LaTeX forum ⇒ Math & Science ⇒ Flushing a single equation to the left Topic is solved

[Cham]

I would like to push a few equations to the left side. Do flalign is the only option to do this, for a single equation ? Here's a tiny MWE to show what I want to do :

Code: [Select all] [Expand/Collapse] [Download] ({untitled.tex}) Open in Overleaf

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
 
\begin{document}
Blablabla
	\begin{equation}
		\frac{1}{3 x + 4} = \frac{2}{x}.
	\end{equation}
Blabla
	\begin{flalign}
		&\frac{1}{3 x + 4} = \frac{2}{x}.&
	\end{flalign}
\end{document}

I find it a bit weird that I have to use the align environment (with two "&") just to do this. Is there another way in achieving this?

[Stefan Kottwitz]

Common typography is to decide either having equations centered or flushed left. Mixing is so unusual, that there's no official support for it. flalign is the easiest and works. Just take it. Other solutions would be rather hacks. It's not officially supported (because it's uncommon) and since there's this flalign way, no implemetation is needed.

Stefan

[Cham]

I agree. Personally, I usually center all of my equations.

However, in the case of the course notes I'm writing, I need to mix calculations examples (all centered) with exercices for the students. In this case, I need to envisage an empty space at the right side of the equations so the students could do their own calculations there (they have to fill the empty space by hand). This is why I need some equations to be flushed to the left.