# I'm trying to place two tables side by side but I get an error

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage{multirow}

\title{Test}
\date{September 2016}

\begin{document}

\maketitle

\section{Introduction}

\begin{table}[!b]
\centering
\caption{Caption}
\begin{tabular}[t]{|c|c|}
\hline
\multicolumn{2}{|c|}{\rule{0pt}{2.5ex} \textbf{Class I Fairing}} \\\hline
\rule{0pt}{2.5ex} \textbf{Configuration} & \textbf{Drag Ratio} \\\hline
\rule{0pt}{2.5ex} $\alpha = 61$ cm & \multirow{3}{*}{$D_R = 0.862$} \\\cline{1-1}
\rule{0pt}{2.5ex} $\beta = 0$ cm  & \\\cline{1-1}
\rule{0pt}{2.5ex} $\delta = 122$ cm & \\\hline
\multicolumn{2}{|c|}{\rule{0pt}{2.5ex} \textbf{Reduction in Drag}} \\\hline
\multicolumn{2}{|c|}{\rule{0pt}{2.5ex} $R_D = 13.8\%$} \\\hline
\end{tabular}
\begin{tabular}[t]{|c|c|}
\hline
\multicolumn{2}{|c|}{\rule{0pt}{2.5ex} \textbf{Class II Fairing} \\\hline
\rule{0pt}{2.5ex} \textbf{Configuration} & \textbf{Drag Ratio} \\\hline
\rule{0pt}{2.5ex} $W = 73^{\circ}$ & \multirow{4}{*}{$D_R = 0.826$} \\\cline{1-1}
\rule{0pt}{2.5ex} $X = 49^{\circ}$ & \\\cline{1-1}
\rule{0pt}{2.5ex} $Y = 19^{\circ}$ & \\\cline{1-1}
\rule{0pt}{2.5ex} $Z = 32^{\circ}$ & \\\hline
\multicolumn{2}{|c|}{\rule{0pt}{2.5ex} \textbf{Reduction in Drag}} \\\hline
\multicolumn{2}{|c|}{\rule{0pt}{2.5ex} $R_D = 17.4\%$} \\\hline
\end{tabular}
\end{table}

\end{document}

• There is a } missing after \textbf{Class II Fairing}. And you need \usepackage{multirow}. – StefanH Sep 29 '16 at 18:58
• Separately, do yourself a favor and (a) get rid of the multitude of \rule{0pt}{2.5ex} directives and instead (b) load the array package and issue the instruction (only once!) \setlength\extrarowheight{2pt} immediately after \begin{table}. – Mico Sep 29 '16 at 19:01
• You can achieve an effect similar to the \rule using \arraystretch ( see tex.stackexchange.com/questions/31672/…) – John Kormylo Sep 30 '16 at 4:39

Ok, facing that @StefanH found your missing }, and building on @Mico's solution, I tried expanding the topic, by refactoring your table. I added the following packages to your solution:

• array -> to have \extrarowheight
• booktabs -> for fancy rules
• siunitx to typeset units with the proper spacing.

Furthermore, in order to avoid the abundance of $ I defined a new column type that automatically inserts that for you. So, after a bit of clean up, here is the code, followed by the result. You will notice that I used fewer lines, since this way the information feel better grouped and more readable to me: \documentclass{article} \usepackage[utf8]{inputenc} \usepackage{array,booktabs,multirow} \usepackage{siunitx} \title{Test} \author{Chad Stucki} \date{September 2016} \newcolumntype{C}{>{$}c<{$}} \begin{document} \maketitle \section{Introduction} \begin{table}[!b] \setlength\extrarowheight{2pt} \centering \caption{Caption} \begin{tabular}[t]{Cc} \toprule \multicolumn{2}{c}{ \textbf{Class I Fairing}} \\ \multicolumn{1}{c}{\textbf{Configuration}} & \textbf{Drag Ratio} \\\midrule \alpha = \SI{61}{\centi\metre}& \multirow{3}{*}{$D_R = 0.862$} \\ \beta = \SI{0}{\centi\metre} & \\ \delta = \SI{122}{\centi\metre}& \\\midrule \multicolumn{2}{c}{ \textbf{Reduction in Drag}} \\ \multicolumn{2}{c}{$R_D = 13.8\%$} \\\bottomrule \end{tabular} \begin{tabular}[t]{Cc} \toprule \multicolumn{2}{c}{ \textbf{Class II Fairing}} \\ \multicolumn{1}{c}{\textbf{Configuration}} & \textbf{Drag Ratio} \\\midrule W = \ang{73} & \multirow{4}{*}{$D_R = 0.826$} \\ X = \ang{49} & \\ Y = \ang{19} & \\ Z = \ang{32}& \\\midrule \multicolumn{2}{c}{ \textbf{Reduction in Drag}} \\ \multicolumn{2}{c}{$R_D = 17.4\%\$} \\\bottomrule
\end{tabular}
\end{table}

\end{document}


• Nice answer. I would add on empty row to the first table, or even better, merge both table in one :). But this doesn't matter now, OP is not respond yet (after nine months :-( ). – Zarko Jul 13 '17 at 19:39