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%Command to type the house of an algebraic number                 %
%                                                                 %
%If you insert this command into your preambule, you may type     %
%the house of an algebraic number.                                %
%The command works in plain tex as well as latex.                 %
%                                                                 %
%Usage: type \house{expression} to get the house of 'expression'  %
%                                                                 %
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

\def\house#1{\setbox1=\hbox{$\,#1\,$}%
\dimen1=\ht1 \advance\dimen1 by 2pt \dimen2=\dp1 \advance\dimen2 by 2pt
\setbox1=\hbox{\vrule height\dimen1 depth\dimen2\box1\vrule}%
\setbox1=\vbox{\hrule\box1}%
\advance\dimen1 by .4pt \ht1=\dimen1
\advance\dimen2 by .4pt \dp1=\dimen2 \box1\relax}