Using subscript in a string

Question

I am trying to create a string of the form

$0 < d_1 < d_2 < \ldots < d_n$

For a given n.

My closest attempt so far is

eqn[n_] :=
  For[i = 1; str = "0", i <= n, i++, 
   str = str <> "<" <> ToString[Subscript[d, i]]];

But for, say n=6, this gives me

"0<d
 1<d
 2<d
 3<d
 4<d
 5<d
 6"

Where it seems to have interpreted the string as "0<d\n 1<d\n 2<d\n 3<d\n 4<d\n 5<d\n 6".

Why is it doing this? How can I achieve the result I am looking for?

Answer 1

Probably best to use something like Fold and get used to functional style

eqn[n_] := TraditionalForm[Fold[#1 <> " < " <> 
     ToString[Subscript[d, #2], StandardForm] &, "0", Range[n]]]

Answer 2

Here's my entry:

string[n_] := ToString[0 < ## & @@ Array[Subscript[d, #] &, n], StandardForm]

string[7]

This assumes that none of the Subscript[d, _] expressions are assigned.

Here is a different method converting to strings as early as possible, using the single-argument form of Subscript:

string2[n_] := "0" <> Array[" < d" <> ToString[Subscript@#, StandardForm] &, n]

The spacing is a bit wider with this one. You could use narrower spaces, e.g.:

string2[n_] := 
  "0"<>Array["\[MediumSpace]<\[MediumSpace]d"<>ToString[Subscript@#,StandardForm]&, n]

One more, quite concise:

string3[n_] := "0" <> Array[" < \!\(d\_" <> ToString@# <> "\)" &, n]

Answer 3

Most important thing is what b.gatessucks has said. This answer is just a variation of the method:

eq[0] = "0";
eq[n_] :="0 < " <> StringJoin @@ 
               Riffle[ToString[Subscript[d, #], StandardForm] & /@ Range[n], " < "]

If you do not need string but an expression which looks like this, then it is good to remember Row's 2nd argument:

Row[{"0"}~Join~(ToString[Subscript[d, #], StandardForm] & /@ Range[4]), " < "]