Using braces to label parts of an equation

Question

Given an equation, say Bayes' rule,

$P(X \mid O) \propto P(X)P(O \mid X)$

how do I label the different parts of the equation using curly braces?

Ah braces, that what they're called. A Google search to "latex moustache" didn't lead me to \overbrace — Paul, Commented Nov 3, 2014 at 21:30

LondonRob · Accepted Answer · 2014-11-24 12:12:36Z

64

I think you're after the \underbrace and \overbrace commands, which you could use as

$\underbrace{P(X \mid O)}_{p_1} \propto \overbrace{P(X)P(O \mid X)}^{p_2}$.

Which results in:

Under- and overbraces

LondonRob

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answered Aug 12, 2010 at 5:49

Michael Underwood

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I wonder why does adding underbrace/overbrace affect the font size?
– Cyriac Antony
Commented Dec 12, 2020 at 10:02
Is it possible to move the under-/overbrace farther down/up?
– Felix Jassler
Commented Mar 21, 2022 at 8:30

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