# Enumerate starting at equation number

The following MWE contains proofs of equations numbered (2) through (4). I structure the proofs using an enumerate environment, so that the proof of equation (2) is labeled with 2., the proof of (3) with 3., and (4) with 4..

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}

An equation before the proof:
$$E = mc^2.$$

%I might want another equation here:
%$$%a^2 + b^2 = c^2 %$$

Here is a list of equations we want to prove:
\begin{align}
F &= ma \label{eq:newton} \\
\tau &= r \times F \label{eq:torque} \\
I &= \frac{3}{17} MR^2. \label{eq:inertia}
\end{align}

We will prove the equations in order:
\begin{enumerate}
\setcounter{enumi}{2}
\item The first equation is trivial.
\item The second equation follows easily.
\item The third is left as an exercise to the reader.
\end{enumerate}

\end{document}


If I were to add another equation before the list of equations to be proved, though, the numbering might change, so that I am now proving equations (3) through (5) for instance. I would like the numbering in the enumerate environment to change automatically. However, using

\setcounter{enumi}{\ref{eq:newton}}


does not work.

How can I make the enumerate environment automatically start its numbering at the number of a particular equation?

• This can't work, since \ref isn't expandable
– user31729
May 3, 2016 at 21:52

Instead of juggling with \addtocounter{enumi} etc it's better to use enumitem and it's start=... option.

The \getrefnumber{...} macro from refcount provides an aid to get the real 'number' of an reference -- \ref isn't expandable and will fail here.

Please note: \getrefnumber{...} will yield anything as equation number here, i.e. something 1.A.5 would be possible too -- start=... will fail then.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{enumitem}
\usepackage{refcount}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}

An equation before the proof:
$$E = mc^2.$$

%I might want another equation here:
%$$%a^2 + b^2 = c^2 %$$

Here is a list of equations we want to prove:
\begin{align}
F &= ma \label{eq:newton} \\
\tau &= r \times F \label{eq:torque} \\
I &= \frac{3}{17} MR^2. \label{eq:inertia}
\end{align}

We will prove the equations in order:
\begin{enumerate}[start=\getrefnumber{eq:newton}]
\item The first equation is trivial.
\item The second equation follows easily.
\item The third is left as an exercise to the reader.
\end{enumerate}

\end{document}