4 
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{mathtools}

\begin{document}

\renewcommand{\arraystretch}{1.2}

\begin{table}[t]
\centering
\begin{tabular}{@{}c|ll|ll@{}}
\hline
A & B &  & C &  \\
\hline
D & $\begin{cases}
3 & \text{if } n = 1 \\
4 & \text{if } n\ge 1
\end{cases}$ &  & &  \\ \hline
E & F &  & G & \\ \hline
\end{tabular}
\end{table}

\end{document}

With this code, the cases bracket touches the upper and lower horizontal lines. I'd like to add a bit of space, both upper and lower. I tried increasing the \renewcommand{\arraystretch}, but that didn't help.

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3 Answers 3

Reset to default
3

There are many different ways to add space. One of the simplest is to add vertical space around the cases environment within the table cell by using zero-width rules to adjust the height and depth of the cell.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{mathtools}

\begin{document}

\renewcommand{\arraystretch}{1.2}

\begin{table}[t]
\centering
\begin{tabular}{@{}c|ll|ll@{}}
\hline
A & B &  & C &  \\
\hline
D & $\rule{0pt}{4.5ex}% Add space above
   \begin{cases}
   3 & \text{if } n = 1 \\
   4 & \text{if } n\ge 1
   \end{cases}
   \rule[-3.5ex]{0pt}{0pt}$% Add space below
   &  & &  \\ \hline
E & F &  & G & \\ \hline
\end{tabular}
\end{table}

\end{document}

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5

The booktabs package comes particularly handy in such cases (if you'll forgive the pun). In the following, I made no changes to your code other than replacing line commands, but the appearance is immediately improved (even without need for arraystretch). I will not comment on table design but should mention that booktabs philosophy discourages vertical lines.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{mathtools}
\usepackage{booktabs}

\begin{document}    
    
        \begin{table}[h]
        \centering
        \begin{tabular}{@{}c  ll  ll@{}}
            \toprule
            A & B &  & C &  \\
            \midrule
            D & $ 
            \begin{cases}
                3 & \text{if } n = 1 \\
                4 & \text{if } n\ge 1
            \end{cases} $ &  &  &  \\ \midrule 
            E & F &  & G & \\ \bottomrule
        \end{tabular}
    \end{table}
    
\end{document}

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3

With {NiceTabular} of nicematrix and its key cell-space-limits.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{mathtools}
\usepackage{nicematrix}

\begin{document}

\renewcommand{\arraystretch}{1.2}

\begin{table}[t]
\centering
\begin{NiceTabular}{@{}c|ll|ll@{}}[cell-space-limits=5pt]
\hline
A & B &  & C &  \\
\hline
D & $\begin{cases}
3 & \text{if } n = 1 \\
4 & \text{if } n\ge 1
\end{cases}$ &  & &  \\ \hline
E & F &  & G & \\ \hline
\end{NiceTabular}
\end{table}

\end{document}

OUtput of the above code

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1
  • However, I recommend a tabular with booktabs in the spirit of booktabs (without vertical rules). Commented Mar 24 at 11:37

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