PROBLEM
`signif' does change to scientic notation
at different levels depending on the number
of significant digits in the input.
This can generate tables where figures change
``irregularly'' from normal to scientific notation.
PROPOSAL
The change to the scientific notation should
be made only if the figure in scientific notation
- with potentially as many significant digits as
given as argument to the call of `signif' -
would be shorter than the figure in normal notation.
EXAMPLE
test.signif <- function( d=2, n=9 ){
for( i in 1:n )
cat( paste( sep='\t'
, i
, signif( 10^i * 1 , d )
, signif( 10^i * 1.2 , d )
, signif( 10^i * 1.23 , d )
, signif( 10^i * 1.234 , d )
)
, '\n'
)
}
> test.signif(4)
1 10 12 12.3 12.34
2 100 120 123 123.4
3 1000 1200 1230 1234
4 10000 12000 12300 12340
5 1e+05 120000 123000 123400
6 1e+06 1200000 1230000 1234000
7 1e+07 1.2e+07 12300000 12340000
8 1e+08 1.2e+08 1.23e+08 123400000
9 1e+09 1.2e+09 1.23e+09 1.234e+09
I would expect/propose that the scientific notation in this
example with 4 significant digits begins only at line 9 in
all columns.
Wolfram
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