[Tex/LaTex] Less-than OR Less-than-equal with one symbol

amsmathstacking-symbols

I want to write a less-than-equal sign with a brace around the equal sign. Something like this, but in "nice" (at the moment, it doesn't really look as expected):

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
\begin{equation}
a \overset{<}{(-)} b
\end{equation}
\end{document}

That should mean something like "a is less-than-equal (less-than) b".

Is there a symbol for this or is it possible to create such a symbol?

Edit: To give an example where this is useful is something like this definition (to keep things short):

  • If a is larger than (or equal to) b, we write: a >(=) b.

This is shorter than writing out both possiblies explicitly:

  • If a is larger than b, we write: a > b.
  • If a is larger than or equal to b, we write: a >= b.

Best Answer

It's not really difficult to do it:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\newcommand{\geqp}{%
  \mathrel{\raisebox{-0.5ex}{$\scriptscriptstyle($}}%
  \geq
  \mathrel{\raisebox{-0.5ex}{$\scriptscriptstyle)$}}%
}

\begin{document}

If $a$ is larger than (or equal to) $b$, we write $a\geqp b$.

\end{document}

enter image description here

However you are assigning a symbol to the obscure concept of

being larger than (or equal to)

rather than explaining the usage of two symbols.

Don't do it: I'm ready to bet that your readers will not understand what you mean. Saving a few words at the expense of clarity is not worth the pain. Consider that you will be using the symbol just once.

If a is larger than b, we write a > b. We write a ≥ b to mean that a > b or a = b.

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