Package amsmath provides many environments for equations, e.g.:
gather for centering equations by default
align, which allows vertical alignments
Example:
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
\begin{gather}
S=\sum_{i=1}^{8}A_i\\
S=\sum_{i=1}^{8}B_i\\
S=\sum_{i=1}^{8}C_i\\
S=\sum_{i=1}^{8}D_i
\end{gather}
\begin{align}
S &= \sum_{i=1}^{8}A_i\\
S &= \sum_{i=1}^{8}B_i\\
S &= \sum_{i=1}^{8}C_i\\
S &= \sum_{i=1}^{8}D_i
\end{align}
\end{document}

Equation number in last line
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
\begin{gather}
\nonumber S=\sum_{i=1}^{8}A_i\\
\nonumber S=\sum_{i=1}^{8}B_i\\
\nonumber S=\sum_{i=1}^{8}C_i\\
S=\sum_{i=1}^{8}D_i
\end{gather}
\begin{align}
\nonumber S &= \sum_{i=1}^{8}A_i\\
\nonumber S &= \sum_{i=1}^{8}B_i\\
\nonumber S &= \sum_{i=1}^{8}C_i\\
S &= \sum_{i=1}^{8}D_i
\end{align}
\end{document}

Equation number in the middle
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
\begin{equation}
\begin{gathered}
S=\sum_{i=1}^{8}A_i\\
S=\sum_{i=1}^{8}B_i\\
S=\sum_{i=1}^{8}C_i\\
S=\sum_{i=1}^{8}D_i
\end{gathered}
\end{equation}
\begin{equation}
\begin{aligned}
S &= \sum_{i=1}^{8}A_i\\
S &= \sum_{i=1}^{8}B_i\\
S &= \sum_{i=1}^{8}C_i\\
S &= \sum_{i=1}^{8}D_i
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
\end{document}

Addendum: sign function definition with cases
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{colonequals}
\DeclareMathOperator{\sgn}{sgn}
\begin{document}
\begin{equation}
\sgn(x) \colonequals
\begin{cases}
-1 & \text{if } x < 0 \\
0 & \text{if } x = 0 \\
1 & \text{if } x > 0
\end{cases}
\end{equation}
\end{document}

amsmathto your preamble -\usepackage{amsmath}and use thealignenvironment, breaking lines using\\. Alignment of the equal signs are also possible with&=. – Werner Aug 21 '15 at 16:50&=? at the end of each line? – lonesome Aug 21 '15 at 16:54\\to end each line, and&=to replace your existing=. – Werner Aug 21 '15 at 16:57amsmathhelpful:texdoc amsmath. it isn't very long. – barbara beeton Aug 21 '15 at 17:48