# How to write an m⨉n matrix in LaTeX?

I tried using the below code but it works only for 2⨉2 matrix.

 $M= \left[ {\begin{array}{cc} 1 & 2 \ 3 & 4 \ \end{array} } \right]$


Now the following doesn't work for me:

$M= \left[ {\begin{array}{cc} 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5\ 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 7\ \end{array} } \right]$

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## migrated from stackoverflow.comSep 3 '12 at 21:36

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It should work with any size. Can you be more specific about what happens when it "doesn't work"? And give an example of input that doesn't give the output you want? – hobbs Sep 1 '12 at 0:00

In the example you have, you need the opening line to be

\left[ {\begin{array}{ccccc}


rather than

\left[ {\begin{array}{cc}


When you start with just two cs, you're telling it the matrix only has two columns (and that you want them centered). Then it breaks when you give it data for 5 columns.

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A better way to do it, as the TheHe meantioned, is with the amsmath package:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}

$M= \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 \\ 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 7 \end{bmatrix}$

\end{document}


The bmatrix environment will give you [] braces. () braces are also very common. They are created with the pmatrix environment. To include a matrix inline, you can write:

$M = \left$\begin{smallmatrix} 1 & 2 \\ 3 & 4 \end{smallmatrix} \right$$

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In mathtools we also have bsmallmatrix environment. – percusse Sep 16 '14 at 14:01
I don't like it, it only has one line! !matrix – Tomáš Zato Feb 22 '15 at 13:22
He wrote '\' instead of '\\'. I'll edit that. – Astrinus Apr 17 '15 at 10:15
@Astrinus: Thank you. Actually this was not my mistake: meta.tex.stackexchange.com/questions/5978/…. I hope this is fixed. – canaaerus Apr 17 '15 at 11:26

if you use the amsmath package, you can chose out of a lot of matrices like pmatrix or bmatrix.

Check out this list at Wikibooks.

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