1. Formatting Numbers

2. Use Digits for Numbers > 10
The lab required the use of 16 paperclips and a space heater.
Exception: A sentence cannot begin with a numeral
Options:
Spell out number if the first word of the sentence
Rewrite the sentence so number is not first

3. Other < 11 Exceptions 1) Parts of a report Lab 1, Figure 2
2) Anything with a symbol: Percentages and ratios
Measurements and currency Times and dates
12%, 1:4
12 mm, $54
October 12
3) Figures (numbers in tables, equations or diagram)
1995
2005
2015 5 4

4. Usually Spell Out Ten or Fewer
The team ran 25 trials.
There were eight teeth on the gear.
The diameter was 3 cm and materials cost $7.
The due date is November 4.
Thirty-five bricks were used.
In the design, 35 bricks were used.
The gear ratio was calculated as 3:1.
Lab 7 will be presented today.
The front view is shown in Figure 2.

5. Round Off to Two Decimal Places
Engineers are more practical than mathematicians
Real-world measures are useful to the 100s, at best
10.33
10.14
3.16

6. Use Leading & Trailing Zeroes
Use a zero before any decimal
If some numbers have a decimal, all should .8
0.80 1
1.00
.92
0.92

7. Software Will Line Up Decimals
Try “decimal tab” to line up numbers (Mac only):
Use automatic rounding in Excel:

8. Formatting Numbers Spell out numbers ten or fewer
Usually use digits when 11 or greater
Only two decimal places with leading and trailing zeroes
Exploit software features

9. Formatting Numbers
QUESTIONS?