Aligning split equations to the left perfectly
This solution uses array. Like tabular, it adds a fixed space between columns. Just for fun, I also lined up the inequalities.
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{mathtools}%for \vdotswithin
\usepackage{breqn}% I have no idea what this does
\begin{document}
\begin{equation}
\begin{array}{ll@{}l}
\text{minimize} &Z(w)\\
\text{subject to} &f_1(w) &{}\leq a_1\\
& f_2(w) &{}\leq a_2 \\
&&\vdotswithin{\leq} \\
&f_m(w) &{}\leq a_m,\\
\end{array}
\end{equation}
\end{document}
Output:
Here is a possible solution:
% My standard header for TeX.SX answers:
\documentclass[a4paper]{article} % To avoid confusion, let us explicitly
% declare the paper format.
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc} % Not always necessary, but recommended.
% End of standard header. What follows pertains to the problem at hand.
\usepackage{mathtools} % also loads amsmath
\begin{document}
Text before the equation
\begin{equation}
\begin{alignedat}{2}
& \text{Minimize } && Z(w) \\
& \text{subject to } && f_{1}(w)\le a_{1} \\
& && f_{2}(w)\le a_{2} \\
& && \hphantom{f_{2}(w)}\vdotswithin{\le} \\
& && f_{m}(w)\le a_{m} \\
\end{alignedat}
\label{eq:minimize}
\end{equation}
Text after the equation.
\end{document}
Output:
Just make it simple, the &
is your friend here, move the text to other side.
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{breqn}
\begin{document}
\begin{equation}
\begin{split}
\text{minimize \quad}&Z(w) \\
\text{subject to\quad }&f_1(w) \leq a_1\\
&f_2(w) \leq a_2 \\
&\quad\quad \vdots\\
&f_m(w) \leq a_m,
\end{split}
\end{equation}
\end{document}