TeXipedia

ldots

Creates a horizontal ellipsis (three dots) at the text baseline, commonly used to indicate omitted elements in mathematical expressions or text.

Overview

Serves as a fundamental typographical element for indicating continuation or omission in mathematical notation and regular text. Unlike its centered counterpart \cdots, this command places dots at the baseline level, making it particularly suitable for:

  • Indicating omitted terms in sequences or series (e.g., x₁, x₂, ..., xₙ)
  • Showing truncated text in formal writing
  • Representing trailing elements in set notation
  • Creating proper mathematical typography in horizontal enumerations

Particularly prevalent in mathematical documents, academic papers, and formal documentation where precise typographical placement of ellipses is essential.

Examples

Indicating a continuing sequence of numbers

1,2,3,…,n1, 2, 3, \ldots, n 
1, 2, 3, \ldots, n

Showing omitted terms in a mathematical expression

x+x2+x3+…+xnx + x^2 + x^3 + \ldots + x^n 
x + x^2 + x^3 + \ldots + x^n

Representing an infinite series expansion

11−x=1+x+x2+…for ∣x∣<1\frac{1}{1-x} = 1 + x + x^2 + \ldots \quad \text{for } |x| < 1 
\frac{1}{1-x} = 1 + x + x^2 + \ldots \quad \text{for } |x| < 1