NumberForm [expr,n]
prints with approximate real numbers in expr given to n‐digit precision.
NumberForm [expr,{n,f}]
prints with approximate real numbers having n digits, with f digits to the right of the decimal point.
NumberForm [expr]
prints using the default options of NumberForm .
NumberForm
NumberForm [expr,n]
prints with approximate real numbers in expr given to n‐digit precision.
NumberForm [expr,{n,f}]
prints with approximate real numbers having n digits, with f digits to the right of the decimal point.
NumberForm [expr]
prints using the default options of NumberForm .
Details and Options
- NumberForm works on integers as well as approximate real numbers.
- The following options can be given:
-
- All options except ExponentFunction and ExponentStep apply to integers as well as approximate real numbers.
- You can mix NumberForm and BaseForm . »
- The typeset form of NumberForm [expr] is interpreted the same as expr when used in input. »
- When an input evaluates to NumberForm [expr], NumberForm does not appear in the output. »
Examples
open all close allBasic Examples (2)
Display the first 10 digits of a numeric approximation to :
Display a number with 3 precise digits and 4 digits to the right of the decimal:
Scope (6)
The default display for a machine number:
Display more digits than the default:
Display fewer digits:
Format a complex number:
Format a high-precision number:
Change the display of numbers in a vector:
A matrix:
Change the display of inexact numbers in a mixed expression:
This number renders in a notebook with two digits of precision:
Force the number to be rendered with default options:
Options (13)
DefaultPrintPrecision (1)
By default, machine real numbers are typeset with 6 digits of precision:
Increase to 8 digits:
DigitBlock (2)
A default integer:
Digits separated in blocks of length 3:
Use five‐digit blocks with spaces as separators:
ExponentFunction (1)
Compute approximate powers of :
Restrict exponents to multiples of 3:
Include exponents only for powers greater than 10:
ExponentStep (1)
Default formatting to 10 digits:
Restrict exponent to multiples of 6:
NumberFormat (1)
Display numbers in a Fortran‐like form:
Display only the mantissas:
Display the exponents after converting to scientific form:
NumberMultiplier (1)
Use the default multiplier ×:
Use an asterisk (*) instead:
NumberPadding (1)
The default does not pad on the left or right:
Pad with spaces on the left:
Pad with 0s on the right:
NumberPoint (1)
The default is a period:
Display with a comma (,) instead:
NumberSeparator (1)
The default separator is a comma (,):
Use spaces instead:
NumberSigns (1)
The default includes negative signs but not positive signs:
Include positive signs as well:
Use words instead of symbols:
ScientificNotationThreshold (1)
By default, real numbers between 10-5 and 106 in absolute value are printed in decimal form, and in scientific form otherwise:
Change the transition thresholds:
SignPadding (1)
The default pads before signs:
Pad between signs and numbers instead:
Applications (1)
Display numeric approximations of with increasing precision and number of decimal digits:
Display in a tabular form:
Properties & Relations (5)
NumberForm and PaddedForm use the same mantissas and exponents by default:
ScientificForm has a single digit to the left of the decimal:
EngineeringForm uses exponents that are multiples of 3:
AccountingForm does not have exponents:
Convert a number to base 2:
Represent the number precise to 3 decimal digits in base 2:
Reconstruct the base 10 number precise to 3 digits:
Affect the display of numbers in MatrixForm or TableForm :
The typeset form of NumberForm [expr,n] is interpreted the same as expr when used in input:
Copy the output and paste it into an input cell. The 1.2 is interpreted as 1.23:
When an input evaluates to NumberForm [expr,n], NumberForm does not appear in the output:
Out is assigned the value 1.23, not NumberForm [1.23,2]:
Possible Issues (2)
Placeholder zeros may be needed if the requested precision is small:
Even when an output omits NumberForm from the top level, it is not stripped from subexpressions:
The output does not have NumberForm in it:
However, the variable e does have NumberForm in it, which may affect subsequent evaluations:
The product is not evaluated due to the intervening NumberForm :
Assign variables first and then apply NumberForm to the result to maintain computability:
Tech Notes
History
Introduced in 1988 (1.0) | Updated in 2003 (5.0) ▪ 2017 (11.2)
Text
Wolfram Research (1988), NumberForm, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/NumberForm.html (updated 2017).
CMS
Wolfram Language. 1988. "NumberForm." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2017. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/NumberForm.html.
APA
Wolfram Language. (1988). NumberForm. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/NumberForm.html
BibTeX
@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_numberform, author="Wolfram Research", title="{NumberForm}", year="2017", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/NumberForm.html}", note=[Accessed: 17-November-2025]}
BibLaTeX
@online{reference.wolfram_2025_numberform, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={NumberForm}, year={2017}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/NumberForm.html}, note=[Accessed: 17-November-2025]}