Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:30:54 -0400
Reply-To: Michael Raithel <michaelraithel@WESTAT.COM>
Sender: "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From: Michael Raithel <michaelraithel@WESTAT.COM>
Subject: Re: Calling Math Folks: Need Help With "Sig Figs"
In-Reply-To: <JaidnQQdBKKlbLPXnZ2dnUVZ_hGdnZ2d@earthlink.com>
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Dear SAS-L-ers,
Deborah Testa posted the following:
>
> My degree in English literature is failing me! :-)
>
> In a numeric variable, I have values such as:
>
> 1.234567891
> 1.2345678
> 1.123456
> 12.3456
>
> The format of the variable is best12. I supposed to retain
> "three significant figures" in the variable without changing
> the format of the variable.
>
> Can someone suggest a solution?
>
Deborah, I was relieved to see that "Sig Figs" stood for "Significant Figures" and that you got a good answer from Joe! Before opening your posting, I was concerned that "Sig Figs" pertained to the snacking habits of SAS-L SQL expert Sigurd Hermansen:-)
BTW, your English literature degree didn't fail you; your posting was very well written:-)
Debora, best of luck in all of your SAS endeavors!
I hope that this suggestion proves helpful now, and in the future!
Of course, all of these opinions and insights are my own, and do not reflect those of my organization or my associates. All SAS code and/or methodologies specified in this posting are for illustrative purposes only and no warranty is stated or implied as to their accuracy or applicability. People deciding to use information in this posting do so at their own risk.
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Michael A. Raithel
"The man who wrote the book on performance"
E-mail: MichaelRaithel@westat.com
Author: Tuning SAS Applications in the MVS Environment
Author: Tuning SAS Applications in the OS/390 and z/OS Environments, Second Edition
http://www.sas.com/apps/pubscat/bookdetails.jsp?catid=1&pc=58172
Author: The Complete Guide to SAS Indexes
http://www.sas.com/apps/pubscat/bookdetails.jsp?catid=1&pc=60409
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The first law of dietetics seems to be if it tastes good,
its bad for you. - Isaac Asimov
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