# How to display formulas?

I am using the following format for all

\begin{math}
newP = p + vt + 0.5a(t square)
\end{math}


How do I

• from left justified to centrally justified
• leave one blank line before and after the formula
• leave a single space between symbols and
• do this for all formulas at the same time
-
math is the 'inline' environment, equivalent to $$ ... $$ (or $ ... $). You are probably looking for the equation* environment, or the shorter $ ... $ version. –  Joseph Wright Feb 11 '13 at 8:50

A trivial example from which you can learn faster.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
The position of a moving particle along the $x$-axis is given by,
$x_t = x_0 + vt + \tfrac{1}{2}at^2$
where $x_0$ represents the initial position, \ldots.

The speed can be obtained by derivating the position with respect to $t$ as follows,
$$\frac{\textrm{d}x_t}{\textrm{d}t} = v + at$$
\end{document}


Remarks:

• Use $...$ or \begin{equation*}...\end{equation*} to display an unnumbered equation.
• Use $$...$$ to display a numbered equation.
• Use \begin{align*}...\end{align*} or \begin{aligned}...\end{aligned} to display multiple rows of unnumbered horizontally-aligned equations.
• Use \begin{align}...\end{align} to display multiple rows of numbered horizontally-aligned equations or \begin{aligned}...\end{aligned} to display multiple rows of horizontally-aligned equations but only with one equation number.
-

You need the amsmath package for align*, so make sure you have the line \usepackage{amsmath} in your preamble (before \begin{document}).

\begin{align*}
newP = p + vt + 1/2at^2
\end{align*}

-
Don't use align* for a single line equation; prefer $...$ (or equation* if amsmath has been loaded). –  egreg Feb 11 '13 at 10:20