Re: Problem with Precision?
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg34479] Re: Problem with Precision?
- From: "Allan Hayes" <hay at haystack.demon.co.uk>
- Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 03:32:21 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <acff17$rpn$1@smc.vnet.net>
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
Mike,
The output from entering 1.602176462 is just this number.
This is shown by
InputForm[1.602176462]
1.602176462
So the precision is there to calculate with.
Only six significant digits are displayed because the default setting of the
option PrintPrecision is PrintPrecision -> 6
1.602176462
1.60218
To arrange that inexact numbers in all your notebooks are displayed with up
to 10 of the significat digits we need to change the setting to
PrintPrecision->10:
- menu>Format>Option Inspector
- in the Show option values for field choose global
- look up Print, find the option, set its value to 10 and click Apply at
the top right of the panel
1.602176462
1.602176462
- (notice that a ball appears to the left of the option to indicate an
altered value - the default value can be restored by double clicking this
ball)
The setting can be restricted to a selection or a notebook by choosing
selection or notebook in place of global.
Of course, if we only enter, for example, 6 significant digits then only
six will be displayed
12.3456
12.3456
--
Allan
---------------------
Allan Hayes
Mathematica Training and Consulting
Leicester UK
www.haystack.demon.co.uk
hay at haystack.demon.co.uk
Voice: +44 (0)116 271 4198
Fax: +44 (0)870 164 0565
>
> Can anyone shed any light on why
>
> N[1.602176462,10]
>
> gives
>
> 1.60218
>
> I need it to be as accurate as I can get it and 5 dp doesn't cut it. Any
> ideas?
>
> Thanks
>
> Mike
>
>
>