Need Help Labeling Latex Equation

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around how to properly label and format equations in LaTeX, specifically focusing on the use of the eqnarray and aligned environments. Participants are exploring different methods to achieve proper numbering and formatting for complex equations in their documents.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks help to label an eqnarray* environment, noting that the \label command does not work as expected.
  • Another participant explains that the * in eqnarray* prevents equation numbering and suggests using the aligned environment instead.
  • A participant mentions issues with numbering when removing the *, stating that it assigns separate numbers to split lines of a long equation.
  • Concerns are raised about the display of equation numbers when using eqnarray, particularly with large equations that span multiple lines.
  • Suggestions are made to use the multline environment for better formatting of long equations, with emphasis on ensuring the amsmath package is included.
  • One participant successfully resolves their issue by adding the missing \end{aligned} line, indicating a positive outcome from the suggestions provided.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the limitations of the eqnarray environment and the benefits of using the aligned or multline environments. However, there remains some uncertainty regarding the best approach for labeling and formatting particularly large equations, as different methods yield varying results.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that the formatting issues may depend on specific LaTeX packages being used, and there are unresolved concerns about how to manage equation numbering for complex expressions.

fluidistic
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Latex "help" needed

Hello,
I would like to label the following as an equation:

Code:
\begin{eqnarray*}
Enormous equation here
\end{eqnarray*}

I have tried the \label{name of equation} line, but it did not work.

I want to do this because in my latex document I have labeled many equations the following way:
Code:
\begin{equation}
\label{name of equation}
equation expression
\end{equation}

And I would like my "eqnarray*" to look like an equation for a reader of my document. I need to cite that "eqnarray*" at several places in my document so I really need to label it, but I don't know how to do.

Any idea?
 
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The reason you don't get equation numbers is because the * in equarray* option switches numbers off!

But without the *, each equation in the array gets its own number, which is presumably not what you want.

And in any case, eqnarray is sort of "left over from the an earlier version of LaTeX". The various alignment envoronments in the amsmath package give better spacing than eqnarray.

Try
Code:
\begin{equation}
\begin{aligned}
\label{name}
& equation \\
another & equation \\
and yet another & equation
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the help!
AlephZero said:
The reason you don't get equation numbers is because the * in equarray* option switches numbers off!

But without the *, each equation in the array gets its own number, which is presumably not what you want.
Well actually it somehow work but not as I want. Since the equation is enormous I have split it into 2 long lines. What I get when I remove the "*" is that both lines are assigned a number (not 1 and 2 but 12 and 13 because the previous equation is labeled as 11). On the top of that the numbers are displayed over/under the equation because it is simply too large. Maybe if I could put the number on the left side (in the margin I suppose), it would be ok. But I would still need to create a single number and not 2.


And in any case, eqnarray is sort of "left over from the an earlier version of LaTeX". The various alignment envoronments in the amsmath package give better spacing than eqnarray.

Try
Code:
\begin{equation}
\begin{aligned}
\label{name}
& equation \\
another & equation \\
and yet another & equation
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
I just tried this, I get a lot of errors. Probably because I split a single equation (it has \left [ and 2 kilometers away it has \right ] ) but I am not sure.

Here's the code of what I just tried:
Code:
\begin{equation}
\begin{aligned} 
\label{test}
& \frac{\partial ^2 P}{\partial x^2}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi t} \sigma} \left [ \frac{1}{\sigma ^2 t} \exp \{ -\frac{(x+y-2B)^2}{2\sigma ^2 t}    \} + \frac{(x-y)^2}{\sigma ^4 t^2} \exp \{ - \frac{(x-y)^2}{2\sigma ^2 t}  \}\right. \\ 
& \qquad \qquad \left. -\frac{1}{\sigma ^2 t} \exp \{ - \frac{(x-y)^2}{2\sigma ^2 t}  \} -\frac{(x+y-2B)^2}{\sigma ^4 t} \exp \{ -\frac{(x+y-2B)^2}{2\sigma ^2 t}  \} \right ] 
\end{equation}
and it won't work.
Here's the code that work but needs to be fixed:
Code:
\begin{eqnarray*} 
& & \frac{\partial ^2 P}{\partial x^2}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi t} \sigma} \left [ \frac{1}{\sigma ^2 t} \exp \{ -\frac{(x+y-2B)^2}{2\sigma ^2 t}    \} + \frac{(x-y)^2}{\sigma ^4 t^2} \exp \{ - \frac{(x-y)^2}{2\sigma ^2 t}  \}\right. \\ 
& &\qquad \qquad \left. -\frac{1}{\sigma ^2 t} \exp \{ - \frac{(x-y)^2}{2\sigma ^2 t}  \} -\frac{(x+y-2B)^2}{\sigma ^4 t} \exp \{ -\frac{(x+y-2B)^2}{2\sigma ^2 t}  \} \right ] 
\end{eqnarray*}
 
fluidistic said:
Here's the code of what I just tried:
Code:
\begin{equation}
\begin{aligned} 
\label{test}
...
\end{equation}
and it won't work.

You forgot something:

Code:
\begin{equation}
\begin{aligned} 
\label{test}
...
\end{aligned} % !
\end{equation}

And you need \usepackage{amsmath} if you don't already have it.

That works for me - see attachment.

This is a bit simpler, but the formatting is slightly different:

Code:
\begin{multline}
\label{test}
\frac{\partial ^2 P}{\partial x^2}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi t} \sigma} \left [ \frac{1}{\sigma ^2 t} \exp \{ -\frac{(x+y-2B)^2}{2\sigma ^2 t} \} + \frac{(x-y)^2}{\sigma ^4 t^2} \exp \{ - \frac{(x-y)^2}{2\sigma ^2 t} \}\right. \\
\left. -\frac{1}{\sigma ^2 t} \exp \{ - \frac{(x-y)^2}{2\sigma ^2 t} \} -\frac{(x+y-2B)^2}{\sigma ^4 t} \exp \{ -\frac{(x+y-2B)^2}{2\sigma ^2 t} \} \right ]
\end{multline}
Note I've deleted the &'s and some of the \quads, and you don't need \ begin{equation} ... \ end{equation}.
 

Attachments

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    big eqaution.png
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Last edited:
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Thanks a lot, that worked great!
I just added the \end{aligned} line, now it works simply perfectly. :smile:
 

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