Apart from automatically setting the size for brackets, the commands \left and \right also adds spacing around the corresponding brackets. The spacing in which one uses both \left( and \right) and parentheses without these commands the spacing might therefor be inconsistent. Is the intention behind this that the commands \left and right should always be used when parentheses are inserted into equations?
If not, what is good practice for when to use these?
\leftand\rightwhen\Biggland\Biggraren't big enough. In this case, the whole expression is probably so large that the extra spaces added by\leftandrightare desirable. (Or you can look in the latex2e source code and make your own\bigggermacros.) – Harald Hanche-Olsen Oct 01 '18 at 10:23