# Hypertext Help with LaTeX
Displaymath

There are four environments that put LaTeX in math mode: math, displaymath, eqnarray, and equation. The math environment is for formulas that appear right in the text. The displaymath and equation environments are for formulas that appear on their own line; they differ only insofar as the latter prints an equation number. LaTeX will not break lines in displaymath or equation environments unless told to do so with a `\\` command.

The displaymath environment can be entered by

      \begin{displaymath}
          math equation \\
          second line of math equation
      \end{displaymath}

Because displaymath may be used frequently to display relatively short equations, there are convenient alternative forms:

      \[ displayed math equation \]

or (the following does not seem to be well documented, but appears to work)

      $$ dispalyed math equation $$

Related topics

- Math environment
- Eqnarray environment
- Equation environment

- LaTeX Modes

- Math Symbols
- Subscripts and Superscripts
- Spacing in Math Mode
- Math Miscellany

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