[vox-tech] another latex question -- unary vs binary minus sign

[Shawn P. Neugebauer]

On Thursday 02 May 2002 12:43 pm, you wrote:
> $\slashed p^{\dagger} = -\slashed p$
>
> is being printed as if the minus sign were a binary operator.  roughly
> (never mind the slash):

good question.  i have never quite figured out how to control binary/
unary operators.  in your example, i think it does matter what "\slashed"
is/does.  for example, $p = - \setminus p$ has the problem you
describe, and $p = -p$ does not (of course).

here's an idea that works in this example but i don't know if it's a
general solution:  $p = -{\setminus p}$.  this typesets the minus
sign as a unary negation operator.

i'd like to hear any other comments on typesetting binary vs. unary 
operators.  i seem to recall having similar problems (possible in
tables) and not ever really resolving them.  the bible "Math into LaTeX"
has very little on this, and i don't think there are any special AMS-
package commands for dealing with such issues (except for negative
space controls).

shawn.