# Left aligned equations

In my document, I have a block of 3 equations that need to be aligned on the = sign. This is the code:

 \documentclass[a4paper, 11pt]{book}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}

\begin{alignat}{2}
&\text{xxxxxxx1}       &&= 1/y  \\
&\text{x2} &&=y      \\
&\text{x3}       &&=y^2+x2
\end{alignat}

\end{document}


However, I'd also like this block of equations to be left-aligned. Instead, with that code, it is centered on the page.

In a related post, someone suggested to use fleqn as a document class. Nevertheless, I cannot use that, because some of the equations in my document have to be centered, not all of them have to be left-aligned.

• You want just these three to be aligned on the left margin, but still numbered at the right margin? – Steven B. Segletes Sep 14 '18 at 19:33
• Yes, exactly. All equations in my document are numbered at the right margin, but I do not want all of them to be aligned at the left margin – Mary Sep 14 '18 at 19:35

it is not very clear to me what you like to obtain, so below are two options which cross my mind:

• in the first is used flalign math environment from the amsmath package
• in second the gather environment (also from amsmat) is enclosed in fleqn environment proviedad by he package nccmath

(red lines indicate text borders)

     \documentclass[a4paper, 11pt]{book}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{nccmath}

%---------------- show page layout. don't use in a real document!
\usepackage{showframe}
\renewcommand\ShowFrameLinethickness{0.15pt}
\renewcommand*\ShowFrameColor{\color{red}}
%---------------------------------------------------------------%

\begin{document}

\begin{flalign}
\text{xxxxxxx1}  &= 1/y     &\\
\text{x2}        &= y       &\\
\text{x3}        &= y^2+x2  &
\end{flalign}

or

\begin{fleqn}
\begin{gather}
\text{xxxxxxx1}  = 1/y      \\
\text{x2}        = y        \\
\text{x3}        = y^2+x2
\end{gather}
\end{fleqn}

\end{document}


edit: from your comments follows that you like to have something like this:

\documentclass[a4paper, 11pt]{book}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{nccmath}

%---------------- show page layout. don't use in a real document!
\usepackage{showframe}
\renewcommand\ShowFrameLinethickness{0.15pt}
\renewcommand*\ShowFrameColor{\color{red}}
%---------------------------------------------------------------%

\begin{document}

\begin{fleqn}
\begin{alignat}{2}
&\text{xxxxxxx1} &&= 1/y      \\
&\text{x2}       &&= y        \\
&\text{x3}       &&= y^2+x2
\end{alignat}
\end{fleqn}

\end{document}

• The first option is the most similar to what I'd like to obtain; however I'd like to also have x2 and x3 aligned at the left margin – Mary Sep 14 '18 at 20:41
• this means, that you like to big space between left side of equations and = sign? – Zarko Sep 14 '18 at 20:45
• Exactly. I cannot manage to do that with alignat, nor with flalign – Mary Sep 14 '18 at 20:53
• I took the liberty of simplifying the last code also to get the spacing right. ;-) – egreg Sep 14 '18 at 21:13
• @egreg, thank you very much. i now is better! – Zarko Sep 14 '18 at 21:15

A solution not really completely automated, but you can do your job till find a completed automated method:

\documentclass[a4paper, 11pt]{book}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{lipsum}

\newsavebox{\mylongbox}
\newsavebox{\mybox}
\newcommand{\longer}[1]{\savebox\mylongbox{\hbox{$#1$}}}
\newcommand{\forceLeft}[1]{\savebox{\mybox{$#1$}}\usebox{\mybox}\hspace{\dimexpr\wd\mylongbox-\wd\mybox}}

\begin{document}
\lipsum[2]

%Store the longer item
\longer{\text{xxxxxxx1}}
\begin{flalign}
\text{xxxxxxx1}  &= 1/y     &\\
%Use \forceleft command for the others
\forceLeft{\text{x2}}      &= y       &\\
\forceLeft{\frac{1}{3}\cdot x_2}        &= y^2+x2  &
\end{flalign}

\end{document}


• You are welcome Mary. – koleygr Sep 15 '18 at 11:39