[Tex/LaTex] Split numbered equation over multiple pages

alignequations

I am writing long equations and each equation has to jump to a new page. I'm using

\begin{equation}
\begin{split}
............
\end{split}
\end{equation}

I've looked , but the only way I found , is using \begin{align*} and tagged it with
\tag{\stepcounter{equation}\theequation} but when I try to label it , I get an error:

Missing \endcsname inserted. \end{align*}

Without label works just fine.

Best Answer

The split environment is meant to be used inside another environment, say, anequation environment. The split environment does not provide its own numbering and labeling support; instead, it is assumed that the "outer" environment (in your case: equation) handles those chores. You appear to have "discovered" a way to get around this constraint through the use of nested \tag and \stepcounter{equation} instructions, but you've also discovered that the cross-referencing mechanism using \label directives doesn't work.

The align* environment, by the way, is designed not to produce equation numbers, and that's why you have to resort to the same work-around as for split environments.

Rather than devise an additional, and likely kludgy, fix to solve the cross-referencing problem (which might involve using \refstepcounter instead of \stepcounter, but you didn't learn this from me...), you should consider dropping the use of align* or nested equation/split environments and, instead, consider using align environments. Within an align environment, use \notag (or \nonumber)in those rows that should no get an equation number, and use \label instructions for the numbered lines you wish to be able to cross-reference using \ref and friends.

Related Question