How to Left-align Text using Math Mode's Alignment Operator?

[Hasan]

I have a problem when using math mode’s alignment operator. It always right align text. See this example:

#set page(height: auto, width: auto, margin: 20pt)

$
&not exists x exists y (Q(x, y) <--> Q(y, x)) #h(160pt) &"Original" \
equiv &forall x not exists y (Q(x,y) <--> Q(y, x)) &"De Morgan's Law" \
equiv &forall x forall y space not (Q(x,y) <--> Q(y, x)) &"De Morgan's Law" \
equiv &forall x forall y space ((Q(x,y) and not Q(y,x)) or (not Q(x,y) and Q(y, x))) &"By (1)"
$

The output is:

However, my intended output is to look more like the traditional math example solutions e.g.

I am aware that this is achievable using a grid, but I think this use case is very common that I might be missing out on something. If there’s a better method to do this quick and easy please let me know.

Thank you for your time!

[Eric]

The alignment alternates between right and left with every alignment point, thus in your example, the alignments are

$
/*
Right & Left                    &             Right
*/
      &not exists ... #h(160pt) &        "Original" \
equiv &forall x ...             & "De Morgan's Law" \
equiv &forall x ...             & "De Morgan's Law" \
equiv &forall x ...             &          "By (1)"
$

You can simply put two of these alignment points together (&&) to skip one alternation and use the other alignment.

[Bolt]

Alignment markers alternate alignment between left and right, which is why the the part before the first & is right aligned, and the part between the first and second & is left aligned. You can achieve the behavior you want by doubling up to && so that it toggles twice, cancelling each other out, turning right & left & right into right & left && left.

For your case this would be:

#set page(height: auto, width: auto, margin: 20pt)

$
&not exists x exists y (Q(x, y) <--> Q(y, x)) #h(160pt) &&"Original" \
equiv &forall x not exists y (Q(x,y) <--> Q(y, x)) &&"De Morgan's Law" \
equiv &forall x forall y space not (Q(x,y) <--> Q(y, x)) &&"De Morgan's Law" \
equiv &forall x forall y space ((Q(x,y) and not Q(y,x)) or (not Q(x,y) and Q(y, x))) &&"By (1)"
$

[PgBiel]

Welcome to the forum @Hasan! I’ve updated your post title to better suit our question guidelines: How to post in the Questions category

Make sure your title is a question you’d ask to a friend about Typst.

[Hasan]

Thank you both @Eric @Bolt. I hope I asked earlier for help instead of using grid all these weeks lol. It works very well.