# Is it possible to break up an align environment and keep the tab positions? [duplicate]

I'd like to take notes for a math class such that I can typeset a series of equations with the \align environment and make some text notes in between some of the lines. As far as I can tell, though... by using \end{align*}, typing some text notes about the process, and then starting a new \begin{align*}, I won't be able to align the = symbols in the above environment with & anymore.

The best I could come up with is to use \text{} in the middle of the equations, but that doesn't place the text along the left margin of the document.

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage[fleqn]{mathtools}

\begin{document}
This is a series of equations:
\begin{align*}
x^{2}+y^{2}&=0\\
y&=mx+b\\
\text{This is a note about the above lines}\\
&\text{This is another note}\\
x^{2}&=1
\end{align*}
\end{document}
-

## marked as duplicate by egreg, mafp, Werner, Paul Gaborit, Andrew SwannMar 4 '13 at 15:46

Try \intertext and \shortintertext. – mafp Mar 4 '13 at 14:54
That's neat - didn't know about those. What is the difference between those two? – agent154 Mar 4 '13 at 14:59