Latex Definition and 999 Threads

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. L

    LaTeX Latex: flushleft environment within tabular cells

    Can anyone tell me what is wrong with what I've written here - its coming up with lots of errors (inlcuded below). I have the \usepackage{multirow} at the beginning. Thanks [tex] \begin{table}[h] \caption{Investigation of interleaf leakage using ion chamber} \begin{center}...
  2. Jameson

    LaTeX Guide to LaTeX: A Helpful Resource

    Hello everyone, Here is a link a Latex guide written especially for using Latex on our site. We thank MHB Helper Sudharaka very much for writing it! If you see anything to edit or add please post in this thread and we'll take a look. Download the PDF file MHB Staff
  3. A

    LaTeX What is the solution for taller parentheses in a matrix using xy-pic in LaTeX?

    Hi, I am trying to show the reader what is the main diagonal of a matrix, so i wrote the code using the xy-pic package, this is the code: \begin{displaymath} \left( \xymatrix @=0.5pc { a \ar@{-}[dr] & b\\ c & d\\ } \right) \end{displaymath} In the compiled file the parenthesis...
  4. B

    LaTeX How Can I Successfully Acquire and Install LaTeX on Windows 7?

    LaTeX -- How do I acquire it? To whom is reading, Can you please either: (a) - Direct me to where a tutorial or explanation is located on this forum (If there are any). (b) - Direct me to where I can find a tutorial or explanation on how to acquire and install it...
  5. L

    LaTeX Latex - tables taking up too much room

    Hi, when i have multiple tables together the spacing between them is large and takes up unnecessary room. I have 5 tables which span the entire width and are one ontop of the other. If i was to put these tables into word they would fit into the one page. However, on latex the are spread over...
  6. A

    LaTeX Effective Ways to Add Horizontal Spacing in Latex Text for Pseudo-code Writing

    Hello guys, I'm trying to get some horizontal spacing into my text. I want to do this because I basically want to write a pseudo-code in my text, so I need every loop to start a bit further away from the beginning of the page than the previous one. I've tried \hspace, but it does not seem to...
  7. I

    LaTeX Latex Beamer: Animated gif files problem

    Hi to all. These days i am working on a presentation using latex beamer. A really usefull thing is to present your animated graphs. I want to include some animated graphs in latex. I have some animated gif files but animated gif files are invalid in latex beamer. So i got some info...
  8. V

    LaTeX Help with Vertical Lines in LaTeX

    Does anyone know a way to get half-vertical lines? I mean, I'd like something identical to /vline , but which starts from the top of the row and only goes halfway down. Similarly, I'd like a line which starts from the bottom and only goes halfway up. Even better would be something like a...
  9. S

    LaTeX How can I write X bar to denote a vector outside of a Latex forum?

    How do I write X bar with the bar over it to denote a vector? I discovered that if I compose a Latex equation here that I can copy it into a Word file. Is this true of all the symbols? Same for sub and super scripts. Is there a software tool that I can use to write Latex outside the realm...
  10. M

    LaTeX Gnuplot: ylabels + ytics + LaTeX causes too much whitespace

    I'm hoping someone can help me with the following problem. I have a .p file for generating a .eps file using gnuplot. I want both the y-axis label and the y-axis tics to be formatted using LaTeX. Getting this done is no problem. The problem I am having is that having both of these options...
  11. A

    LaTeX How can I troubleshoot LaTeX errors without line numbers or specific locations?

    Hello guys, I know this topic has been issued many times before. However I have an issue I can't find a solution for. I have a master file that calls another sub tex file using \include{}. This sub tex file has insert figures, I use insert figure options in the editor and the figures...
  12. S

    LaTeX Creating a Flipbook in Latex - Solving the Flipbook.sty Problem

    I'm trying to make a flipbook in the upper right of my thesis. I have already written it using a certain class (this class) and have tried to add the flipbook package. Latex says it cannot find flipbook.sty (FLIPBOOK) and I think there is some sort of friction with the class I am using. Is...
  13. Borek

    LaTeX [LaTeX] isotopes - how to align left indices?

    So, I have this equation: ^{137}_{55}Cs \rightarrow ^{137}_{56}Ba + e^- + \bar{\nu}_e What I don't like about it is that both 55 and 56 are left aligned and there is a gap between numbers and Ba symbol. I guess I could try to hand align them using spaces and negative spaces, but I also...
  14. W

    LaTeX Parentheses around mismatched size fractions in LaTeX

    I have a fraction in the denominator of another fraction, and I'm trying to put a set of brackets around it. However, I can't seem to get them to size properly. Example below: Q_1 \left[ \frac{Q_2}{4\pi \left( r_2+\sqrt{ \dfrac{Q_2\gamma A}{4\pi}} \right)^2 } + Q_3 \right] which comes...
  15. S

    LaTeX Indenting Text in LaTeX: Is it Possible?

    I want to indent everything after the first line, but not the first line itself. So it needs to come out like this: Physicsforums is a very interesting place where you can learn a whole lot and such and so and such and so. Is this possible?
  16. S

    LaTeX Lots of old math books converted to latex

    i have come across quite a huge list of free math books from the project Gutenberg, they scan in old books. but theses have been converted to latex so they are REALLY nice to read. they even have links in the pdf. there is a huge list so take a look...
  17. N

    LaTeX [LaTeX] What are the standard margins on a latex document?

    I'm working with a \documentclass[12pt,a4paper]{article} document and plan on adjusting the margins using the geometry package, but for this it would be handy to know an estimate of the current margin widths. Does anybody know them, or where I can find it?
  18. B

    LaTeX Creating a Thesis Report with LaTeX: Problems & Solutions

    Hello PF, I am writing my Thesis Report with Latex. Facing a couple of problems. 1. I want to create my report in verdana font. However, the warning states LaTeX Font Warning: Font Shape 'T1/verdana/m/n' undefined (Font) using 'T1/cmr/m/n' instead 2. After trying various procedures on...
  19. S

    LaTeX How Can I Write a Multiline Equation in Latex?

    Hello! I would like to write a multiline equation in latex Actually it is the last of these three subequations that needs to be split, but I can't work it out (neither for a single equation) though I tried a thousand split, multline, &quadd, \left\right\ and whatever commands. Is there an...
  20. J

    LaTeX LaTeX Editor for Windows: Choosing the Best Option

    Hi all, I want to learn LaTeX and would like to know if there is a de facto standard for Windows-based editors. This seems like a good resource but honestly I don't really know which features I will prefer without ever using a LaTeX editor. I realize everyone will have individual preferences...
  21. S

    LaTeX Quantum mechanics: Latex and Box Notation

    Does anyone know how to do box notation in Latex, I've got this: Li \quad \boxed{\uparrow \downarrow} \quad \boxed{\uparrow\;} \qquad 1s 2s But I want the quantum states to appear underneath their respective boxes?
  22. A

    LaTeX Discover the Vibrant World of Colored Latex for Endless Possibilities

    can we colored latex ?
  23. D

    LaTeX Tikz latex question (Evgeny.Makarov)

    \begin{align} \frac{1}{4} &< (1 - u)^2 + \left(v + \frac{1}{2}\right)^2\notag\\ \frac{1}{4} &< (1 - u)^2 + \left(v - \frac{1}{2}\right)^2\notag \end{align} How can I make this on the complex plane with the appropriate area shaded? u is the real axis and v the imaginary
  24. B

    LaTeX How can I add images and nomenclature in my LaTeX thesis report?

    Hello PF, I am using MiKTex and TeXnicCenter for writing my Thesis Report. I want to add images (.jpg or .eps format) into the report. The last one I tried was, \usepackage{graphicx} \begin{figure} \includegraphics[scale=0.40]{121127332} \end{figure} What I get is just a empty...
  25. L

    LaTeX Creating Latex Tables with Units Beneath Parameters

    Hello, I'm just wondering is it possible to put the units of a parameter underneath it rather than next to it. My table is pretty long and I could free up space if I could do this. For example, let's say I have Velocity (m/s) I want it to have (m/s) below velocity I can't figure out how to...
  26. S

    LaTeX LaTex expressions running over following text

    In the past few weeks, I have occasional trouble with my latex expressions (using the itex tag) running over the text that follows them. I also see this in some posts by others. Is there a good way to avoid this? Is it a browser specific problem? ( Mozilla and Firefox are mine.)
  27. S

    LaTeX Drawing an Arrow between Two Graphs in LaTeX | Tikz Package Solution

    Homework Statement I have 2 graphs in latex, side by side, that were attached using: \includegraphics I want to draw an arrow going from the middle of the first graph to the middle of the second graph. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I tried using the tikz package...
  28. ShayanJ

    LaTeX Want latex for a vBulletin forum

    I want to know how can I have the latex system on a vBulletin forum. I searched for it but there was so little about it. Thanks
  29. QuarkCharmer

    LaTeX LaTeX WYSIWYG Editor Bug: Unintended TEX Tags Inserted with Symbols?

    I'm not sure if this is a bug, or I am just an idiot and using this thing wrong, but when you click something in the LaTeX drop-down thing that appears to the right, for instance, a greek letter or something, the thing automatically inputs it where the cursor is, but includes a free set of itex...
  30. C

    MATLAB Include MATLAB Figure in LATEX Document

    I have a MATLAB figure I want to put in a document. I'm using MikTex and Texmaker. However in the past half hour I have not been able to get this to work using any format and I tried everything I found on google. If I try to use .eps/.pdf file, all the axis labels disappear. And .jpg is ugly. I...
  31. Z

    LaTeX Easier way to type out LaTeX assignments?

    Hello, I've recently been asked to submit my assignments using LaTeX and its really time consuming to have to type \begin{math} \end{math} every time I need to switch between English and math symbols. Can you suggest me a LaTeX editor that can speed up the process? (like with auto-fills...
  32. Greg Bernhardt

    LaTeX MathJax (LaTeX) upgraded to 2.0

    MathJax has been upgraded to 2.0 today. Some members appeared to have problems due to cache conflicts. I've changed the CDN address and now it should be working smoothly. Take some time to look over "what is new". I'm sure you'll find some interesting new features. I am regularly in...
  33. G

    LaTeX LaTeX: Possible to supress chapter number in section number headings?

    Is it possible to only show section numbers without chapter numbers in a LaTeX document of class "book"? For instance, Munkres' Topology text breaks things down into chapters but the sections are numbered independent of the chapter. For instance, Sections 1-11 are in Chapter 1, 12-22 in Chapter...
  34. MacLaddy

    LaTeX Is there a way to practice Latex code without posting on forums?

    I have noticed recently that I will struggle with a math problem for hours, sometimes days, and then within five minutes of posting I will realize my error and resolve it myself. I think it has something to do with the crafting of the Latex code, previewing, repairing, previewing again, changing...
  35. M

    LaTeX Troubleshooting Undefined Control Sequence for $\nexists$ in TeXShop

    Hello, everyone! First time poster. Quick question: I am working in TeXShop on a Macbook. When I type $\nexists$, I get an error message saying "Undefined control sequence" even though it is in the list of short course symbol tables available under the Help menu in TeXShop. $\not \exists$ works...
  36. N

    LaTeX What is the best book for learning LaTeX as a beginner?

    what is the best book for a complete beginner to learn latex? I have a little bit of coding experience in MATLAB from a 1 semester intro course but other than that I know nothing about programming. I really want to learn latex though so I can take notes in math classes on my laptop :wink:
  37. alexmahone

    LaTeX LaTeX Tip: Displaystyle with Bigger Expressions

    Use \displaystyle in the beginning for bigger expressions. Normal: $\sum\frac{n^5}{2^n}$ Using \displaystyle: $\displaystyle\sum\frac{n^5}{2^n}$
  38. Saladsamurai

    LaTeX Why Doesn't My LaTeX Table Compile Properly?

    Can seem to make it work? Am I missing something? \begin{tablular}{c c c} P & Q & R \\ S & T & V \end{tablular}
  39. Fredrik

    LaTeX Multiple alignment points in LaTeX

    If I have two strings of equalities within the same align or alignat environment, and the first one is long enough to need two lines, I would want the result to look like A+B+C=D=E =F=G=H I=J rather than A+B+C=D=E =F=G=H I=J Is there a way to do this? I suppose it can be done...
  40. L

    LaTeX How Can I Wrap Text Around a Figure in LaTeX?

    Can anyone tell me how i can wrap text around my figure in latex? I am trying to use the \usepackage{wrapfig} but it objects when i put this in. any idea why? any other suggestions? thanks
  41. D

    LaTeX Efficient Latex Wrapping: Avoiding PDF Overflow | Formula Included

    How can I get this to not wrap outside of my pdf $ \left(-\frac{1}{6 a}(-2 a (-2 + k) + \frac{2\ 2^{1/3} a \left(-3 + a (1 + k)^2\right)}{\left(9 a^2 (-2 + k)-2 a^3 (1 + k)^3 + 3 \sqrt{3} \sqrt{a^3 \left(4 + 4 a^2 (1 + k)^3-a \left(-8 + 20 k + k^2\right)\right)}\right)^{1/3}} + 2^{2/3} \left(9...
  42. K

    LaTeX Searching for Real-Time LaTeX Program

    I am sorry guys - I don't have privileges to post in other sections of this forum. I am looking for a Latex program that shows the result of the code in real time so that I don't have to create a pdf every time I need to see if my code was correct. Any suggestions? Thanks.
  43. Jameson

    LaTeX Uncovering the Source: How to View Latex Code in Mathjax Images

    It's strange no one has noticed but after reading through the Mathjax documentation guide, all you have to do to view the source code is right click over any Mathjax image and click "Show Source". A new window will pop up with the Latex code. Jameson EDIT: Try it here $ \displaystyle...
  44. A

    Mathematica Custom Mathematica Shortcut: Copy as LateX

    This can be very useful, so I thought i'd share. If you edit the > Wolfram Research\Mathematica\8.0\SystemFiles\FrontEnd\TextResources\Windows\MenuSetup.tr file you can make Strl+Shift+C copy not plain but in LateX format. Very useful. Look for the line in the file that says "&LaTeX"...
  45. D

    Mathematica Mathematica Plot to Latex Document

    How can I put a Mathematica plot in my Latex document?
  46. R

    LaTeX LaTeX PDFs look bad, but print okay?

    Kind of a non-issue but still bugging me. Basically, whenever I create a LaTeX file certain things will look a bit naff in PDF viewers, such as matrices will appear with the large square brackets broken in the middle, also text can appear bold when it isn't, dashes look odd etc. However, when i...
  47. cepheid

    LaTeX LaTeX Font Different from Usual?

    Hi, I'm wondering why my LaTeX output on PF appears in this font: http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/5020/screenshot20120129at123y.png Rather than the more typical one: http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/60/lateximage1.png Apologies if this has already been explained somewhere. I'm using...
  48. Saladsamurai

    LaTeX Who Here Blogs (not PF Blog) and Uses LaTeX?

    I am interested in starting a Blog (not using PF Blog; nothing personal :wink:) on Mechanical Engineering related things. I will need to have equations and such, preferably LaTeX. I know next to nothing about starting my own blog, but it seems I would have 2 options: 1) Use a free blog site like...
  49. Chris L T521

    LaTeX How Do I Use LaTeX on This Site?

    We are using a new LaTeX rendering program on our site -- MathJax. MathJax is compatible with all modern web browsers; the only catch is that you must have JavaScript enabled. The delimiters necessary to render the LaTeX codes are what you would typically expect when writing LaTeX documents...
  50. Chris L T521

    LaTeX Testing LaTeX (powered by MathJax)

    \[\int_0^{\infty}e^{-x^2}\,dx=\frac{\sqrt{\pi}}{2}\] This is inline: \(\frac{\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}\) Other centered equation $$\Gamma(x)=\int_0^{\infty}e^{-t}t^{x-1}\,dt $$
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