LaTeX formulas in gnuplot

As a reminder to myself: On the TeX Stackexchange, there is a nice question and discussion by me and some helpful people on how to use LaTeX code in gnuplot / how to embed LaTeX equations in a plot. A copy of my revised answer:

First, we set up a gnuplot called test.plt:

plot [-5:5] [-1.5:1.5] sin(x+pi) title "$\sin(x+\pi)$"

Then we also set up a small Makefile:

.SUFFIXES: .plt .tex .pdf



%.tex: %.plt

gnuplot -e " 

	set format '$%g$' ; 

	set terminal epslatex standalone color ; 

	set output '$@' 

	" $<



%.pdf: %.tex

	pdflatex $<



all: test.pdf

Running “make all” will produce this plot: