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Subject:Re: Exponents before superscripting From:ahreed <ahreed -at- MAIL -dot- IAMERICA -dot- NET> Date:Fri, 4 Apr 1997 16:26:38 -0500
Robbie Rupel wrote:
> Scenario: We need to include inverse units on an index. The denominator
> contains a superscript (integer exponent to be exact). The application
> can not handle superscripts or subscripts, so we need to find another
> way. (FYI, the interface will be changed, but not in time for this
> release.)
>
> The following have been suggested (and have been argued against) so far:
>
> 1/cm**4
> 1/cm^4
In mathematical contexts, a caret implies a superscript and an
underscore
implies a subscript. Though it's not elegant, it's understood.
Examples: x^4
n_3
The same convention is used in mathematical typesetting packages (e.g.,
LaTeX).
Use of ** is particularly troublesome, since * generally implies
multiplication.
Regards,
Gay Reed
ahreed -at- mail -dot- iamerica -dot- net
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