What is Latex: Definition and 999 Discussions

Latex is a stable dispersion (emulsion) of polymer microparticles in water. Latexes are found in nature, but synthetic latexes are common as well.
Latex as found in nature is a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants (angiosperms). It is a complex emulsion consisting of proteins, alkaloids, starches, sugars, oils, tannins, resins, and gums that coagulate on exposure to air. It is usually exuded after tissue injury. In most plants, latex is white, but some have yellow, orange, or scarlet latex. Since the 17th century, latex has been used as a term for the fluid substance in plants, deriving from the Latin word for "liquid." It serves mainly as defense against herbivorous insects. Latex is not to be confused with plant sap; it is a distinct substance, separately produced, and with separate functions.
The word latex is also used to refer to natural latex rubber, particularly non-vulcanized rubber. Such is the case in products like latex gloves, latex condoms and latex clothing.
Originally, the name given to latex by indigenous Equator tribes who cultivated the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis, was "caoutchouc", from the words caa ('tear') and ochu ('tree'), because of the way it is collected.

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  1. S

    LaTeX Why are modern prints of math books not printed in LaTeX?

    Title says it all. I was reading my textbook today and it dawned on me that not a single textbook on mathematics that I've read has been printed in LaTeX. Instead, I believe it's printed in Times New Roman. At any rate, I think the font style looks much worse than the standard LaTeX font. Does...
  2. Mech_Engineer

    LaTeX Troubleshooting LATEX Equations

    Is LATEX broken? I put an equation in this thread and it doen't appear to be generating for me... https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?p=3361568#post3361568
  3. N

    LaTeX Learn Latex Code: Best Sources to Get Started

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  4. BloodyFrozen

    LaTeX LaTeX Download Troubleshooting

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  5. S

    LaTeX LaTex in Lyx differs from LaTex on forum?

    Are there supposed to be significant differences in how LaTex is displayed in the Lyx editor and how LaTex is displayed by the processor used by this forum? On this forum, the LaTex expression \int_a^b f(x) dx shows an integral with lower limit a and upper limit b. When I ( as a novice...
  6. Pengwuino

    LaTeX Fixing LaTeX: Tips for Writing In-Line Code

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  7. W

    LaTeX LaTeX end section or subsection

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  8. P

    LaTeX Can't see Latex source in Linux (Firefox)

    I understand that I should be able to see the source for formulas/equations/math symbols people put in their posts, by right-clicking a symbol or equation. I seem to recall that I could do this but I am unable to do it now in Firefox (Ubuntu Linux Lucid). Is there something I need to install...
  9. O

    LaTeX Suggesting Inline LaTeX Expressions in Learning Material

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  10. Greg Bernhardt

    LaTeX Why are MathJax images not displaying on my webpage?

    I have enabled MathJax on the site. There are no Latex images being displayed. Please post any problems. I'll leave it enabled for the next hour or so and switch back to images until we are 100% ready.
  11. Y

    LaTeX Latex Should I accept the project?

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  12. Y

    LaTeX How to type Hamiltonian symbol in latex

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  13. Femme_physics

    LaTeX Why is LaTeX malfunctioning when I type in equations?

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  14. S

    LaTeX Can LaTex Define Typographic Functions Similar to Postscript?

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  15. O

    LaTeX LaTeX: Text type, displayed type?

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  16. Matterwave

    LaTeX Any real easy to use Latex editor out there?

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  17. G

    LaTeX Printing Latex Code from University Computers

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  18. B

    LaTeX Latex Graphics Acts Like Nothing Happened, Baffles Student.

    Hi everyone, I'm trying to put graphics into a lab report in LaTeX, and the images simply won't show up. I've tried doing it several ways, including this: \begin{figure}[h] \begin{center} \includegraphics{SeminalEmulsion.jpg} \caption{default} \label{default} \end{center} \end{figure}...
  19. A

    LaTeX Software/Tools for Undergraduate Research: R, Octave, Latex & More

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  20. M

    LaTeX Why latex of this forum is horrible

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  21. S

    LaTeX LaTex question - keeping variables on the line

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  22. H

    LaTeX How to use Latex in this Forum

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  23. R

    LaTeX LaTeX: Numbering/Labeling Examples for Math Papers

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  24. Borek

    LaTeX LaTeX Bug: Identical Pictures with Different Code | Physics Forums

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  25. A

    LaTeX How can I add text to figures in LaTeX using the beamer class?

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  26. P

    LaTeX Latex: writing the input/output of program in a report

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  27. M

    Maple How do I export Maple *.mw to latex properly?

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  28. T

    LaTeX Is there a better way to format equations in LaTeX and avoid wasted space?

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  29. C

    LaTeX Troubleshooting LaTeX Issues with Spoilers

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  30. E

    LaTeX Efficiently Including PS and JPG Files in Latex: A How-To Guide

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  31. K

    LaTeX Latex: text under integral/sum

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  32. M

    LaTeX Can I use feynmf to generate sums of Feynman diagrams?

    Does anyone here use the package feynmf to generate feynman diagrams? I can use it to build diagrams, but I don't know how to build sums of diagrams i.e. diagramA + diagram B + diagram C Does anyone know how to do this? Thanks
  33. bapowell

    LaTeX Why is Latex acting strange on Physics Forums?

    Starting yesterday, when I attempt to include latex in my PF posts, instead of rendering what's between the latex tags, it prints out latex entries from my previous posts! For example, if I were to enter 15 separate latex equations, instead of printing these, it would render my last 15 (those...
  34. T

    LaTeX Equation Number in Latex on left side

    Hi all, When I typeset equations with automatic labeling, the labels (numbers) appear on the left side of the page. I want them on the right side -- where they seem to go by default for everyone else. I'm using TexShop v2.37 for mac. Is there a problem with my template? I'm using...
  35. D

    Mathematica How to get a plot from Mathematica to Latex (in laymens)

    OK. Could somebody please tell me how to get a graph/plot from Mathematica into WinEdit. I've seached on the internet and it all talks about source codes and a lot of other stuff I don't understand. Copy and paste does not seem to be an option! Could some one exlpain to how to do it...
  36. M

    LaTeX Using R and Sweave to Incorporate Graphics in Latex Documents"

    I'm trying to use R and Sweave to make a document. This gives the Latex; \documentclass[a4paper,norsk]{article} \usepackage[latin1]{inputenc} \usepackage[T1]{fontenc} \usepackage{babel,textcomp} \title{test} \author{me} \usepackage{Sweave}...
  37. J

    LaTeX Latex Troubleshooting: Inserting a Lot Detail URL Without Quotes

    I need to type http://www.artnet.com/artists/lotdetailpage.aspx?lot_id=538B3EDF20890B14 into latex but it keeps telling me I need to insert a $ symbol (to make it an equation), but I need the text written like this Is there a way to get round this problem? Thanks.
  38. F

    LaTeX Why doesn't Microsoft Word support LaTeX code?

    Homework Statement I tried MS's "insert equations", but i find that some LaTeX codes don't work and I have to manually click. Is there a faster way?
  39. Q

    LaTeX How Can You Express Complex Numbers in LaTeX?

    I know all the numbers of a real part of an equation is given as \Re How do you express your complex part in the same form?
  40. R

    LaTeX Proof , a small square sign (figure) in latex

    Homework Statement Hi! I am trying to figure out how to create a small square after a proof of some theorem or definition (normally all mathematical proofs are finished by adding a small sguare at the end of it) how do I fix it? It is normally placed on the right side.. Oh I found it...
  41. R

    LaTeX Write Gothic Letters in LaTeX - Get Answers Here!

    Homework Statement Hello! Does anyone know how can I write gothic letters in latex? for example a big gothic ''X'' or ''g'' as a Lie algebra of some group Thanks! Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution
  42. T

    LaTeX Latex CV Template - Successful Application for Quant Role

    Hey, I've spent a little while trawling the internet for a latex template suitable for an application for a quant role. I thought it would be simple and there are a few examples but what I really want is something that will show in a quite simple way that I have actually used latex to format...
  43. A

    LaTeX Advise me on the best way to learn to use LatEX

    LatEX help! Could anyone advise me on the best way to learn to use LatEX (as it is used on the forum) as I am having quite a bit of difficulty with it! Sorry for posting in the Math section but couldn't find a channel dedicated to this kind of troubleshooting. Cheers Andrew
  44. T

    LaTeX Headers on titlepage using LaTeX

    Hi, I have struggled for a while trying to get headers on the title page in LaTeX. I have headers on all other pages, but it seems like the \maketitle command disables the header on the first page (the titlepage). Does anyone know how to prevent this?
  45. Fredrik

    LaTeX Can someone explain how our LaTeX problems are possible?

    Physics Forums has had problems with LaTeX for 10 months now. I'm just wondering if someone can explain what's causing it, or at least how it's possible at all. The problem and some of my thoughts are summarized in this quote:
  46. H

    LaTeX Problem with previewing Latex images

    This forum has a problem with Latex for a long time. Please try it yourself: Start writing a new post Write down a Latex text in it (with "[latex ]...[/latex ]" tags) Preview your Latex output (press the "Preview Post" button - No problem until now) Now change your Latex text and press the...
  47. A. Neumaier

    LaTeX Fix Latex Editing Bug in PF Posts

    When I edit the latex in a post, the changes frequently do not appear correctly in the standard view. Deleting a latex formula when another one follows in the same post also has a strange effect. Maybe someone could fix the bug in the editor.
  48. M

    LaTeX Latex - Multiple references in one citation

    Guys, I am trying to get my citations to do a "through" type thing, ala,. . .gotten using this method [1-4]. Rather, I am getting an entire listing, ala. . . gotten using this method [1, 2, 3, 4]. I am simply using . . . gotten using this method~\cite{ref1,ref2,re3,ref4}. which...
  49. C

    LaTeX Having Trouble Setting Up LaTeX for Graph Theory Class?

    First off, let me apologize in advance because I'm pretty sure this isn't the right forum for this question, but I've tried to find an appropriate forum and haven't had a lot of success. I know some people here have been really helpful to me in the past, so I figured that someone could at least...
  50. J

    LaTeX Inserting Figures in LaTeX: Removing "Figure 1"

    Hi I have a problem inserting figures into latex, if I write the following script; \begin{figure} \centering \includegraphics[width=0.5\textwidth]{gull} \caption{Close-up of a gull} \label{gull} \end{figure} I get a picture of gull and underneath it says Figure 1: Close-up...
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