# breaking equation and different alignments

I would like to break the following two equations. I would like for them to have the colons aligned together, but besides that they should have their own, unique alignment points. Please see the picture for a reference regarding alignment of the colons.

Here is a MWE illustrating the problem:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\begin{document}

\begin{alignat*}{2}
a + a + a + a + a + a \quad &: \quad \alpha + \alpha + \alpha + \alpha + \alpha =&& +1 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2\\
&                && -3 + 4-3 + 4-3 + 4-3 + 4-3 + 4-3 \\
&                && +4+4+4+4+4+4+
\end{alignat*}
\end{document}


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I'm afraid your screenshot doesn't correspond to the LaTeX code you've posted. Moreover, the screenshot doesn't make clear what you want to change. Please clarify. –  Mico Jun 30 at 15:36
@Mico Bernard's answer is just what I am looking for. Sorry for not being clearer –  BillyJean Jun 30 at 15:55

A solution using two aligned environments within an align, to have a partial alignment of the two groups of equations. I think aligning inside the groups a little further looks better:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage[upright]{fourier}
\usepackage[showframe, nomarginpar]{geometry}

\usepackage{mathtools}

\begin{document}

\begin{align*}
a + a + a + a + a + a \quad & : \quad \begin{aligned}[t]
\alpha + \alpha + \alpha + \alpha + \alpha = +1 & + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2\\
& -3 + 4-3 + 4-3 + 4-3 + 4-3 + 4-3 \\
\end{aligned}\\[1ex]
\beta = +4+4+4 & +4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4+4 \\&+4+4+4 +4+4+4+4+4+4+{}
\end{aligned}
\end{align*}

\end{document}


Depending on the context, the aligned environments could as well be multilined environments

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Thanks, just what I was looking for. Sorry for my poor question. –  BillyJean Jun 30 at 15:55
You're welcome. It's not always easy to explain what one wants. –  Bernard Jun 30 at 16:06

You could have two separate alignat* environments inside a gather* environment:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
\begin{gather*}
\begin{alignat*}{2}
a + a + a + a + a + a \quad &: \quad \alpha + \alpha + \alpha + \alpha + \alpha =&& +1 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2\\
&                && -3 + 4-3 + 4-3 + 4-3 + 4-3 + 4-3
\end{alignat*}\\
\begin{alignat*}{2}