# how to break long equations in cases latex?

I am trying to find a way to break long equations in a cases environment, I tried finding an answer to my question but no question was raised in this regards. Therefore, I decided to put it here.

I have the following equation

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

\usepackage{amsmath}

\begin{document}

\section{Introduction}

\begin{equation*}
P_{t}^{h}=
\begin{cases}
P_{t-1}^{h}  & \text{ if }A_{t}\leq \sum_{j=1}^{h-1}P_{t-1}^{j}(1+r_{g}) \\
A_{t}-\sum_{j=1}^{h-1}P_{t-1}^{j}(1+r_{g}) &\text{ if }
\begin{split}
& \sum_{j=1}^{h-1}P_{t-1}^{j}(1+r_{g})<A_{t} \\
& \leq \sum_{j=1}^{h}P_{t-1}^{j}(1+r_{g}) \\
\end{split} \\
P_{t-1}^{h}(1+r_{g})  & \text{ if } \sum_{j=1}^{h}P_{t-1}^{j}(1+r_{g})<A_{t} \leq (P_{t-1}+C_{t-1})(1+r_{g})+B_{t-1} \\
\begin{split}
& P_{t-1}^{h}(1+r_{g})+\frac{P_{t-1}^{h}}{P_{t-1}}\alpha \delta  \\  & \quad \left(1-b\right)[A_{t}-(P_{t-1}+C_{t-1})(1+r_{g})-B_{t-1}]
\end{split}
& \text{ if } (P_{t-1}+C_{t-1})(1+r_{g})+B_{t-1}<A_{t} \\
\end{cases}
\end{equation*}

\end{document}

Which prints out as so

Where as you can see this looks very bad. Can someone help me to sort things out?

Thank you in advance

• try aligned instead of split, remember it takes an optional arg [c|t|b] that tells aligned how to vertically align, default is c. That being said, I'd probably rewrite this as it will probably never be readable in this form. BTW: please always post full minimal examples instead of just sniplets. That makes it easy for others to just copy your code and mess with it immediately. – daleif Apr 3 '18 at 13:32
• @daleif thank you so much just did your recommendation. – rsc05 Apr 3 '18 at 13:37
• @daleif tried aligned same problem stays – rsc05 Apr 3 '18 at 13:39

I don't think there's a decent way to split the last case, so I suggest a different way to set the display: the condition is added in the line below the formula, at 4em distance from the brace.

The first case is dealt with a box 4em wide, as the formula is too short.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath,mathtools}

\begin{document}

\begin{equation*}
\label{DonkelandEquation}
P_{t}^{h}=
\begin{dcases}
\mathmakebox[4em][l]{P_{t-1}^{h}}
\text{if }
A_{t}\leq \sum_{j=1}^{h-1}P_{t-1}^{j}(1+r_{g})
\\[1ex]
A_{t}-\sum_{j=1}^{h-1}P_{t-1}^{j}(1+r_{g}) \\
\sum_{j=1}^{h-1}P_{t-1}^{j}(1+r_{g})<A_{t}
\leq \sum_{j=1}^{h}P_{t-1}^{j}(1+r_{g})
\\[1ex]
P_{t-1}^{h}(1+r_{g}) \\