# How to jump an equation number

I want to reference an equation from a book, and so I tag the equation (\tag{10.6}) for it to match the equation number from the book. That way I by purpose screw up my numbering so it goes (2.1), (2.2), (2.3), (10.6), (2.4), (2.5) and so on. But it gives me a problem when I reach section 10, because then the numbering will be like usual: (10.4), (10.5), (10.6), (10.7), and therefore the equation number will be doubled.

Is there a way for LaTeX to automatically skip that single number? I can of course just manually skip it by \addtocounter{equation}{1} but then that messes up as soon as I remove or add another equation, and it isn't very neat...

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Perhaps label the imported equation something like \tag{10.6*}? – Ethan Bolker Mar 27 at 16:23

I suggest using \newtagform from mathtools and \tag. and adding some letter in front of the equation number to differentiate both equations. This way you'll be able to reference both.

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{mathtools}
\newtagform{book}{(B\,}{)}
\usepackage{chngcntr}
\counterwithin{equation}{section}

\begin{document}
\setcounter{section}{10}
\usetagform{book}
$$\label{bkeq}\tag {10.1} a =b + d$$
\usetagform{default}
From {\usetagform{book}\eqref{bkeq}} we deduce:
$$\label{myeq} c = d × e$$
But \eqref{myeq} does not imply {\usetagform{book}\eqref{bkeq}}.

\end{document}


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If you really want this

\let\oldtheequation\theequation
\renewcommand{\theequation}{%
\thechapter.\ifnum\value{equation}<6 \arabic{equation}\else\the\numexpr\value{equation}+1\relax\fi}


and restore old definition in next chapter.

\documentclass[a4paper,12pt]{book}

\begin{document}
\chapter{foo}
\let\oldtheequation\theequation
\renewcommand{\theequation}{%
\thechapter.\ifnum\value{equation}<6 \arabic{equation}\else\the\numexpr\value{equation}+1\relax\fi}
$$bb$$
$$bb$$
$$bb$$
$$bb$$
\label{g}$$bb$$
\label{f}$$bb$$
\label{ff}$$bb$$
\label{gg}$$bb$$
$$bb$$
$$bb$$
\ref{ff}**\ref{f}**\ref{gg}**\ref{g}

\chapter{foo}
\let\theequation\oldtheequation
$$bb$$
$$bb$$
$$bb$$
$$bb$$
$$bb$$
$$bb$$
$$bb$$
$$bb$$
$$bb$$
$$bb$$
\end{document}

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