Fonts – Using \sqrt from Another Font in Math Mode

fontsmath-modesymbols

I'm trying to change a specific char in my math collection: the square root symbol, as you can see below:

enter image description here

I'm trying to do it via \DeclareMathSymbol{\sqrt}... , but I can't determine witch parameters I have to enter.

The square root symbol that I want is available using the utopia option with the mathdesign package.

Any ideas?

Best Answer

You have to define new symbol fonts; the relevant declarations are

\DeclareSymbolFont{mdputsymbols}{OMS}{mdput}{m}{n}
\DeclareSymbolFont{mdputlargesymbols}{OMX}{mdput}{m}{n}    
\DeclareMathRadical{\sqrtsign}{mdputsymbols}{"70}{mdputlargesymbols}{"70}

Here's an example; the two \let instructions are to keep the old symbol for doing a comparison. In the output, the new one (Utopia based) is on the left.

\documentclass{article}
\let\oldsqrtsign\sqrtsign
\DeclareSymbolFont{mdputsymbols}{OMS}{mdput}{m}{n}
\DeclareSymbolFont{mdputlargesymbols}{normal}{OMX}{mdput}{m}{n}    
\DeclareMathRadical{\sqrtsign}{mdputsymbols}{"70}{mdputlargesymbols}{"70}

\begin{document}

$\sqrt{abc}$
{\let\sqrtsign\oldsqrtsign$\sqrt{abc}$}

\end{document}

enter image description here

Notice that this uses up two font alphabets (there are only 16 available), just for that symbol. It's not avoidable, as radicals need to be taken from a math font.

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