# How can I have both horizontal and vertical curly braces in a matrix?

I want to make horizontal and vertical curly braces to show up simultaneously just outside a matrix, but it only works when I use one or the other, instead of both.

I use \left.\right\} for vertical braces, and \underbrace{}_{} for horizontal ones.

Here's my attempt:

\begin{align*}
\underset{m\times n}{0}=
\underbrace{\left.
\begin{bmatrix}
0 & 0 & \dots & 0\\
0 & 0 & \dots & 0\\
\dots & \dots & \dots & \dots\\
0 & 0 & \dots & 0
\end{bmatrix}
\right\}\text{$m$ rows}}_\text{$n$ columns}
\end{align*}


Obviously, the "n columns" one is too long: I want it to cover from the first element to the last, not all the way to the end of the vertical brace. How can I fix it?

I wouldn't be so fussy about showing the definition of a zero matrix like that, but you know your students…

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\usepackage{lipsum} % for mock text

\begin{document}

\lipsum[1][1-4]
\begin{equation*}
% a disposable command for avoiding repetitions
\newcommand{\zm}{%
\begin{bmatrix}
0 & 0 & \dots & 0\\
0 & 0 & \dots & 0\\
\vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \vdots\\
0 & 0 & \dots & 0
\end{bmatrix}%
}
\underset{m\times n}{0}=
\left.
\,\smash[b]{\underbrace{\!\zm\!}_{\textstyle\text{$n$ columns}}}\,
\right\}\text{$m$ rows}
\vphantom{\underbrace{\zm}_{\text{$n$ columns}}}
\end{equation*}
\lipsum[1][1-3]

\end{document}


The trick is to pretend that the \underbrace part does not really extend below the baseline, so \right\} will just take care of the upper part, but it acts symmetrically around the formula axis.

A \vphantom makes the formula with the right depth so not to destroy the spacing with the following material.

I applied \, and \! to avoid the underbrace being too wide and collide with the right brace.

Don't use align for single displayed formulas.

• Thanks! Just as a side question, what would you do to show the definition of a zero matrix? May 18 at 22:13
• @CELLSecret A matrix with the appropriate shape with all zero entries. May 18 at 22:40
• Gotcha. (accepted) May 18 at 23:07

Here is a solution with {bNiceMatrix} of nicematrix.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{nicematrix}

\begin{document}

$\underset{m \times n}{0} = \begin{bNiceMatrix} 0 & 0 & \ldots & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & \ldots & 0 \\ \vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \vdots \\ 0 & 0 & \ldots & 0 \CodeAfter \UnderBrace[yshift=2mm]{4-1}{4-4}{n \text{ columns}} \SubMatrix{.}{1-1}{4-4}{\}}[xshift=2mm] \end{bNiceMatrix}$\quad
$m$ rows

\end{document}


You need several compilations (because nicematrix uses PGF/Tikz nodes under the hood).

• Thanks for the suggestion! That looks pretty good :) (+1; sorry, I can only accept one answer) May 18 at 23:08