# Centering dots in latex

How can I center the cdots on the third line to the surrounding equations?

$F(-\infty, x_2,\cdots, x_n)=C\big(0,F_2(x_2),\cdots, F_n(x_n)\big)=0$,\\
$F(x_1,-\infty,\cdots, x_n)=C\big(F_1(x_1),0,\cdots, F_n(x_n)\big)=0$,\\
$\cdots$ \\
$F(x_1,x_2,\cdots,-\infty)=C\big(F_1(x_1),F_2(x_2),\cdots, 0\big)=0$.\\


like so:

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
...
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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Instead of using multiple inline equations ($...$), you could use one of the environments for multi line equations provided by amsmath, namely gather*. See the amsmath manual for descriptions of the various environments it provides.

\documentclass{scrartcl}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
\begin{gather*}
F(-\infty, x_2,\cdots, x_n)=C\big(0,F_2(x_2),\cdots, F_n(x_n)\big)=0,\\
F(x_1,-\infty,\cdots, x_n)=C\big(F_1(x_1),0,\cdots, F_n(x_n)\big)=0,\\
\cdots \\
F(x_1,x_2,\cdots,-\infty)=C\big(F_1(x_1),F_2(x_2),\cdots, 0\big)=0
\end{gather*}
\end{document}


I don't really like this solution, but it appears (see comments) to be sufficient:

\documentclass{scrartcl}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{kantlipsum}  % for creating dummy text

\begin{document}
\kant[4]

\noindent$\begin{gathered} F(-\infty, x_2,\cdots, x_n)=C\big(0,F_2(x_2),\cdots, F_n(x_n)\big)=0,\\ F(x_1,-\infty,\cdots, x_n)=C\big(F_1(x_1),0,\cdots, F_n(x_n)\big)=0,\\ \cdots \\ F(x_1,x_2,\cdots,-\infty)=C\big(F_1(x_1),F_2(x_2),\cdots, 0\big)=0 \end{gathered}$

\kant[1]
\end{document}

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I didn't see your answer when I wrote mine, sorry. –  Niel de Beaudrap Jun 7 '12 at 18:59
@NieldeBeaudrap No problem. –  Torbjørn T. Jun 7 '12 at 19:01
This does work, however it centers the equations on the page where as I would like to keep them right-aligned. Is there a way to align the gather* to the right? –  yenta Jun 7 '12 at 19:03
@yenta Right-aligned? Your document is RTL? Don't have any brilliant ideas. You could replace gather* with gathered, and put dollar signs before and after, i.e. $\begin{gathered} ... \end{gathered}$, I suppose. I really don't know what is the best way of doing this though. –  Torbjørn T. Jun 7 '12 at 20:14
\end{gathered}\\ and it worked. I would prefer it to be centered but the professor I am working under prefers it to be right-aligned in this specific case. – yenta Jun 8 '12 at 6:14 Are you sure that you want inline-maths (the  ... \$ in your examples)? In a situation like this, what is often preferable are displayed-math environments. For instance, if you want every equation to be centered, you could write

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
\begin{gather*}
F(-\infty, x_2,\ldots, x_n) = C\big(0,F_2(x_2),\cdots, F_n(x_n)\big) = 0 , \\
F(x_1,-\infty,\ldots, x_n) = C\big(F_1(x_1),0,\cdots, F_n(x_n)\big) = 0 , \\
\cdots \\
F(x_1,x_2,\ldots,-\infty) = C\big(F_1(x_1),F_2(x_2),\cdots, 0\big) = 0 .
\end{gather*}
\end{document}


Alternatively, if you would prefer the equations (and the dots) to be aligned on the first equals-sign in each case, you could write

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
\begin{align*}
F(-\infty, x_2,\ldots, x_n) &= C\big(0,F_2(x_2),\cdots, F_n(x_n)\big) = 0 , \\
F(x_1,-\infty,\ldots, x_n) &= C\big(F_1(x_1),0,\cdots, F_n(x_n)\big) = 0 , \\
&\cdots \\
F(x_1,x_2,\ldots,-\infty) &= C\big(F_1(x_1),F_2(x_2),\cdots, 0\big) = 0 .
\end{align*}
\end{document}


Finally, you may wish to replace the centered dots \cdots with vertical dots \vdots; and if you would like these equations to be numbered, use either gather (instead of gather*) or align (instead of align*).

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