# Placing a wide matrix in a two column paper

The terms in the matrix below are actually very wide and it should be inserted in a two column page format, so I would like to put it with the whole width of the page at the end of the page. I was wandering if there is a way to make it as included in the attached image.

\documentclass[conference,a4paper]{IEEEtran}
\begin{document}
\begin{align*}
\mathbf{D} & =\begin{pmatrix}
& a & b & \cdots & c\\
& a & b & \cdots & c\\
&\vdots & \vdots & \vdots & \vdots\\
& a & b & \cdots & c\\
\end{pmatrix}
\end{align*}
\end{document}


that is possible, but not on the first page of the article. Insert it like a float without a caption:

\documentclass[conference,a5paper,twocolumn]{IEEEtran}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{stfloats}
\usepackage{blindtext}
\begin{document}
\blindtext2
\begin{figure*}[b]%% over both columns
\begin{align*}
\mathbf{D} & =\begin{pmatrix}
& a & b & \cdots & c\\
& a & b & \cdots & c\\
&\vdots & \vdots & \vdots & \vdots\\
& a & b & \cdots & c\\
\end{pmatrix}
\end{align*}
\end{figure*}

\blinddocument\blinddocument
\end{document}


The image shows the bottom of the second page:

• Thanks, that's what I was looking for, and this matrix is not included in the first page of the file. However, when I do it like this, the matrix is shifted by two pages. Is there a way to force it to be on the same page ? – SMR Jun 11 '14 at 10:46
• except of the first page, which is not possible (as I already wrote), it should appear on the bottom of the current or the next page. You can try [!b] but I suppose that will make no difference. – user2478 Jun 11 '14 at 11:19
• if you really need a full-width float at the bottom of the first page, there's a horrible hack described in the edited answer to How to put a full-width table at the top or bottom of the same two-column page as the reference text? – barbara beeton Jun 11 '14 at 11:55
• I don't need it at the first page, but I wanted it on the same page as I declare it, which doesn't happen by applying this code. I tried [!b], [h] and [H] but it still appears on a new empty page on the middle. – SMR Jun 11 '14 at 12:23
• In general it is always on the same page. But depending to your text it maybe possible that is has to move to the next page. In such a case move the figure* environment up or back in your text. – user2478 Jun 11 '14 at 12:43