Math & Science\multicols environment & how to decrease horitzonal space between cols

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WyoTeacher
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2020 6:55 am

\multicols environment & how to decrease horitzonal space between cols

Post by WyoTeacher »

הההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההה
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The MWE code below executes perfectly to generate a very simple multiple choice maths quiz. But I need to reduce by 50% the horizontal space between the 2 cols so the quiz image can be viewed on student's cell phone screen.

Have tried pasting the "\setlength" string below at different places in the preamble and after[/code]\begin{document}]

Nothing works.

If possible, please explain why

Code: Select all

\setlength\columnsep{10pt}
הההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההה
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not working.

Also (and this is being really OCD), is it possible to correct the horizontal alignment between the 2 cols? I suspect the use of both fractions and non-fraction answer choices in the same line is messing up the alignment.

screenshot of horizontal misalignment = [https//imgur.com/hSk6fGw]

Your help is sincerely appreciated, mates!

MWE

Code: Select all

Code, edit and compile here:
\documentclass[addpoints]{exam}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{enumitem}
\usepackage{multicol}
\newlist{options}{enumerate}{1}
\setlist[options]{label*=(\Alph*)}
\newcommand{\option}{\item}
\SetEnumitemKey{twocol}{
before=\raggedcolumns\begin{multicols}{2},
after=\end{multicols}}
\begin{document}
%This code creates the text before the first question
%-------------------------------------------------------------------
\begin{center}
\fbox{\fbox{\parbox{5.5in}{\centering
Pre-Algebra Covid: Week 4 Item 2}}}
\end{center}
\vspace{5mm}
%Here, the questions begin
\begin{questions}
% Q 1
\question $\displaystyle\frac{4x^4y^3}{2x^3}$
\bigskip
\begin{options}[twocol]
\option $2xy^3$\\
\option $\displaystyle\frac{4x^2y^3}{2}$\\
\option $\displaystyle\frac{24x^7}{y^2}$\\
\option $\displaystyle\frac{4x}{9y^2}$\\
\end{options}
\end{questions}
\end{document}
הההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההה
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WyoTeacher
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2020 6:55 am

\multicols environment & how to decrease horitzonal space between cols

Post by WyoTeacher »

Never before occurred to me to use negative units to adjust the column separation. That's what going too long without the EPL will do to a bloke's mind.

Inserting this line of code (see below) did the trick!

Code: Select all

\setlength{\columnsep}{-10cm}
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The relevant 2 lines of code are:

Code: Select all

הההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההה
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\usepackage{multicol}
\setlength{\columnsep}{-10cm}

Code: Select all

הההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההההה
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Hope this helps some other Covid-closed school teacher! :)

h/t ghostanime2001 @ latex.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15664
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