Format short - how does it work?

format short;
A = 12.3456789
B = 1234.56789

Output is:

A = 12.3457
B = 1.2346e+03

Why is output A not "1.2345e+01"? What does format "short" do?

Answer 1

[dpb]

Per the "Algorithms" notes in the doc, "If the largest element of a matrix is larger than 103 or smaller than 10-3, then MATLAB applies a common scale factor for the short and long format."

I hadn't really tested before, I thought it was a %g format but it doesn't actually follow those rules which count the number of significant digits to be shown. It's internal as above says purely only magnitude of exponent >3

[SP]

btw where do yo find the "Algorithms" notes?

[Stephen23]

@SP: open the MATLAB help for format (not online, the actual MATLAB help). Scroll to the very bottom. Look for the heading "More About": click the "> Algorithms" text.