How do you turn off(or disable) equation auto numbering in LaTeX?

Hi, before jumping to the direct main points. Let’s know more about display math mode. There are currently two types of methods for display math mode in LaTeX.

1 First method that do not return an equation number. For example

\[ add eqn \]

$$ add eqn $$

\begin{displaymath} 
  add eqn
\end{displaymath}

2 Second method that add default auto numbering to equations. For example

\begin{equation}
    add eqn
\end{equation}

\begin{equation}
 \begin{split}
    add eqn
 \end{split}
\end{equation}

\begin{align}
  add multi-line eqn
\end{align}

\begin{gather}
  add multi-line eqn
\end{gather}

Then many of you will think that I will use first method instead of second method. But, no, you need to use second method to handle multi and large equations.

Syntax for turn off equation number

We have two best processes for turn off the equation number.

Use of nonumber

You can turn off equation numbers for single or particular lines with \nonumber.

\begin{equatio}
    add eqn \nonumber
\end{equation}

\begin{align}
   eqn1 \nonumber
   eqn2 \nonumber
   .
   .
   .
  eqnx \nonumber
\end{align}

\begin{gather}
   eqn1 \nonumber
   eqn2 \nonumber
   .
   .
   .
  eqnx \nonumber
\end{gather}

Use of * symbol

Second, the star symbol must be appended to environment argument. This process will disable auto numbering of the entire equation system.

\begin{equation*}
    add eqn
\end{equation*}

\begin{equation*}
 \begin{split}
    add eqn
 \end{split}
\end{equation*}

\begin{align*}
  add multi-line eqn
\end{align*}

\begin{gather*}
  add multi-line eqn
\end{gather*}

Turn off equation number for equation environment like single line equation

This environment also returns single line equation with auto numbering. In this case the equation number is only one. So, both methods will be equally applicable.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath,lipsum}
\begin{document}
\section*{With equation number}
\lipsum[1][1-3]
\begin{equation}
    \sum_{i=1}^{n} \frac{i}{k} = \frac{n(n+1)}{2k}
\end{equation}
\section*{Pass equation* args}
\lipsum[2][1-3]
\begin{equation*}
    \sum_{i=1}^{n} \frac{i}{k} = \frac{n(n+1)}{2k}
\end{equation*}
\section*{Use nonumber command}
\lipsum[3][1-3]
\begin{equation}
    \sum_{i=1}^{n} \frac{i}{k} = \frac{n(n+1)}{2k}\nonumber
\end{equation}
\end{document}

Output :

This figure shows the use of nonumber and * symbol with equation environment.

Equation environment with split environment for multi-line equation

In this case, split environment will convert to multi-line, but only one equation number will be returned for the entire environment.

For these, it is best practice to use * symbol instead of nonumber command.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath,lipsum}
\begin{document}
\section*{Multi-line equation with split environment} 
\lipsum[1][1-3]
\begin{equation}
    \begin{split}
       f(x) &= \int_{a}^{b} x^2 \,dx \\
            &= \frac{1}{3}x^3 \Big|_{a}^{b} \\
            &= \frac{1}{3}b^3 - \frac{1}{3}a^3
    \end{split}
\end{equation}
\lipsum[2][1-3]
\begin{equation*}
    \begin{split}
       f(x) &= \int_{a}^{b} x^2 \,dx \\
            &= \frac{1}{3}x^3 \Big|_{a}^{b} \\
            &= \frac{1}{3}b^3 - \frac{1}{3}a^3
    \end{split}
\end{equation*}
\end{document}

Output :

In this figure, Split Environment is used along with Equation Environment.

Turn off equation number for align environment such as multi line or multiple equations

The best method for multiple or multi line equations is align environment. In this case, auto equation number will be returned for each line.

If you want to turn off a particular line number, use nonumber at the end of that line.

And whole system of equations needs to be passed to align* arguments instead of align. Or, use nonumber at the end of each line. But, in our opinion, align* would be the best practice for system of equations.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath,lipsum}
\begin{document}
\begin{align} 
    F(x) &= \int \frac{1}{x} \,dx  \\
    G(x) &= \ln|x| + C_1  \\
    H(x) &= \int \frac{2x}{(x^2 + 1)^2} \,dx 
\end{align}
\lipsum[1][1-3]
\begin{align}
    F(x) &= \int \frac{1}{x} \,dx \nonumber \\
         &= \ln|x| + C_1 \\[6pt]
    G(x) &= \int \frac{2x}{(x^2 + 1)^2} \,dx \nonumber \\
         &= -\frac{1}{x^2 + 1} + C_2
\end{align}
\lipsum[2][1-3]
\begin{align*}
    F(x) &= \int \frac{1}{x} \,dx \\
         &= \ln|x| + C_1 \\[6pt]
    G(x) &= \int \frac{2x}{(x^2 + 1)^2} \,dx  \\
         &= -\frac{1}{x^2 + 1} + C_2
\end{align*}
\end{document}

Output :

Shown is the use of align environment for multi line or multiple equations.

For gather environment like align

gather environment will behave like align. But, in this case no alignment will be maintained.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath,lipsum}
\begin{document}
\begin{gather}
    F(x) = \int \frac{1}{x} \,dx \\
    H(x) = \int \frac{2x}{(x^2 + 1)^2} \,dx  
\end{gather}
\lipsum[1][1-3]
\begin{gather}   
    f(x) = \int \frac{1}{x} \,dx \nonumber \\
    f(x) = \ln|x| + C_1 
\end{gather}  
\lipsum[3][1-3]
\begin{gather*}   
    f(x) = \int \frac{1}{x} \,dx \\
    f(x) = \ln|x| + C_1 
\end{gather*}  
\end{document}

Output :

Gather environment represents multiple equations. And use of which is similar to align environment.

Md Jidan Mondal

LaTeX expert with over 10 years of experience in document preparation and typesetting. Specializes in creating professional documents, reports, and presentations using LaTeX.

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