cancel in Scissor LaTeX
The cancel package mostly works in Scissor LaTeX: \cancel, \bcancel and \xcancel work in formulas, while \cancelto is not supported and shows a red formula.
What the package does
cancel draws a line through part of a formula, which is how you show terms cancelling out. \cancel draws a diagonal line, \bcancel the other diagonal, \xcancel a cross, and \cancelto{value}{term} an arrow to the value the term becomes.
What works here
| Command | In Scissor LaTeX | Notes |
|---|---|---|
\cancel{...} | Works | Line from bottom left to top right. |
\bcancel{...} | Works | Line from top left to bottom right. |
\xcancel{...} | Works | Both lines. |
\cancelto{value}{...} | Not supported | Red formula. |
Examples
Cancelling a common factor in a fraction:
\cancel in a fraction
\frac{44\,\cancel{(x + 1)}}{11\,\cancel{(x + 1)}} = 4The three styles next to each other:
\cancel, \bcancel and \xcancel
\cancel{a + b} \qquad \bcancel{c} \qquad \xcancel{d - e}\cancelto turns the formula red:
\cancelto shows a red formula
\cancelto{0}{\sin \pi} + 1 = 1Shown in red: the formula cannot be read, so its source is shown instead.
Show the value with \underbrace instead:
\underbrace instead of \cancelto
\underbrace{\cancel{\sin \pi}}_{0} + 1 = 1Compatibility
- From a TeX installation to here: formulas with
\cancel,\bcanceland\xcancellook as expected. Formulas with\canceltoturn red. - From here to a TeX installation: documents compile there unchanged.
The full manual is on CTAN: ctan.org/pkg/cancel.
See also Math basics, physics and Colours.
Questions and answers
Can I strike through normal text with cancel?
The commands are meant for formulas. For text, use \sout{...} from ulem, which works here; see Bold, italic and other text styles.
Every example on this page is typeset by Scissor LaTeX when the site is built. Last updated 2026-11-06.