How to place a character below a function in Latex?

Question

Is it possible to place a character or a formula below an other part of a larger formula in Latex?

foo f(x) = ...
 x

In case that this example is not clear. I'd like to make one of my custom functions - just defined as \text{foo} in a math environment - look like one of the built-in functions like sum, min or max which accept parameters that are placed above or below the function symbol.

Simply using \text{foo}_x does not work.

Solution 1

The function you're looking for is \underset provided by the amsmath package. Here's an example:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
$\underset{below}{above}$
\end{document}

Output:

Solution 2

You can declare the foo as a math operator. Then use it in any equation environment. See below

\DeclareMathOperator*{\foo}{foo} %in preamble

\begin{align}
   \foo_x f(x) = ...
\end{align}

Comments

[t6d]

Thank you so much. Works like a charm.

[Alexandre C.]

no. Don't do this if your intent is to declare a new operator, like lim, sup or inf. Use @hanoosh's answer instead. Using \text won't give the results you want if the surrounding text has a fancy font (like inside a theorem, or on a Beamer slide).

[Alexandre C.]

Note the star in \DeclareMathOperator*. This triggers the behaviour you want.