# Cannot make latex multicolumn work

I am trying to make a matrix in LaTeX. Now I am trying to make a table with multicolumn like

a b c
d  у


So I coded

\usepackage{arydshln}
\usepackage{array}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{multirow}
\begin{document}
\begin{align*}
& \hspace{0.3cm}\overbrace{\hphantom{\begin{array}{ccc}
a&b&c
\end{array}}}\\
&\left[
\begin{array}{ccc}
a&b&c\\
d&\multicolumn{2}{c}{$\phi$}\\
\end{array}
\right]
\end{align*}
\end{document}


But I cannot make the multicolumn work I've read several manuals like

http://andrewjpage.com/index.php?/archives/43-Multirow-and-multicolumn-spanning-with-latex-tables.html

And some others, but it doesn't solve my problem. I am using texmaker and it error log gives some abstract errors like "missing $inserted". Thank you. - ## migrated from stackoverflow.comMar 8 '11 at 15:33 This question came from our site for professional and enthusiast programmers. This is a question better suited for tex.stackexchange.com. That said, I think you need to insert a space before the closing $, like this: $\phi$. –  Matt Ball Mar 8 '11 at 15:06
You already are in math environment (align*), so there's no need to escape \phi with  -- and that's what is causing the error. Just remove them, and you should be good to go.