# How to indent equations?

I have 2 equations which looks like:

A = B+ C + D... , While x is true.

The problem is, the equation is quite big which goes on for 2 lines. How do I give an indent to the second line so it looks like:

A = B + C + D + E + F +
G + H + I + ... , while x is true.
• You can use the align or array environment. – azetina Nov 29 '13 at 15:37

You can use the align environment if you want. Remove the * to get the numbered equation form. The following is MWE:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
\begin{align*}
A {}={} & B + C + D + E + F +\\
& G + H + I + \dotsb, \quad \text{while $x$ is true.}
\end{align*}
\end{document}


Another flavor would be like:

\begin{aligned} A {}={} & B + C + D + E + F +\\ & G + H + I + \dotsb, \quad \text{while x is true.} \end{aligned}


or

$\begin{array}{r@{}c@{}l} A &{}={}& B + C + D + E + F +\\ & & G + H + I + \dotsb, \quad \text{while x is true.} \end{array}$


This does not give any numbered version but keeps the alignment. I recommend you read the amsmath documentation and other math related sources to get acquainted with alignments in equations. For example, here in TeX.SX you can make a quick search and you will see several examples of alignment. For instance if I search alignment in equations I would get lots of examples. (click me)

• If you remove the * you get two numbered equations. – karlkoeller Nov 29 '13 at 15:47
• @karlkoeller Oops guess am still sleepy...... – azetina Nov 29 '13 at 15:49
• Thank you. Your first example worked. I do not have a lot of equations, just a few here and there. – ctrl-shift-esc Nov 29 '13 at 16:16
• @ctrl-shift-esc glad to have helped. happy texing – azetina Nov 29 '13 at 16:18

Try something like

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\begin{document}
$$\begin{split} A ={} & B + C + D + E + F + \\ & G + H + I + \dots, \quad\text{while x is true}. \end{split}$$
\end{document}


Output

If you don't want the equation to be numbered use equation* instead of equation.

As Svend suggested in the comment, in this case it is probably better using \dotsb instead of \dots.

• \dots --> \dotsb. – Svend Tveskæg Nov 29 '13 at 15:56
• @SvendTveskæg Yes, in this case it is probably the best choice. – karlkoeller Nov 29 '13 at 16:02

You also may use the multlined environment if you load the mathtools package (don't load amsmath in that case, it does it for you) ; this code lets you shift the second equation with respect to the first one, instead of aligning them

$$\begin{multlined} A = B + C + D + E + F + \\\ G + H + I + \dots,\qquad \text{\rlap{while x is true. }} \end{multlined}$$


Here is the result:

• By the way, how does one incorporate a nice-looking output? I converted my pdf to a png, but the result displays poorly. – Bernard Nov 29 '13 at 21:59

Just for comparing Karlkoeller's answer that used split with mine that uses aligned.

\documentclass[preview,border=12pt]{standalone}
\usepackage[a5paper,landscape]{geometry}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\begin{document}

\begin{minipage}{.5\linewidth}
\hrulefill
$$\begin{split} A = {} & B + C + D + \\ & E + F + \\ & G + H + I + \dots, \quad\text{using split}. \end{split}$$
\hrulefill
\end{minipage}
\begin{minipage}{.5\linewidth}
\hrulefill
A = \! \begin{aligned}[t] & B + C + D + \\ & E + F + \\ & G + H + I + \dots, \quad\text{using aligned}. \end{aligned}
\hrulefill
\end{minipage}

\end{document}


• I suggest making the following adjustment & E + F +{} \\ to fine tune the alignment. – azetina Nov 29 '13 at 22:35
• @azetina: That is correct. I will edit later. – kiss my armpit Nov 29 '13 at 23:05