\newcommand{\samp}[1]{`\code{#1}'}
% This weird definition of \var{} allows it to always appear in roman
% italics, and won't get funky in code fragments when we play around
-% with fonts.
-\newcommand{\var}[1]{\normalsize\textrm{\textit{#1\/}}}
+% with fonts. This also works directly in math mode.
+\newcommand{\var}[1]{%
+ \ifmmode%
+ \hbox{\normalsize\textrm{\textit{#1\/}}}%
+ \else%
+ \normalsize\textrm{\textit{#1\/}}%
+ \fi%
+}
\renewcommand{\emph}[1]{{\em #1}}
\newcommand{\dfn}[1]{\emph{#1}}
\newcommand{\strong}[1]{{\bf #1}}