[Tex/LaTex] How to prevent uneven spacing between words

math-modemulticolspacing

In the following example, I get awkward spacing in a multicol environment in the second question. Notice that the words "Which of the following" are not spaced as they are in the first question. I'd rather have the spacing be even and have some blank space at the end of the line. Keep in mind I need two columns in this document.

\documentclass[10pt]{article}
\usepackage[inner=1.1in,outer=.7in,top=.9in,bottom=1in,paperwidth=8.5in,paperheight=11in,twoside]{geometry}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{amsthm}
\usepackage{amssymb}
\usepackage{multicol}

\begin{document}

\begin{multicols*}{2}
\raggedcolumns
\begin{enumerate}

\item For ${i = \sqrt{-1}}$, which of the following is equivalent to $(5 - 3i) - (-2 + 5i)$? % C
\begin{enumerate}
\item 
\item 
\item 
\item 
\end{enumerate}

\item Which of the following is equal to ${(5 + 2i)(5 - 2i)}$? (Note: $i = \sqrt{-1}$) % B
\begin{enumerate}
\item 
\item 
\item 
\item 
\end{enumerate}
\end{enumerate}
\end{multicols*}

\end{document}

enter image description here

Best Answer

When typesetting material in narrow columns, it's frequently advisable to give up on full justification and, instead, to go for a "ragged-right" (aka: flushleft) look. To achieve this look for the entire document, load the ragged2e package with the option document.

enter image description here

\documentclass[10pt]{article}
\usepackage[inner=1.1in,outer=.7in,top=.9in,bottom=1in,
            letterpaper,twoside]{geometry}
\usepackage{amsmath,amsthm,amssymb,multicol}
\usepackage[document]{ragged2e}  % <- new

\begin{document}

\begin{multicols*}{2}
\raggedcolumns

\begin{enumerate}

\item For ${i = \sqrt{-1}}$, which of the following 
is equivalent to $(5 - 3i) - (-2 + 5i)$? % C
\begin{enumerate}
\item 
\item 
\item 
\item 
\end{enumerate}

\item Which of the following is equal to 
${(5 + 2i)(5 - 2i)}$? (Note: $i = \sqrt{-1}$\,) % B
\begin{enumerate}
\item 
\item 
\item 
\item 
\end{enumerate}
\end{enumerate}
\end{multicols*}

\end{document}
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