Error in a LaTeX formula

Question

$$\hat{\alpha} = \begin{cases}

\tan^{-1}\frac{\hat{\alpha_1}}{\hat{\alpha_2}}, \, if  \hat{\alpha_1}>0 \, \hat{\alpha_2}>0 \\

\tan^{-1}\frac{\hat{\alpha_1}}{\hat{\alpha_2}}+\pi, \, if \hat{\alpha_1}<0\\

 \tan^{-1}\frac{\hat{\alpha_1}}{\hat{\alpha_2}}+2\pi, \, if \hat{\alpha_2}<0 \, \hat{\alpha_1} >0 \\

 undefined,  \hat{\alpha_2}=0 \, \hat{\alpha_1}=0 \\

 \end{cases}$$

This message appears

Paragraph ended before \cases was complete
<to be read again>
                   \par

What does it mean? how i can write in latex programme

Answer 1

You can leave no blank line in a math display.

I take the occasion for suggesting some improvements:

1. never use $$, see Why is \[ … \] preferable to $$?

2. with dcases* the input is easier

3. even if \hat{\alpha_2} could be logically justified, the hat would fall in an awkward position and \hat{\alpha}_2 looks much better

Here's the code

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath,mathtools}

\begin{document}

\begin{equation*}
\hat{\alpha} =
\begin{dcases*}
\tan^{-1}\frac{\hat{\alpha}_1}{\hat{\alpha}_2},        & if $\hat{\alpha}_1>0$ and $\hat{\alpha}_2>0$} \\
\tan^{-1}\frac{\hat{\alpha}_1}{\hat{\alpha}_2} + \pi,  & if $\hat{\alpha}_1<0$}\\
\tan^{-1}\frac{\hat{\alpha}_1}{\hat{\alpha}_2} + 2\pi, & if $\hat{\alpha}_2<0$ and $\hat{\alpha}_1 >0$} \\    
\text{undefined},                                      & if $\hat{\alpha}_2=0$ and $\hat{\alpha}_1=0$
\end{dcases*}
\end{equation*}

\end{document}