Fix #3548: Match MathTex subscripts/superscripts by position

manim/mobject/text/tex_mobject.py

@@ -342,7 +342,10 @@ def _break_up_by_substrings(self) -> Self:
         """
         new_submobjects: list[VMobject] = []
         curr_index = 0
-        for tex_string in self.tex_strings:
+        i = 0
+
+        while i < len(self.tex_strings):
+            tex_string = self.tex_strings[i]
             sub_tex_mob = SingleStringMathTex(
                 tex_string,
                 tex_environment=self.tex_environment,
@@ -352,16 +355,145 @@ def _break_up_by_substrings(self) -> Self:
             new_index = (
                 curr_index + num_submobs + len("".join(self.arg_separator.split()))
             )
+
             if num_submobs == 0:
                 last_submob_index = min(curr_index, len(self.submobjects) - 1)
                 sub_tex_mob.move_to(self.submobjects[last_submob_index], RIGHT)
+                new_submobjects.append(sub_tex_mob)
+                curr_index = new_index
+                i += 1
+            elif tex_string.strip().startswith(("^", "_")):
+                # Handle consecutive scripts as a group, matching by Y-position
+                script_group, j = self._group_consecutive_scripts(i)
+                total_script_submobs = self._total_submobs_for_scripts(script_group)
+                script_pool = self.submobjects[
+                    curr_index : curr_index + total_script_submobs
+                ]
+
+                self._assign_script_group(script_group, script_pool, new_submobjects)
+
+                curr_index += total_script_submobs
+                i = j
             else:
-                sub_tex_mob.submobjects = self.submobjects[curr_index:new_index]
-            new_submobjects.append(sub_tex_mob)
-            curr_index = new_index
+                # Base element processing: check if followed by scripts
+                next_is_script = i + 1 < len(self.tex_strings) and self.tex_strings[
+                    i + 1
+                ].strip().startswith(("^", "_"))
+
+                if next_is_script and num_submobs > 0:
+                    script_group, j = self._group_consecutive_scripts(i + 1)
+                    total_script_submobs = self._total_submobs_for_scripts(script_group)
+                    total_needed = num_submobs + total_script_submobs
+
+                    all_submobs = self.submobjects[
+                        curr_index : curr_index + total_needed
+                    ]
+
+                    # Only use special handling if scripts have content (non-empty)
+                    if total_script_submobs > 0 and len(all_submobs) == total_needed:
+                        # LaTeX may render base+scripts in unexpected order
+                        # Find base by Y-position: closest to baseline (Y=0)
+                        base_submob = min(
+                            all_submobs, key=lambda m: abs(m.get_center()[1])
+                        )
+                        sub_tex_mob.submobjects = [base_submob]
+
+                        script_pool = [m for m in all_submobs if m != base_submob]
+                        new_submobjects.append(sub_tex_mob)
+
+                        self._assign_script_group(
+                            script_group, script_pool, new_submobjects
+                        )
+
+                        curr_index += total_needed
+                        i = j
+                    else:
+                        # Fallback if counts don't match
+                        sub_tex_mob.submobjects = self.submobjects[curr_index:new_index]
+                        new_submobjects.append(sub_tex_mob)
+                        curr_index = new_index
+                        i += 1
+                else:
+                    sub_tex_mob.submobjects = self.submobjects[curr_index:new_index]
+                    new_submobjects.append(sub_tex_mob)
+                    curr_index = new_index
+                    i += 1
+
         self.submobjects = new_submobjects
         return self
 
+    def _group_consecutive_scripts(self, start_index: int) -> tuple[list[str], int]:
+        """Collect consecutive script tex_strings starting at ``start_index``.
+
+        Returns the list of scripts and the index just after the group.
+        Scripts are tex strings starting with '^' or '_'.
+        """
+        script_group = [self.tex_strings[start_index]]
+        j = start_index + 1
+        while j < len(self.tex_strings) and self.tex_strings[j].strip().startswith(
+            ("^", "_")
+        ):
+            script_group.append(self.tex_strings[j])
+            j += 1
+        return script_group, j
+
+    def _total_submobs_for_scripts(self, script_group: list[str]) -> int:
+        """Calculate total submobject count for a group of script strings.
+
+        Creates temporary SingleStringMathTex instances to inspect counts.
+        """
+        total = 0
+        for s in script_group:
+            total += len(
+                SingleStringMathTex(
+                    s,
+                    tex_environment=self.tex_environment,
+                    tex_template=self.tex_template,
+                ).submobjects
+            )
+        return total
+
+    def _assign_script_group(
+        self,
+        script_group: list[str],
+        script_pool: list[VMobject],
+        new_submobjects: list[VMobject],
+    ) -> None:
+        """Assign submobjects from ``script_pool`` to scripts in ``script_group``.
+
+        Selection strategy:
+        - Superscripts ('^'): Pick highest Y-position items (above baseline)
+        - Subscripts ('_'): Pick lowest Y-position items (below baseline)
+
+        Selected submobjects are removed from pool to prevent reuse.
+        """
+        for script_tex in script_group:
+            script_mob = SingleStringMathTex(
+                script_tex,
+                tex_environment=self.tex_environment,
+                tex_template=self.tex_template,
+            )
+            script_num_submobs = len(script_mob.submobjects)
+
+            if script_num_submobs > 0 and len(script_pool) > 0:
+                is_superscript = script_tex.strip().startswith("^")
+                # Sort by Y-position: reverse=True for superscripts (highest first)
+                sorted_pool = sorted(
+                    script_pool,
+                    key=lambda mob: mob.get_center()[1],
+                    reverse=is_superscript,
+                )
+
+                selected = sorted_pool[:script_num_submobs]
+                script_mob.submobjects = selected
+
+                # Remove selected items from pool
+                for sel in selected:
+                    if sel in script_pool:
+                        script_pool.remove(sel)
+
+            new_submobjects.append(script_mob)
+
     def get_parts_by_tex(
         self, tex: str, substring: bool = True, case_sensitive: bool = True
     ) -> VGroup:

tests/module/mobject/text/test_texmobject.py

@@ -225,3 +225,31 @@ def test_tex_garbage_collection(tmpdir, monkeypatch, config):
 
     tex_with_log = Tex("Hello World, again!")  # da27670a37b08799.tex
     assert Path("media", "Tex", "da27670a37b08799.log").exists()
+
+
+def test_tex_strings_with_subscripts_and_superscripts():
+    """Test that submobjects match tex_strings and positions when LaTeX reorders scripts.
+
+    Regression test for issue #3548.
+    """
+    eq1 = MathTex("A", "^n", "_1")
+    assert eq1.submobjects[0].get_tex_string() == "A"
+    assert eq1.submobjects[1].get_tex_string() == "^n"
+    assert eq1.submobjects[2].get_tex_string() == "_1"
+    assert eq1.submobjects[1].get_center()[1] > 0
+    assert eq1.submobjects[2].get_center()[1] < 0
+
+    eq2 = MathTex("A", "_1", "^n")
+    assert eq2.submobjects[0].get_tex_string() == "A"
+    assert eq2.submobjects[1].get_tex_string() == "_1"
+    assert eq2.submobjects[2].get_tex_string() == "^n"
+    assert eq2.submobjects[1].get_center()[1] < 0
+    assert eq2.submobjects[2].get_center()[1] > 0
+
+    eq3 = MathTex("\\sum", "^n", "_1", "x")
+    assert eq3.submobjects[0].get_tex_string() == "\\sum"
+    assert eq3.submobjects[1].get_tex_string() == "^n"
+    assert eq3.submobjects[2].get_tex_string() == "_1"
+    assert eq3.submobjects[3].get_tex_string() == "x"
+    assert eq3.submobjects[1].get_center()[1] > 0
+    assert eq3.submobjects[2].get_center()[1] < 0