Won't write \approx LaTeX character in legend?

[Gabriel-p]

For some reason I can't get matplotlib to write down the \approx LaTeX symbol in a legend.

Here's a MWE:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.scatter([0.5, 0.5], [0.5, 0.5], label='$U_{c} \approx %0.1f$' % 22)
#plt.scatter([0.5, 0.5], [0.5, 0.5], label='$U_{c} \simeq %0.1f$' % 22)
#plt.scatter([0.5, 0.5], [0.5, 0.5], label='$U_{c} \sim %0.1f$' % 22)
plt.legend(fancybox=True, loc='upper right', scatterpoints=1, fontsize=16)
plt.show()

Notice the first line will not show the \approx character or the value after it but both \simeq and \sim work fine.

[Gabriel-p]

Nevermind, forgot the r char.

http://stackoverflow.com/a/24739481/1391441

[mdboom]

It's always recommended to use raw strings when specifying LaTeX, since otherwise the \a in \approx gets converted to a "bell" character.

Stick r in front of the string or double-escape the slash:

r'$U_{c} \approx %0.1f$'

'$U_{c} \\approx %0.1f$'

[mdboom]

I think I sent my comment the same moment you sent yours ;)

[Gabriel-p]

@mdboom you did but thank you very much nonetheless :)