How can I do cases in plain text mode?

Question

I am trying to draw cases as in the attached picture. Is there any way to draw one in plain text mode? If not possible, is there any way to put y variables at the bottom of the leftmost brace?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Do you want something like this?

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{mathtools}
\begin{document}
  \[
\begin{dcases*}
    x & variables  \\
    y & variables
    \smash{$\begin{dcases*}
      a & variables  \\
      n & variables
    \end{dcases*}$}
\end{dcases*}
\]
\end{document}

Another variant is

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{mathtools}
\begin{document}
  \[
\begin{dcases*}
    x & variables  \\
    y & variables
    \smash[b]{$\begin{dcases*}
      a & variables  \\
      n & variables
    \end{dcases*}$}
\end{dcases*}
\]

\medskip  %% add a blank line and \medskip
Some text comes here for demo Some text comes here for demo Some text comes here for demo
\end{document}

Since we have used \smash, the content that comes after this display math may collide with each other as noted by Mico. It is better to add some vertical space after this by using, say, \medskip as in the example.

Answer 2

Another way:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{multirow,bigdelim}

\begin{document}
\begin{tabular}{l@{\space}l@{\space}l@{\space}l}
\ldelim\{{3}{10pt} & x variable  \\
                   &             & \ldelim\{{3}{10pt} & a variables \\
                   & y variables \\
                   &             &                    & b variables
\end{tabular}
\end{document}