PaddedForm

PaddedForm[expr,n]

prints with all numbers in expr padded to leave room for a total of n digits.

PaddedForm[expr,{n,f}]

prints with approximate real numbers having exactly f digits to the right of the decimal point.

Details and Options

By default, PaddedForm pads with spaces on the left to leave room for n digits.
PaddedForm pads with zeros on the right in approximate real numbers.
The length n specified in PaddedForm counts only digits, and not signs, breaks between digits, and so on.
PaddedForm takes the same options as NumberForm, but with some defaults different.
You can use PaddedForm to align columns of numbers.
The typeset form of PaddedForm[expr] is interpreted the same as expr when used in input. »
When an input evaluates to PaddedForm[expr], PaddedForm does not appear in the output. »

List of all options

DefaultPrintPrecision	Automatic	default print digits for machine numbers
DigitBlock	Infinity	number of digits between breaks
ExponentFunction	Automatic	function to apply to exponents
ExponentStep	1	steps by which exponents can increase
NumberFormat	Automatic	function used to assemble the mantissa, base, and exponent
NumberMultiplier	"×"	string to use to indicate multiplication
NumberPadding	{"","0"}	strings to use for left and right padding
NumberPoint	"."	decimal point string
NumberSeparator	{",", " "}	string to insert at breaks between blocks
NumberSigns	{"-",""}	strings to use for signs of negative and positive numbers
ScientificNotationThreshold	{-5,6}	where to begin using scientific notation
SignPadding	False	whether to insert padding after the sign

Examples

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Basic 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 (5)

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:

Options (11)

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 pads on the left:

Pad with spaces on the right:

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:

SignPadding (1)

The default pads before signs:

Pad between signs and numbers instead:

Applications (1)

Display approximations of with increasing precision and number of decimal digits:

Align numbers on the decimal:

Display in a tabular form:

Properties & Relations (5)

PaddedForm and NumberForm 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:

Change the display of numbers in MatrixForm or TableForm:

The typeset form of PaddedForm[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 PaddedForm[expr,n], PaddedForm does not appear in the output:

Out is assigned the value 1.23, not PaddedForm[1.23,2]:

Possible Issues (3)

Placeholder zeros may be needed if the requested precision is small:

By default, room is set aside for the larger of the two number signs:

Even when an output omits PaddedForm from the top level, it is not stripped from subexpressions:

The output does not have PaddedForm in it:

However, the variable e does have PaddedForm in it, which may affect subsequent evaluations:

The product is not evaluated due to the intervening PaddedForm:

Assign variables first and then apply PaddedForm to the result to maintain computability: