# Long equation in two column paper

I'm writing a paper where two columns layout is required. I have pretty long equation which fortunately is too long to be put into one column. This is my current solution:

$$\label{simpleRule} \frac{S=<R,A,O>, P\in AFP (O), <R,A,P,E>\in Observed}{S\models \diamondsuit E}$$


any ideas how to make it suit two columns layout ?

• What is the meaning of it? Is there a reason why you typeset it using \frac? Besides, are you sure you want to use < and > here, and not \langle and \rangle? – jub0bs Dec 5 '13 at 13:59
• i think you mean "unfortunately" ... – barbara beeton Dec 5 '13 at 15:03

You could use the \splitrule macro of the mathtools package to split the numerator term into two parts. In the example below, that's what's done in the first equation. In the second equation, I suggest applying a few more modifications; adopt them as you see fit.

\documentclass[a4paper,twocolumn]{article}
\usepackage{mathtools}
\begin{document}
With just \texttt{\textbackslash splitrule} applied:
$$\label{simpleRule} \frac{\splitfrac{S=<R,A,O>, P\in AFP (O),} { <R,A,P,E>\in Observed}} {S\models \diamondsuit E}$$
With a few more modifications applied:
$$\label{notsosimpleRule} \frac{\splitfrac{S=\langle R,A,O\rangle, P\in \textit{AFP} (O),} { \langle R,A,P,E \rangle \in \textit{Observed}}} {S\models \diamondsuit E}$$
\end{document}


Finally, I can't help but comment on the fact that the letters in the second angle-brackets expression make for an extremely unpleasant -- and very likely utterly distracting -- word. Any chance you can come up either with a different ordering of the four letters or an entirely different set of four letters?

• The word RAPE jumps at me when I look at the output :s – jub0bs Dec 5 '13 at 14:03
• I'd upvote a second time if I could for suggesting rearranging the acronym. – Ethan Bolker Dec 5 '13 at 14:06
• I really like the version with your modifications. Thanks for that. btw. thanks for pointing out the acronym problem, I'll fix that! – Jakub Dec 5 '13 at 16:29