# Left align three columns in Latex

I have an equation in multiple lines. I want to left-align the equations in three columns. How can I do this in Latex?

I am currently using

\begin{aligned} &Column1& &Column2& &Column3 \\ &Column1& &Column2& &Column3 \\ &Column1& &Column2& &Column3 \\
\end{aligned}


However, with the above expression the third column is right-aligned rather than being left aligned.

Here is an example:

\label{formula:QPQC} \begin{aligned} &\underset{x}{\textbf{Maximize} }& &x^TFx+2f^Tx & & \\ &\textbf{Subject to} & &p_i^Tx+p_{i0}\geq 0 &i=1,\ldots,I \\ & & &v_m^Tx+v_{m0}=0 &m=1,\ldots,M \\ & & & x^TQ_zx+2q_z^Tx+q_{z0}=0 &z=1,\ldots,Z , \end{aligned} 

• With that input I get left alignment for all three columns. Can you show an example that doesn't? – egreg Feb 6 '16 at 11:29
• I added an example – Admia Feb 6 '16 at 11:41
• You're missing an & between the second and third column – egreg Feb 6 '16 at 11:44
• Oh! I forgot! Welcome to TeX.SX! – egreg Feb 6 '16 at 11:48
• @egreg an answer? :) – cmhughes Feb 6 '16 at 11:56

You are missing an & between the second and third column.

Here are some suggestions for avoiding the mistake and for improving the output:

1. give && in pairs next to each other and keep the alignment in the input

2. define macros for “Maximize” and “Subject to”

3. use \dots instead of \ldots.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\newcommand{\Maximize}[1]{\underset{#1}{\mathbf{Maximize}}}
\newcommand{\Subjto}{\mathbf{Subject\ to}}

\begin{document}

\label{formula:QPQC} \begin{aligned} &\Maximize{x} && x^TFx+2f^Tx & && \\ &\Subjto && p_i^Tx+p_{i0}\geq 0 && i=1,\dots,I \\ & && v_m^Tx+v_{m0}=0 && m=1,\dots,M \\ & && x^TQ_zx+2q_z^Tx+q_{z0}=0 && z=1,\dots,Z, \end{aligned}

\end{document}