[Matplotlib-users] using subscripts and tex in labels

[per f. <per...@gm...>]

hi all,

two quick questions about labels. first, is there a way to make
subscripts/superscripts *without* using TeX in labels? For example, I
use helvetica in all my labels and I want to plot something like:
plt.xlabel("log10") where "10" is a subscript of "log", but without
doing: plt.xlabel(r"$\log_{10}$"), since that will use LaTeX fonts
instead of my helvetica font.

second question, when using TeX, I tried the following TeX command in labels:
plt.annotate(r"\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{\mu}}", ....) but it complains that
"not all arguments converted during string formatting" -- but it seems
like correct TeX to me. if I try r"\frac{1}{2}" then it works, but
using \sigma and \sqrt inside breaks it.. any idea how to fix this?

thanks.