# How to align a long math line without centering text?

This is not an equation, it's just a long math line. I want to break it into lines with right alignment. I tried several solutions including align, multline, but somehow I can't get it to work properly. It always forces the text to center. If I use equation + split, it still force the text center. Is there a way to get rid of the centering property? Thank you.

Minimal example

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{mathtools}
\setlength{\parindent}{0pt}
\setlength{\parskip}{1ex}

\begin{document}
$X \times Y = \{$
$\{a, b\}, \{a, c\}, \{a, e\}, \{a, f\},$ \\
$\{b, b\}, \{b, c\}, \{b, e\}, \{b, f\},$ \\
$\{c, b\}, \{c, c\}, \{c, e\}, \{c, f\},$ \\
$\{d, b\}, \{d, c\}, \{d, e\}, \{d, f\} \}$
\end{document}

Edit (according to Stefan Kottwitz's solution)

-

You could insert

\hspace*{\fill}

at the left of the lines with inline math to get right aligned inline math formulas.

Or use flalign*, such as

\begin{flalign*}
X \times Y = \{&\\
&& \{a, b\}, \{a, c\}, \{a, e\}, \{a, f\}, \\
&& \{b, b\}, \{b, c\}, \{b, e\}, \{b, f\}, \\
&& \{c, b\}, \{c, c\}, \{c, e\}, \{c, f\}, \\
&& \{d, b\}, \{d, c\}, \{d, e\}, \{d, f\} \}
\end{flalign*}

Alternative, aligned at brace and all moved to the left:

\noindent Text
\begin{flalign*}
X \times Y = \{&\{a, b\}, \{a, c\}, \{a, e\}, \{a, f\}, &\\
& \{b, b\}, \{b, c\}, \{b, e\}, \{b, f\}, &\\
& \{c, b\}, \{c, c\}, \{c, e\}, \{c, f\}, &\\
& \{d, b\}, \{d, c\}, \{d, e\}, \{d, f\} \}
\end{flalign*}

-
Wow, you're quick. Thanks a lot ;). I tried your flalign* example, however, it makes the text align to the right, not left though :(. Is there a way to align make it align with the \{ above it? –  Chan Aug 15 '11 at 8:51
@Chan: another example added –  Stefan Kottwitz Aug 15 '11 at 12:02
Thanks again ;). By the way, if the line X times Y is actually the subsection title. I wonder if they could be in the same line? because the \begin and \end force a line break. How can I prevent this to happen? See my edit. –  Chan Aug 15 '11 at 12:30
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{mathtools}
\begin{document}
\begin{multline}
X \times Y = \{ \{a, b\}, \{a, c\}, \{a, e\}, \{a, f\}, \\
\shoveright{\{b, b\}, \{b, c\}, \{b, e\}, \{b, f\},} \\
\shoveright{\{c, b\}, \{c, c\}, \{c, e\}, \{c, f\},} \\
\{d, b\}, \{d, c\}, \{d, e\}, \{d, f\} \}
\end{multline}

\begin{align*}
\begin{split}
X \times Y = \{
&    \{a, b\}, \{a, c\}, \{a, e\}, \{a, f\}, \\
&    \{b, b\}, \{b, c\}, \{b, e\}, \{b, f\}, \\
&    \{c, b\}, \{c, c\}, \{c, e\}, \{c, f\}, \\
&    \{d, b\}, \{d, c\}, \{d, e\}, \{d, f\} \}
\end{split}
\end{align*}
\end{document}
-
Thank you. However, from the 2nd line up to end, they align in the middle not right to the \{. Any other idea? –  Chan Aug 15 '11 at 8:56
@Chan: do you mean something like the edited answer? –  Herbert Aug 15 '11 at 9:13
Yes, that almost is. However, I want the part X \times Y not centering though. Is there a way to force X \times Y to the left, and the rest move accordingly? Thanks again. –  Chan Aug 15 '11 at 10:09
@Chan: see edit –  Herbert Aug 15 '11 at 10:51
Thanks again. Unfortunately, it gave the same result, the first line is still centered. –  Chan Aug 15 '11 at 11:37