[OS X TeX] {picture}

[Google Kreme]

I recently had to make a series of blank boxes for a worksheet.  I
have to say, I was rather proud of myself coming up with:


\setlength{\unitlength}{36pt}
\begin{picture}(1,1)
\put(0,0){\line(0,1){1}}
\put(0,1){\line(1,0){1}}
\linethickness{2pt}\put(1,1){\line(0,-1){1}}
\put(1,0){\line(-1,0){1}}


\linethickness{1pt}
\put(1.2,0){\line(0,1){1}}
\put(1.2,1){\line(1,0){1}}
\linethickness{2pt}\put(2.2,1){\line(0,-1){1}}
\put(2.2,0){\line(-1,0){1}}

\linethickness{1pt}
\put(2.4,0){\line(0,1){1}}
\put(2.4,1){\line(1,0){1}}
\linethickness{2pt}\put(3.4,1){\line(0,-1){1}}
\put(3.4,0){\line(-1,0){1}}

\linethickness{1pt}
\put(1.2,-1.2){\line(0,1){1}}
\put(1.2,-.2){\line(1,0){1}}
\linethickness{2pt}\put(2.2,-.2){\line(0,-1){1}}
\put(2.2,-1.2){\line(-1,0){1}}

\linethickness{1pt}
\put(2.4,-1.2){\line(0,1){1}}
\put(2.4,-.2){\line(1,0){1}}
\linethickness{2pt}\put(3.4,-.2){\line(0,-1){1}}
\put(3.4,-1.2){\line(-1,0){1}}

\put(-0.2,-1.4){\line(1,0){3.8}}
\end{picture}

Considering I'd never heard of {picture} before I started this and
never played wwith LaTeX until about a week ago, I have to say I'm
pleased with the results.

However (there had to be a howerver, of course), I want to place the
operator in the space.  Now, a + sign is easy enough:

\linethickness{4pt}
\put(0.2,-0.7){\line(1,0){.6}}
\put(0.5,-1){\line(0,1){.6}}

and the - is straight forward.  The problem is the multiplication
sign. If I draw a line at an angle, the linethickness seems to vanish
and I get a 1 pixel line, which looks lousy.

\linethickness{4pt}
\put(0.2,-1){\line(1,1){0.5}}
\put(0.7,-1){\line(-1,1){0.5}}

I \emph{could} use \put(0,-1.2,{\Huge $*$} (just now figured that out,
makes the '+' easier) but that won't look like the 'x' the kids are
expecting and $x$ is no good either.

\put(0.2,-1){\line(0.8,0.8){0.8}}

OH, and no fair laughing if what I did couldbe dne 10 times better 10
times easier, I'm onyl a week or so into this LaTeX thing.  If this is
hideous and kludgy and would make any TeX vet run for cover,
suggestions are welcome.  Pointing and laughing is not. :p

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