# Creating 6x6 matrix using bmatrix

I'm trying to make a 6x6 matrix with the following text:

\begin{gather}
\dfrac{d}{dt}
\begin{bmatrix}
y \\ \dot{y} \\ a_{M} \\ \lambda_{T} \\ \lambda_{D} \\ a_{T}
\end{bmatrix}
=
\begin{bmatrix}
0 && 1 && 0 && 0 && 0 && 0 \\
0 && 1 && 0 && 0 && 0 && 0 \\
0 && 1 && 0 && 0 && 0 && 0 \\
0 && 1 && 0 && 0 && 0 && 0 \\
0 && 1 && 0 && 0 && 0 && 0 \\
0 && 1 && 0 && 0 && 0 && 0 \\
\end{bmatrix}
\end{gather}


And I get the following error:

Extra alignment tab has been changed to \cr. \endtemplace \end{gather}.

Whats weird is when i check the same code for 5x5 it worked.

Thank you.

• You are not making a 6x6 matrix, but rather a 11x11 matrix because of the && either use & instead of && or set the MaxMatrixCols counter to something higher (default i 10). – daleif Jul 7 '17 at 8:13
• changed && to & and it worked, thank you. still cant understand why for 10x10 then it worked. – Ben Jul 7 '17 at 8:14
• Because it was within the bound of 10 columns. You simply had 5 empty columns alternating with columns with a digit. – Bernard Jul 7 '17 at 8:23
• you can increase the limit from 10 if you need it but you do not need it here. Also, use equation not gather for a one-line equation – David Carlisle Jul 7 '17 at 8:34
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The problem is that only up to ten columns are supported by default in matrix-like constructions, but the number can be increased with

\setcounter{MaxMatrixCols}{20}


(twenty columns should be sufficient).

However, if you want to have wider separation between columns, set it properly, not by adding dummy columns.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\begin{document}

$$\frac{d}{dt} \begin{bmatrix} y \\ \dot{y} \\ a_{M} \\ \lambda_{T} \\ \lambda_{D} \\ a_{T} \end{bmatrix} = \setlength{\arraycolsep}{2\arraycolsep}% this change is local \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ \end{bmatrix}$$

$$\frac{d}{dt} \begin{bmatrix} y \\ \dot{y} \\ a_{M} \\ \lambda_{T} \\ \lambda_{D} \\ a_{T} \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ \end{bmatrix}$$

\end{document}


I'd much prefer the latter.

The input here is actually not a 6x6 matrix, but rather a 6x11 matrix (number og & +1. Basically you have a lot of blank columns because of the &&.

By default bmatrix and similar envs has a max of 10 columns (controlled by the counter MaxMatrixCols). So you get the error as there are more columns than the matrix env is defined with.

Easy solution replace && by &.

5x5 matrix in the manner you wrote here, is the same as a 10x5 so that is within the 10 col limit.

As David mentions in a comment, use equation(*) for one liners, it has a build in space saving feature that the other envs does not have.

• Just to be nit-picky ;-): the OP is making a 6x11 matrix, not 11x11. – campa Jul 7 '17 at 10:28