Re: Excell can't add

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From: JE McGimpsey (jemcgimpsey_at_mvps.org)
Date: 03/01/04


Date: Sun, 29 Feb 2004 17:37:11 -0700

Actually, NIST is quite specific:

    http://physics.nist.gov/Pubs/SP811/sec10.html
    10.5.2 Decimal sign or marker
    The recommended decimal sign or marker for use in the United States
    is the dot on the line [4, 8]. For numbers less than one, a zero is
    written before the decimal marker. For example, 0.25 s is the
    correct form, not .25 s.

(Fer cryin out loud, they're *physicists*! They wouldn't leave something
like that to chance - it might lead to, say, miscalculating a trajectory
to Mars or somethin'!)

> Chances of a decimal dot being dropped approach 0!

    "approach" == "are indistinguishable from"

In article <uYdpWex$DHA.2808@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl>,
 "Norman Harker" <njharker@optusnet.com.au> wrote:

> US NIST has adopted the use of a space for digit spacing:
>
> http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/checklist.html
>
> A space or half-high dot is used to signify the multiplication of
> units.
>
> It's silent on use of decimal sign but uses a dot throughout.
>
>
> Chances of a decimal dot being dropped approach 0!


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