# MathJax parentheses that span multiple lines

In math.stackexchange.com, how do I get parentheses to span multiple lines?

For example, in

$$x \neq y := x \neq x_{j+1}\\ \text{and}\\ \Big(y \not \in \textsf{FV}(A) := x_j \not \in \textsf{FV}(A)\\ \text{or}\\ x \not \in \textsf{FV}(M) := x \not \in \textsf{FV}(\lambda x_{j+1} \cdots x_n.B)\Big)$$

can I get the left and right parenthesis each to span the last three lines?

MathJax for the above is:

$$x \neq y := x \neq x_{j+1}\\ \text{and}\\ \Big(y \not \in \textsf{FV}(A) := x_j \not \in \textsf{FV}(A)\\ \text{or}\\ x \not \in \textsf{FV}(M) := x \not \in \textsf{FV}(\lambda x_{j+1} \cdots x_n.B)\Big)$$


I know about using \begin{cases} ... \end{cases} to get a curly brace that spans multiple lines and am asking for something similar for a left and right parenthesis.

### Use \left \matrix{a \\ b} \right (contributed by @XanderHenderson)

For example

$$\left( \matrix{ \text{here is a long formula}\\ \text{and}\\ \text{here is another long formula}} \right)$$


displays as

$$\left( \matrix{ \text{here is a long formula} \\ \text{and} \\ \text{here is another long formula} } \right)$$

### Use \begin{pmatrix} a \\ b \end{pmatrix} (contributed by @TheSimpliFire)

For example,

$$\begin{pmatrix} \text{here is a long formula}\\ \text{and}\\ \text{here is another long formula} \end{pmatrix}$$


displays as

$$\begin{pmatrix} \text{here is a long formula} \\ \text{and} \\ \text{here is another long formula} \end{pmatrix}$$

• Or are you looking for something more like $$\left( \matrix{ \text{here is a long formula} \\ \text{and} \\ \text{here is another long formula} }\right)?$$
– Xander Henderson Mod
Dec 22, 2021 at 20:58
• This is probably more appropriate for TeX.SE.
– Pedro Mod
Dec 22, 2021 at 21:01
• Not exactly parentheses but \begin{pmatrix} ... \end{pmatrix} on appearance does the job.
– TheSimpliFire Mod
Dec 22, 2021 at 21:01
• XanderHenderson and TheSimpliFire, thanks. I edited my question to include your answers. Dec 22, 2021 at 21:24
• @TheSimpliFire $$\left\{ \begin{matrix} \text{Yeah,} \\ \text{but if you use} \end{matrix} \right\|$$\begin{matrix}. ... \end{matrix}, $$\left[ \left. \begin{matrix} \text{you can use} \\ \text{whatever} \\ \text{delimiter you like!} \end{matrix} \right\rangle \right\rfloor$$
– Xander Henderson Mod
Dec 22, 2021 at 21:32

An alternative solution is to use align and/or gather commands, rather than matrices or arrays.

For example: \left(\begin{align*} a&= 7+3\\ b+c&=d\\ &\text{and}\\ \exists y\forall xP(x,y)&\implies \forall x\exists y P(x,y) \end{align*}\right) is constructed with:

\left(\begin{align*} a&= 7+3\\ b+c&=d\\ &\text{and}\\ \exists y\forall xP(x,y)&\implies \forall x\exists y P(x,y) \end{align*}\right)


which allows you align the equations. For example, you could also left justify them that way: \left(\begin{align*} &a= 7+3\\ &b+c=d\\ &\text{and}\\ &\exists y\forall xP(x,y)\implies \forall x\exists y P(x,y) \end{align*}\right) obtained with

\left(\begin{align*} &a= 7+3\\ &b+c=d\\ &\text{and}\\ &\exists y\forall xP(x,y)\implies \forall x\exists y P(x,y) \end{align*}\right)


You can also use arrays, which allow you to have multiple columns and align them left, right, or center. You do \begin{array}{xxx}...\end{array} where {xxx} should be one letter per column you want in the array, and each one giving you the type of alignment: l for left-aligned; c for centered, and r for right-aligned. For instance, {llrcr} would mean five columns, the first two left aligned, the third and fifth right-aligned, and the fourth centered.

The command \begin{gather}...\end{gather} also collects a bunch of lines and treats them as a single box, permitting the use of \left and \right. For instance, for your formulas, you could do: $$x \neq y := x \neq x_{j+1}\\ \text{and}\\ \left( \begin{gather} y \not \in \textsf{FV}(A) := x_j \not \in \textsf{FV}(A)\\ \text{or}\\ x \not \in \textsf{FV}(M) := x \not \in \textsf{FV}(\lambda x_{j+1} \cdots x_n.B)\end{gather}\right)$$ obtained with

$$x \neq y := x \neq x_{j+1}\\ \text{and}\\ \left( \begin{gather} y \not \in \textsf{FV}(A) := x_j \not \in \textsf{FV}(A)\\ \text{or}\\ x \not \in \textsf{FV}(M) := x \not \in \textsf{FV}(\lambda x_{j+1} \cdots x_n.B) \end{gather} \right)$$


though, to be honest, I would probably try something like: $$x \neq y := x \neq x_{j+1} \quad\text{and}\quad \left( \begin{gather} y \not \in \textsf{FV}(A) := x_j \not \in \textsf{FV}(A)\\ \text{or}\\ x \not \in \textsf{FV}(M) := x \not \in \textsf{FV}(\lambda x_{j+1} \cdots x_n.B) \end{gather} \right)$$ which you get by removing the line breaks in the first two formulas and adding a \quad before and after the "and".

• Thanks! Good to know. Went with the last one. Dec 23, 2021 at 3:17
• The proper sub-environments inside other math environments are aligned and gathered, mathjax is more forgiving here than "true" LaTeX. Dec 31, 2021 at 10:30