# How can I split the expression?

When I use the command \begin{split} inside the command \begin{itemize} I get an error... Why? Can we not use it there?

The command I wrote is the following:

\begin{description}
\item $\begin{split}+ \ \ : \ \ x_1+x_2 &= a_1+b_1\sqrt{t^2-1}+a_2+b_2\sqrt{t^2-1}=(a_1+a_2)+(b_1+b_2)\sqrt{t^2-1} \\ & \mapsto (a_1+a_2, b_1+b_2)\end{split}$
\item $0\ \ : \ \ 0=0+0 \sqrt{t^2-1} \mapsto (0,0)$
\end{description}


Have I done something wrong?

• The split environment is not a standalone environment; it has to embedded in some other environment -- say, an equation environment -- that provides some basic housekeeping functions for math-mode material. – Mico Sep 1 '15 at 7:15

Not sure what the desired result being sought is, but here

    \documentclass[12pt]{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}

Single line equations:
\begin{description}
\item[(a)] $x_{1} + x_{2} = a_{1} + b_{1}\sqrt{t^2-1} + a_{2} + b_{2}\sqrt{t^2-1} = (a_{1} + a_{2} ) + (b_{1} + b_{2})\sqrt{t^2-1} \mapsto (a_1+a_2, b_1+b_2)$
\item[(b)] $0 : 0=0+0 \sqrt{t^2-1} \mapsto (0,0)$
\end{description}

multi-line equation for the first descriptive item:
\begin{description}
\item[(a)] \begin{aligned}[t] x_{1} + x_{2} &= a_{1} + b_{1}\sqrt{t^2-1} + a_{2} + b_{2}\sqrt{t^2-1} \\ & = (a_{1} + a_{2} ) + (b_{1} + b_{2})\sqrt{t^2-1} \\ & \mapsto (a_1+a_2, b_1+b_2) \end{aligned}
\item[(b)] $0 + 0 =0+0 \sqrt{t^2-1} \mapsto (0,0)$
\end{description}

\end{document}


is code that removes the errors mentioned. The output is:

• I want that the "$\mapsto$-arrow" appears under the "=". Do we not use for that \begin{split} and \\ & ? – Mary Star Sep 1 '15 at 3:21
• @MaryStar An edit has been made to demonstrate a multi-line form. – Leucippus Sep 1 '15 at 3:46
• +1. However, the : symbol in the second description item "b" has been replaced with a + symbol. Incidentally, I conjecture that what's needed is \colon, not :. You may also want to leave an explicit explanation of why using an aligned environment is a good idea -- e.g., that it doesn't start a display-math environment (which would insert an unwanted line break, etc). – Mico Sep 1 '15 at 7:17