How do I typeset a 2x2 matrix in an inline equation?

Question

Consider:

 \documentclass[12pt]{amsart}
 \usepackage{tikz}
 \begin{document}
 \subsection {\bfseries Shembulli i dyte, Matrica.} 
 Konsiderojm matricen
 \begin{equation*} 
 a = \begin{pmatrix}1 & 1\\ 0 & 1\end{pmatrix}
 \end{equation*}. 
 Per ndonje e numer te tipit integjer n do te kemi formen e pergjitheshme: 
 \end{document}

This equation: {equation*} a = \begin{pmatrix}1 & 1\\ 0 & 1\end{pmatrix}\end{equation*}

Answer 1

You could use the smallmatrix environment for inline math use:

 \documentclass[12pt]{amsart}
 \begin{document}
 \setcounter{section}{1} % just for this example
 \subsection{Shembulli i dyte, Matrica.}
 Konsiderojm matricen 
 $a = \bigl( \begin{smallmatrix}1 & 1\\ 0 & 1\end{smallmatrix}\bigr)$.
 Per ndonje e numer te tipit integjer n do te kemi formen e pergjitheshme:
 \end{document}

Answer 2

You can have a simpler way to type these matrices: use the psmallmatrix or psmallmatrix* command from mathtools. The starred version accepts as an optional argument the columns alignment ([r], [l] or the default [c]).

Similarly, you have the bsmallmatrix, Bsmallmatrix, vsmallmatrix or Vsmallmatrix environments.

\documentclass[12pt]{amsart}
 \usepackage{mathtools}
 \usepackage{nccmath}

 \begin{document}

 \subsection {\bfseries Shembulli i dyte, Matrica.}

 Konsiderojm matricen
 $ a = \begin{psmallmatrix}-1 & -1\\ 0 & 1\end{psmallmatrix} \neq \begin{psmallmatrix*}[r]-1 & -1\\ 0 & 1\end{psmallmatrix*} $.
 Per ndonje e numer te tipit integjer n do te kemi formen e pergjitheshme:
     \[ \begin{pmatrix*}[r]-1 & -1\\ 0 & 1\end{pmatrix*} \]%

 \end{document} 

Answer 3

Always use $ for inline:

$a = (\begin{matrix}1 & 1\\ 0 & 1\end{matrix})$