Math Mode – Center Align Columns in Math Mode in LaTeX

align

How can I center align columns in math mode using align* or one of the similar environments? I read that the columns in align environments align in the rlrlr pattern. How do I change this to a ccccc pattern?

\begin{align*}
    \dot{x}=&A&x+&B&u\\
    ...
\end{align*}

To explore, I used the tabular environment switching from text to math mode here. The result is what I'm looking for, but it doesn't seem like the optimal method:

    \begin{tabular}[7]{ccccccc}
        $\dot{x}$ & $=$ & $A$ & $x$ & $+$ & $B$ & $u$\\
        ...
    \end{tabular}

Is there a better way to achieve this?

Best Answer

Use array or bmatrix

\documentclass[12pt]{book}
\usepackage[a4paper]{geometry}
\usepackage{mathtools}

\begin{document}
\begin{equation*}
\begin{array}{ccc}
x & f+g & r + t^{2}\\
a = b & \text{long text} & G = \Upsilon
\end{array}
\end{equation*}

\begin{equation*}
\begin{bmatrix}
a & b = b = u & c \\
d & e & f \\
g & h & i
\end{bmatrix}
\end{equation*}
\end{document}

Related Solutions

[Tex/LaTex] Right Align Equation Number with hfill in Custom Environment

You can use tabular*, with an \extracolsep{\fill} to move the last column to the right margin, as in:

\documentclass[12pt]{article}

\begin{document}

Here's some text. Here's some text. Here's some text. Here's some
text. Here's some text. Here's some text. Here's some text. Here's
some text. Here's some text. Here's some text. Here's some
text. Here's some text.
\begin{center}
  \begin{tabular*}{1.0\linewidth}{@{}ccc@{\extracolsep{\fill}}r@{}}
    One& Two& Three& Number 1\\
    Four& Five& Six& Number 2
  \end{tabular*}
\end{center}

\end{document}

That gives you: enter image description here

(If you don't want it flush with the left margin, you can add an \hskip to that initial @{}.)

Tables – Aligning Inside a Table Across a Column

Here's a way to embed the math-y material in a three-column tabular environment. Note the use of a two-column array environment, where the columns are separated automatically by \ge (greater than or equal) symbols.

Aside: I find all those horizontal lines highly distracting. If it were my table, I'd get rid of the interior horizontal lines.

\documentclass{article} 
\begin{document}
\begin{table}
\centering
\begin{tabular}{|l|@{}l@{}|l|}
  \hline
  column 1 material & 
  $\begin{array}[t]{ r @{{}\ge{}} l }
                      v_2 & 0 \\ \hline
      (k-1)v_2 - (k+1)v_3 & 0 \\ \hline
                     kv_3 & 0 \\ \hline
              kv_2 - kv_3 & 0 \\ \hline
    (k+1)v_1 + (-2k+1)v_2 & 1 
  \end{array}$ &
  column 3 material \\ 
  \hline
\end{tabular}
\end{table}

\end{document}

Addendum: It's straightforward to extend this array-based approach to handle not just two columns but, say, six columns:

\documentclass{article} 
\usepackage{array}
\begin{document}
\begin{table}
\centering
\begin{tabular}{|l|@{}l@{}|l|}
  \hline
  column 1 material & 
  $\begin{array}[t]{ *{2}{r @{} >{{}}c<{{}} @{}} r @{{}\ge{}} l }
      & &      v_2 &   &          & 0 \\ \hline
      & & (k-1)v_2 & - & (k+1)v_3 & 0 \\ \hline
      & & & &                kv_3 & 0 \\ \hline
      & &     kv_2 & - &     kv_3 & 0 \\ \hline
  (k+1)v_1 & + & (-2k+1)v_2 & & & 1 
  \end{array}$ &
  column 3 material \\ 
  \hline
\end{tabular}
\end{table}
\end{document}

Best Answer

Related Solutions

[Tex/LaTex] Right Align Equation Number with hfill in Custom Environment

Tables – Aligning Inside a Table Across a Column

Related Question