[Tex/LaTex] Tab spacing in align environment

Question

How can I achieve this?

Example 1:        a = b         b = c

Example 2:        this equation is way longer than the others

Example 1:        c = d         e = f

All three lines are in a single align environment, but I can't manage to get it right, using && I always get

Example 1:        a = b                                             b = c

Example 2:        this equation is way longer than the others

Example 1:        c = d                                             e = f

because of the long second equation?

My code:

\begin{align*}

& Example 1: && a = b && b = c \\

& Example 2: && \text{this equation is way longer than the others} \\

& Example 1: && c = d && e = f

\end{align*}

Answer 1

Here are three possibilities, either with align* or with alignat* (to have full control on the columns spacing. Also, I think, it would look better if the align environment started at the left margin, which can be done locally with the fleqn environment from nccmath. Furthermore, the distance from the left margin where the environment starts can be set as an optional argument of fleqn:

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{nccmath, mathtools}

\begin{document}

\noindent Some text. Some more text. Some more text. Some more text. Some more text. Some more text.
\begin{align*}
& \text{Example 1:} && a = b && b = c \\
&\text{Example 2:} && \mathrlap{this equation is way longer than the others} \\
& \text{Example 3:} && c = d && e = f
\end{align*}
\vskip 1cm
\begin{fleqn}
\begin{align*}
& \text{Example 1:} && a = b && b = c \\
&\text{Example 2:} && \mathrlap{this equation is way longer than the others} \\
& \text{Example 3:} && c = d && e = f
\end{align*}
\end{fleqn}
\vskip 1cm
\begin{fleqn}[1em]
\begin{alignat*}{3}
& \text{Example 1:} &\qquad& a = b &\hspace{5em}& b = c \\
&\text{Example 2:} && \mathrlap{this equation is way longer than the others} \\
& \text{Example 3:} && c = d && e = f
\end{alignat*}
\end{fleqn}
 Some more text. Some more text. Some more text. Some more text. Some more text.

\end{document}