# Help with formatting: columns

I am new to this site and having a few issues with formatting my question.

I am attempting to ask a question in which I need to show 3 lines of data in 3 columns (as below) but am struggling to get them to line up. [I can get them to line up in the box where you type but this doesn't translate to what would be published to the site...]

Known Values: $X_k$ = 5 : $Y_k$ = 5 : $Z_k$ = 5
Predicted Values: $X_p$ = -95 : $Y_p$ = 5 : $Z_p$ = 105
Difference $\Delta$X = -100 : $\Delta$Y = 0 : $\Delta$Z = 100

If I use blockquotes etc. I can get the columns to line up but am unable to use the subscripts and greek letters.

Is there anyway round this such than both can happen?

It's a bit more work, but you could do something like

$$\begin{array}{lccc} \text{Known Values:} & X_k = 5 & Y_k = 5 & Z_k = 5 \\ \text{Predicted Values:} & X_p = -95 & Y_p = 5 & Z_p = 105 \\ \text{Difference:} & \Delta X = -100 & \Delta Y = 0 & \Delta Z = 100 \\ \end{array}$$


$$\begin{array}{llll} \text{Known Values:} & X_k = 5 & Y_k = 5 & Z_k = 5 \\ \text{Predicted Values:} & X_p = -95 & Y_p = 5 & Z_p = 105 \\ \text{Difference:} & \Delta X = -100 & \Delta Y = 0 & \Delta Z = 100 \\ \end{array}$$

Or, if you want the columns to line up at the equals signs instead,

$$\begin{array}{llrclrclrcl} \text{Known Values:} && X_k &=& 5 & Y_k &=& 5 & Z_k &=& 5 \\ \text{Predicted Values:} && X_p &=& -95 & Y_p &=& 5 & Z_p &=& 105 \\ \text{Difference:} && \Delta X &=& -100 & \Delta Y &=& 0 & \Delta Z &=& 100 \\ \end{array}$$


$$\begin{array}{llrclrclrcl} \text{Known Values:} && X_k &=& 5 & Y_k &=& 5 & Z_k &=& 5 \\ \text{Predicted Values:} && X_p &=& -95 & Y_p &=& 5 & Z_p &=& 105 \\ \text{Difference:} && \Delta X &=& -100 & \Delta Y &=& 0 & \Delta Z &=& 100 \\ \end{array}$$

Note that, of course, this also opens up the option of using more table-like formatting...

$$\begin{array}{lccc} &X&Y&Z\\\hline \text{Known Values:} & 5 & 5 & 5 \\ \text{Predicted Values:} & -95 & 5 & 105 \\ \text{Difference:} & -100 & 0 & 100 \\ \end{array}$$


$$\begin{array}{lccc} &X&Y&Z\\\hline \text{Known Values:} & 5 & 5 & 5 \\ \text{Predicted Values:} & -95 & 5 & 105 \\ \text{Difference:} & -100 & 0 & 100 \\ \end{array}$$