# Is there a way to get higher-root symbols to render correctly when rooting a fraction?

Given a root symbol that becomes tall:

$$\sqrt[N]{\dfrac{\lambda}{3^e}}$$

The N is now rendered disproportionately small.

Does a fix exist? Is this a bug?

edit: as a follow-up to the accepted answer, here is a reference on font size and style setting

• A big exponent there would be very very weird! – Mariano Suárez-Álvarez Oct 8 '12 at 9:01
• If you ever find yourself in Australia, please be careful about using "root" as a verb. – Gerry Myerson Oct 8 '12 at 12:18
• See Nice-looking p-th roots at TeX.SE. – Martin Sleziak Oct 9 '12 at 6:44

You could try

text{\sqrt[\large N]{\dfrac{\lambda}{3^e}}: $\quad\displaystyle\sqrt[\large N]{\dfrac{\lambda}{3^e}}$

or text{\sqrt[\Large N]{\dfrac{\lambda}{3^e}}: $\quad\displaystyle\sqrt[\Large N]{\dfrac{\lambda}{3^e}}$

but \sqrt[\huge N]{\dfrac{\lambda}{3^e}}: $\quad\displaystyle\sqrt[\huge N]{\dfrac{\lambda}{3^e}}$

starts to look very odd.

Afterthought:

I was looking at the larger indices and they looked kind of crowded to the radical. I think these look even better:

text{\sqrt[\raise{2pt}{\large N}]{\dfrac{\lambda}{3^e}}: $\quad\displaystyle\sqrt[\raise{2pt}{\large N}]{\dfrac{\lambda}{3^e}}\quad\Large\star$

or text{\sqrt[\raise{2pt}{\Large N}]{\dfrac{\lambda}{3^e}}: $\quad\displaystyle\sqrt[\raise{2pt}{\Large N}]{\dfrac{\lambda}{3^e}}$

I think the starred one looks best

• Can you please add the source via ticks – New Alexandria Oct 8 '12 at 13:48
• Agreed that there is a limit – New Alexandria Oct 8 '12 at 13:48
• ProTip! I found you can right-click on TeX and get a menu that will display the source. It's custom for this site! – New Alexandria Oct 8 '12 at 15:16
• @NewAlexandria: I'm sorry, I should have mentioned that... I just assumed people knew how to see the source. Thanks for mentioning that! – robjohn Oct 8 '12 at 16:40
• I wish I could upvote a second time. Nice edit. – New Alexandria Oct 9 '12 at 14:29