General ⇒ Equations and columns with correct spacing

[reed]

Hi,

I'm trying make a system of equations look like this:

Code: Select all

a				= 	 b
1	+	2	 =     3

where a and 1 are in one column, b and 3 in one, as well as the equal signs.

I tried the built-in commands as well as amsmath and I'm open to any solution.

(1)

Code: Select all

\begin{align*}
a=b \tag{1} \\
1+2=3
\end{align*}

(2)

Code: Select all

\begin{align*}
&a&=&b \tag{2} \\
&1+2&=&3
\end{align*}

(1) is what I start with (without tabs), but why isn't (2) looking the way it should be (like described in the first code box)?

[Stefan Kottwitz]

Hi,

you could use the alignat environment instead:

Code: Select all

\begin{alignat*}{2}
a&&&=b \tag{2} \\
1&&+2&=3
\end{alignat*}

Stefan