amsmath in Scissor LaTeX
The amsmath package works in Scissor LaTeX: align and gather number every row, and \tag, \intertext, subequations, \numberwithin, \genfrac, split, cases, the matrix environments and \DeclareMathOperator work as in LaTeX.
What the package does
amsmath is the standard toolbox for display mathematics. It adds environments for aligned and grouped equations, matrices with brackets, \text inside formulas, better fractions and binomials, and \eqref for references to equations.
Load it in the preamble with \usepackage{amsmath}. In Scissor LaTeX most of its commands also work without the line, but keep it so your document compiles in a TeX installation too.
What works here
| Command or environment | In Scissor LaTeX | Notes |
|---|---|---|
equation, equation* | Works | One number, or none. |
align, align* | Works | |
gather, gather* | Works | |
multline, multline* | Works | |
flalign, alignat, eqnarray | Works | |
split, aligned, gathered | Works | Inside equation or \[ ... \]. |
cases | Works | |
matrix, pmatrix, bmatrix, Bmatrix, vmatrix, Vmatrix, smallmatrix | Works | |
\text{...}, \operatorname{...} | Works | |
\DeclareMathOperator, \DeclareMathOperator* | Works | Put it in the preamble. |
\dfrac, \tfrac, \cfrac, \binom, \dbinom, \genfrac | Works | |
\boxed, \substack, \overset, \underset, \smash | Works | |
\xrightarrow[...]{...}, \xleftarrow[...]{...} | Works | |
\eqref, \label | Works | |
\nonumber, \notag | Works | |
\tag{...}, \tag*{...} | Works | |
\numberwithin, subequations | Works | |
\intertext, \shortintertext | Works | |
\iint, \iiint | Works | \iiiint and \idotsint show a red formula. |
Examples
Equations aligned at the equals sign, with a reference to the block:
align with \label and \eqref
\begin{align}
f(x) &= (x + 1)^2 \label{eq:square}\\
&= x^2 + 2x + 1
\end{align}
Expanding the square in \eqref{eq:square} gives three terms.
A piecewise function with cases and \text, and an operator declared in the preamble:
cases, \text and \DeclareMathOperator
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\DeclareMathOperator{\sgn}{sgn}
\begin{document}
\[
\sgn(x) =
\begin{cases}
1 & \text{if } x > 0,\\
0 & \text{if } x = 0,\\
-1 & \text{otherwise.}
\end{cases}
\]
\end{document}Matrices with different brackets, and a long formula broken with split:
Matrices and split
\[
A = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 2 \\ 3 & 44 \end{pmatrix},\quad
B = \begin{bmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{bmatrix},\quad
\det A = \begin{vmatrix} 1 & 2 \\ 3 & 44 \end{vmatrix} = 38
\]
\begin{equation}
\begin{split}
(a + b)^3 &= (a + b)(a + b)^2 \\
&= a^3 + 3a^2 b + 3a b^2 + b^3
\end{split}
\end{equation}
Fractions, binomials, boxes and stacked limits:
\dfrac, \binom, \boxed and \substack
\boxed{\, \sum_{\substack{0 \le i \le n \\ i \text{ even}}} \binom{n}{i} = 2^{n-1} \,}
\qquad
\dfrac{1}{1 + \cfrac{1}{2 + \cfrac{1}{3}}}
\qquad
A \xrightarrow{\;f\;} B\intertext puts a line of text between the rows of an align:
\intertext between two rows
\begin{align}
x &= 44 \intertext{and therefore}
y &= 2x
\end{align}Compatibility
- From a TeX installation to here: documents typeset with the same numbers; only the few commands marked as not supported above show a red formula.
- From here to a TeX installation: documents compile there unchanged.
The full manual is on CTAN: ctan.org/pkg/amsmath. For a step by step introduction, see Equations, alignment and numbering and Matrices.
Questions and answers
Does every row of align get its own number?
Yes, as in a TeX installation. Put \nonumber or \notag on the rows that should have none.
Can I use \tag to give an equation a custom label?
Yes. \tag{A} shows (A) instead of a number, and \eqref to its label prints the tag.
Is \DeclareMathOperator supported?
Yes. Declare the operator in the preamble, as in a TeX installation, and use it like \sin. The starred form puts limits below the name in display math.
Every example on this page is typeset by Scissor LaTeX when the site is built. Last updated 2026-11-07.