With maxima 5.14, I get the following behavior with tex():
(%i7) tex(expand((a+b+c)^3));
$$c^3+3\,b\,c^2+3\,a\,c^2+3\,b^2\,c+6\,a\,b\,c+3\,a^2\,c+b^3+3\,a\,b^2
+3\,a^2\,b+a^3$$
(%o7) false
(%i8) ordergreat(a,b,c);
(%o8) done
(%i9) tex(expand((a+b+c)^3));
$${\it \_103a}^3+3\,{\it \_102b}\,{\it \_103a}^2+3\,{\it
\_101c}\,
{\it \_103a}^2+3\,{\it \_102b}^2\,{\it \_103a}+6\,{\it
\_101c}\,
{\it \_102b}\,{\it \_103a}+3\,{\it \_101c}^2\,{\it \_103a}+
{\it \_102b}^3+3\,{\it \_101c}\,{\it \_102b}^2+3\,{\it
\_101c}^2\,
{\it \_102b}+{\it \_101c}^3$$
(%o9) false
(%i10)
The first output is fine, but what are the _101, _102, etc
in the second output?
Kostas