mathbfv

mathbfv is a typographic convention used in mathematical notation to indicate a vector variable by rendering the letter v in bold type. In mathematical texts, boldface is commonly used to distinguish vectors from scalar quantities, which are usually set in normal italic type.

In LaTeX, the command \mathbf{v} is commonly used in math mode to produce a bold upright v, helping to indicate that the symbol represents a vector rather than a scalar. However, because math italics and bold upright have different conventions, some disciplines prefer bold italic symbols for vectors, which are obtained with commands such as \boldsymbol{v} or \bm{v} (from the amsmath package). These produce bold italic letters, suitable for conveying vector quantities in contexts where italic variables are standard.

Notes on limitations and alternatives: the \mathbf command is primarily suitable for Latin letters; for Greek letters or more complex symbols, \boldsymbol or \bm are usually necessary to achieve bold styling. Other common notation approaches include using an over-arrow, as in \vec{v}, or relying on boldface within a particular math font, depending on the style guide or publication venue.

In summary, \mathbf{v} and the broader family of boldface vector notations are widely used to denote vectors in formal mathematics, with choices influenced by readability, typographic conventions, and disciplinary standards.