# Alignment in tabular

Consider the following tabular with the code

 \documentclass[a4paper,10pt]{scrartcl}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
\usepackage{diagbox,amsmath,amssymb}

\begin{document}

\newcommand{\on}[1]{\ensuremath{\operatorname{#1}}}
\begin{table}[h]
\begin{center}
\begin{tabular}{c|c|c}
\diagbox{b}{d}&1&2\\ \hline
1&$-(x_{a2}x_{c2}+\on{Re}(z_{n+a}\overline{z_{n+c}}))$&\\
2&$2(x_{a1}x_{c2}+\on{Im}(z_{n+a}\overline{z_{n+c}}))$&$-(x_{a1}x_{c1}+\on{Re}(z_{n+a}\overline{z_{n+c}}))$\\
3&$-2(x_{a4}x_{c2}-\on{Re}(z_{a}\overline{z_{n+c}}))$&$2(x_{a4}x_{c1}+\on{Im}(z_a\overline{z_{n+c}}))$\\
4&$2(x_{a3}x_{c2}-\on{Im}(z_a\overline{z_{n+c}}))$&$-2(x_{a3}x_{c1}-\on{Re}(z_a\overline{z_{n+c}}))$
\end{tabular}
\end{center}
\caption{Values of $\lambda_{abcd}$ for $d\in\{1,2\}$}
\end{table}

\end{document}


Is it possible to align the cells to each other, so that the real and imaginary parts (as well as the signs in front of them) are aligned? Thanks in advance for any help.

• please extend your code snippet to small but complete document which we can compile as it is. Sep 15 '18 at 23:08
• @Zarko Sure! I hope it is okay now. Sep 15 '18 at 23:21
• Maybe you can group the 4 rows and create a new environment, like tabular. Sep 15 '18 at 23:22

i suspect that you like to align real and imaginary parts of your math terms as follows:

\documentclass[a4paper,10pt]{scrartcl}
\usepackage{diagbox,amsmath,amssymb}
\usepackage{array}
\newcommand{\on}[1]{\ensuremath{\operatorname{#1}}}

\begin{document}
\begin{table}[h]
\centering
\renewcommand\arraystretch{1.5}
\begin{tabular}{ c|>{$}r<{$}@{\,}>{$}l<{$} | >{$}r<{$}@{\,}>{$}l<{$} }
\diagbox{b}{d}
& \multicolumn{2}{c|}{1} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{2}    \\ \hline
1 & -(x_{a2}x_{c2}    & +\on{Re}(z_{n+a}\overline{z_{n+c}}))     &&  \\
2 & 2(x_{a1}x_{c2}    & +\on{Im}(z_{n+a}\overline{z_{n+c}}))
& -(x_{a1}x_{c1}    & +\on{Re}(z_{n+a}\overline{z_{n+c}}))  \\
3 & -2(x_{a4}x_{c2}   & -\on{Re}(z_{a}\overline{z_{n+c}}))
& 2(x_{a4}x_{c1}    & +\on{Im}(z_a\overline{z_{n+c}}))      \\
4 & 2(x_{a3}x_{c2}    &  -\on{Im}(z_a\overline{z_{n+c}}))
& -2(x_{a3}x_{c1}   & -\on{Re}(z_a\overline{z_{n+c}}))
\end{tabular}
\caption{Values of $\lambda_{abcd}$ for $d\in\{1,2\}$}
\end{table}
\end{document}

• Yes that's exactly what I wanted. Thank you for the quick response! But why is the 2 in the first row not centered? Sep 15 '18 at 23:33
• @LukeMathwalker try to modify the second multicolumn to this: \multicolumn{2}{c}{2}. Sep 15 '18 at 23:53
• Thank you, that worked out for me. Is it better or more common to not center the second column? Sep 15 '18 at 23:59
• @LukeMathwalker why do you say that? Because Zarko did it like that? I think he did not see that the number was misaligned, but it is not wrong to center the text; in fact, I think it's better because it helps to find the text quickly. Sep 16 '18 at 0:05
• @manooooh Well I was only wondering whether there is a reason for the alignment. Thank you anyway. Sep 16 '18 at 0:23