How to left align the \align environment

[rapid1]

Hi there,

I have the following bit of latex

\begin{align*} [a,\; b] & = \{x;\; a\leq x\leq b\}\\
(a,\; b) & = \{x;\; a < x < b\}\\
\mathrm{[}a,\; b) & = \{x;\; a\leq x < b\}\\
(a,\; b\mathrm{]} & = \{x;\; a < x \leq b\}\\
\end{align*}

However it is centered. Is there a left equivalent of \centering or is there another way to get this \align environment left aligned in my document.

Anything that gets it left would be excellent although I don't want anything that will set all \aligns left, just this one.

Thanks.

 

[Evgeny.Makarov]

You can use the environment aligned, which is like align* but generates an hbox instead of a vbox (i.e., it does not add a new line to the text but instead generates a rectangle that can be inserted anywhere a letter can). After that, you can design your own line and insert this hbox where you need it (left, center or right).

E.g., you can have the following definition.

\newcommand{\leftdisplay}[1]{\[\makebox[\textwidth][l]{$\displaystyle #1$}\]}

and then say

\leftdisplay{
\begin{aligned}\relax [a,\; b] & = \{x;\; a\leq x\leq b\}\\
(a,\; b) & = \{x;\; a < x < b\}\\
\mathrm{[}a,\; b) & = \{x;\; a\leq x < b\}\\
(a,\; b\mathrm{]} & = \{x;\; a < x \leq b\}
\end{aligned}}

You can insert \indent before $\$$ in \leftdisplay to shift the formula a bit to the right.

See also exercise 19.4 in Knuth's The TeXbook.