mode. But a space appears after id and I get id b. How can I remove this space?

Code example:

$idb$

there will be no space! Create a complete example which shows this behaviour. — user2478
– user2478, Commented Jul 25, 2014 at 19:53
Welcome to TeX.SX! Does idb denote a single object or the multiplication “i times d times b”? However, this is what I get from $idb$ : i.sstatic.net/IFAid.png There is no strange space, so it's necessary you give some more information. — egreg
– egreg, Commented Jul 25, 2014 at 19:56

Werner · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-25 23:08:41Z

As I suggest idb here is meant to be a three-character variable. If this is the case you can write it in math mode as follows:

$\mathit{idb}$

Then you get the correct spacing because LaTex assumes idb is just i times db here and db is treated as a differential term.

If you mean the multiplication just write it as follows:

$idb$

An image is provided for the first (upper) and the second (lower) approach.

enter image description here

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