Compact data uncertainty format

given data and uncertainty, this program reformats the number into parenthetic notation.

Description

example: reformats '10.3 +- .2' as '10.3(2)'.

usage: >> format_data(10.3,0.2)
        ans = '10.3(2)'

Often, it is more compact to represent the uncertainty of a datum by placing the uncertainty in parentheses with the uncertainty understood to apply to the final digit(s) of the datum. This program achieves such formatting, properly accounting for the decimal point, where applicable. The output can be set in standard decimal, scientific, engineering or metric formats. For scientific or engineering, LaTeX formatting is also an option. The number of digits in the uncertainty is also an option (default = 1). If anyone has better suggestions on the name of this function or the title, please let me know!!

• MATLAB release: MATLAB 7.1.0 (R14SP3)

[Rolf Heidemann]

Very useful.
The input uncertainty of 0 should be treated, e.g as omitting the parentheses.

[peter mao]

After seeing Rolf's comment, I thought about adding in special handling for sigma==0, but then decided against it.

Consider if the uncertainty was infinitesimally small. Then one would have an enormous number of significant digits. With ZERO uncertainty, then one must report an infinite number of significant digits!

I suggest that Rolf put an if-then around this code to get the result he desires. I don't think it is appropriate to handle that within this code.

Thanks for your comment.

Peter