Computing from LaTeX: automated numerical computing from LaTeX expressions

Crafa, Silvia and Marcuzzi, Fabio and Virgulin, Marco (Tech Report 2014) 

Abstract 

We present CfL (Computing from LaTeX), a software tool
that allows the user to automatically perform numerical computation
without any programming activity. The user has just to express
his computational problem in the usual mathematical language found in
written books, and to typeset it using \latex for a well-formatted
printout.

CfL is designed so that it parses a LaTeX document to recognize
well-defined computational problems. An executable Python script is
then automatically generated so that mathematical objects are
encoded as Python data objects, and the script's logic reflects 
an appropriate numerical solution pattern for the recognized computational
problem. The results of the numerical computations can also be
automatically inserted in a resulting LaTeX document so to be
displayed by means of tables and graphics.

Therefore, CfL is a numerical problem-solving environment that
converts the specification of a mathematical problem into
an appropriate resolution pattern that can be directly executed.
The use of high-level mathematical abstractions, the familiar LaTeX
typesetting and the automated code generation are key design choices
that provide ease-of-use and explorative computation, with a
negligible overhead.