KNOWLEDGEBASE - ARTICLE #1366

What does it mean when some results have e in the number?

What does e in statistics mean?

In statistics, the symbol e is a mathematical constant approximately equal to 2.71828183.

 Prism switches to scientific notation when the values are very large or very small. For example:

  • 2.3e-5, means 2.3 times ten to the minus five power, or 0.000023
  • 4.5e6 means 4.5 times ten to the sixth power, or 4500000 which is the same as 4,500,000

This is a standard notation used by many computer programs including Excel. Entering a value in this form is not the same as entering the logarithm of a number. This is simply a shortcut way to enter very large values, or tiny fractions, without using logarithms

Note that in other contexts, e = 2.71828183, the base of natural logarithms. But when used in displaying large or small numbers, e means "times ten to the power of...". 

 



Keywords: e powers of ten, exponent, e in statistics

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