Consider:
\begin{align*}
&\begin{bmatrix} P_1 J&0\\0&NP_2\end{bmatrix}=\\&\begin{bmatrix}I&0\\0&N\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}P_1&0\\0& P_2\end{bmatrix}
\begin{bmatrix}J&0\\0&I\end{bmatrix}
\stackrel{2.18}{=}\begin{bmatrix}I&0\\0&N\end{bmatrix}[V,W]^{-1}[EV,AW]\begin{bmatrix}
J&0\\0&I\end{bmatrix}\\
&\stackrel{(2.10)}{=}[EV,AW]^{-1}EA[V,W]=[EV,AW]^{-1}AE[V,W]\\
&\stackrel{(2.10)}{=}\begin{bmatrix}J&0\\0&I\end{bmatrix}[V,W]^{-1}[EV,AW]\begin{bmatrix}I&0\\0&N\end{bmatrix}\\
&\stackrel{(2.18)}{=}\begin{bmatrix}J&0\\0&I\end{bmatrix}
\begin{bmatrix}P_1&0\\0&P_2\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}I&0\\0&N\end{bmatrix}
\begin{bmatrix}JP_1&0\\0&P_2N\end{bmatrix}\\
\end{align*}
The last line should produce an automatic equation numbering, say 2.15. I am using \begin{equation}\end{equation}, but while I am writing
\begin{align*}
&\begin{bmatrix} P_1 J&0\\0&NP_2\end{bmatrix}=\\&\begin{bmatrix}I&0\\0&N\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}P_1&0\\0& P_2\end{bmatrix}
\begin{bmatrix}J&0\\0&I\end{bmatrix}
\stackrel{2.18}{=}\begin{bmatrix}I&0\\0&N\end{bmatrix}[V,W]^{-1}[EV,AW]\begin{bmatrix}
J&0\\0&I\end{bmatrix}\\
&\stackrel{(2.10)}{=}[EV,AW]^{-1}EA[V,W]=[EV,AW]^{-1}AE[V,W]\\
&\stackrel{(2.10)}{=}\begin{bmatrix}J&0\\0&I\end{bmatrix}[V,W]^{-1}[EV,AW]\begin{bmatrix}I&0\\0&N\end{bmatrix}\\
\begin{equation}
&\stackrel{(2.18)}{=}\begin{bmatrix}J&0\\0&I\end{bmatrix}
\begin{bmatrix}P_1&0\\0&P_2\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}I&0\\0&N\end{bmatrix}
\begin{bmatrix}JP_1&0\\0&P_2N\end{bmatrix}\\
\end{equation}
\end{align*}
it is showing some error.


align, and\nonumberon the lines that shouldn't be numbered. – Torbjørn T. Mar 11 '17 at 09:03align*withalign(i.e. remove the*), and then before the\\of the first few lines, write\nonumber. – Torbjørn T. Mar 11 '17 at 09:14align, notalign*. – Mico Mar 11 '17 at 09:21\begin{align}A&=B\\ &=C\end{align}the first equation number already refers toA=Band the second toB=C. I can see the point if you're saving space by putting multiple equalities on one line but, with one per line, it just looks weird. – David Richerby Mar 11 '17 at 18:29