Custom alignment of text in itemized environment
What about this
\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
$E[g(x)] = \int_{-\infty}^{+\infty} f_X(x) \, g(x) \, \mathrm{d}x$.
%
where,
%
\begin{itemize}
\item{\makebox[2cm]{$x$\hfill} is a continuous random variable.}
\item{\makebox[2cm]{$f_X(x)$\hfill} is the PDF of $x$.}
\item{\makebox[2cm]{$g(x)$\hfill} is a function of $x$.}
\end{itemize}
\end{document}
Output
You can avoid using \hfill
for each item if you specify the second optional argument of \makebox
to be the letter l
(for left):
\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
$E[g(x)] = \int_{-\infty}^{+\infty} f_X(x) \, g(x) \, \mathrm{d}x$.
%
where,
%
\begin{itemize}
\item{\makebox[2cm][l]{$x$} is a continuous random variable.}
\item{\makebox[2cm][l]{$f_X(x)$} is the PDF of $x$.}
\item{\makebox[2cm][l]{$g(x)$} is a function of $x$.}
\end{itemize}
\end{document}
I hope that itemize is only a suggestion. A simple solution without it.
\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
$E[g(x)] = \int_{-\infty}^{+\infty} f_X(x) \, g(x) \, \mathrm{d}x$.
%
where
\begin{tabular}{@{$\bullet$ }ll}
$x$ & is a continuous random variable.\\
$f_X(x)$ & is the PDF of $x$.\\
$g(x)$ & is a function of $x$.
\end{tabular}
\end{document}
Using a tabular
as in @PrzemysławScherwentke's answer is a good way to go.
If you still wish to use itemize
, here are two options, one without bullets and one with bullets.
\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
$E[g(x)] = \int_{-\infty}^{+\infty} f_X(x) \, g(x) \, \mathrm{d}x$.
%
where,
% Without bullets
\begin{itemize}
\item[$x$]{is a continuous random variable.}
\item[$f_X(x)$]{is the PDF of $x$.}
\item[$g(x)$]{is a function of $x$.}
\end{itemize}
% With bullets
\begin{itemize}
\item{$x$\hphantom{$g(x)f_X(x)$} is a continuous random variable.}
\item{$f_X(x)$\hphantom{$xg(x)$} is the PDF of $x$.}
\item{$g(x)$\hphantom{$xf_X(x)$} is a function of $x$.}
\end{itemize}
\end{document}
The answer without bullets makes use of the optional argument of \item
, which just gives the list item a label. The answer with bullets makes use of \hphantom{}
to ensure that the amount of horizontal space taken up in each line is the same as in the other lines.