Discover the intricacies of using calculations, function symbols, and numeric formatting. This article provides a detailed explanation of the use of various symbols in formula creation and the importance of numeric clarity.
Key Insights
- The article highlights the use of various symbols in formulas such as an asterisk or an X for multiplication, a division sign for division, a plus sign for addition, a minus sign for subtraction, an equal sign for equal, and brackets for formulas.
- There is an emphasis on the careful use of these symbols in the context of the formula to avoid confusion. For instance, a forward slash should not be used for division as it can be misunderstood for other terminology, and a hyphen should not be used for subtraction as it may look like a minus sign.
- The article also discusses the importance of numeric clarity, particularly when the number is less than one. It is suggested that a zero should precede the decimal point for clarity, even though it doesn't alter the value of the number.
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The following calculations, function symbols, and numeric formatting that we're going to use need to be addressed. Let's talk about function symbols as an example. An asterisk or an X would be used for multiplication, but sometimes it looks different when you're actually creating a formula.
So I just want to clarify that I might use an asterisk or an X regarding multiplication, depending on where it sits inside of the comment. Division always uses a division sign. I don't want to use a forward slash because it could be misunderstood as other terminology.
Addition typically uses a plus sign. Subtraction uses a minus sign, but again, I have to be really careful about whether it looks like a hyphen. So I may change it.
I might even spell out subtraction if needed. "Equal" is always going to be represented by an equals sign, and the brackets are very important for formulas, which are similar to parentheses.
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So it's very important that you understand why I might be modifying the codes I'm using, but I just want to make sure that you understand what constitutes a formula versus an explanation of the function symbol. In numerical formatting, when the number is less than one, it should include a zero before the decimal point for clarity—for example,.9 should be written as 0.9. It's important to understand that the zero means absolutely nothing, but for clarity, it helps emphasize the decimal point.
