# Why is an E- float being returned when analysing sound

**URL:** <https://discourse.processing.org/t/why-is-an-e-float-being-returned-when-analysing-sound/12603>\
**Category:** Libraries\
**Created:** [July 8, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/why-is-an-e-float-being-returned-when-analysing-sound/12603 "2019-07-08T21:08:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Matthbooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@Matthbooth](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Matthbooth)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/why-is-an-e-float-being-returned-when-analysing-sound/12603/1 "2019-07-08T21:08:53Z")

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Hello  
I’m analysing the sound spectrum data of an imported sound file.

As I loop through data I’m frequently getting numbers such as 5.4515745E-5 rather than a float from 0 to 1.

Why is this and how do ignore those numbers?

Thanks

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**Author:** ![TfGuy44](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/tfguy44/32/41_2.png) [@TfGuy44](https://discourse.processing.org/u/TfGuy44)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2019, 10:26pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/why-is-an-e-float-being-returned-when-analysing-sound/12603/2 "2019-07-08T22:26:24Z")

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The E is a shorthand sometimes used for floats

5.4515745E-5 = 5.4515745 \* 10^(-5) = 0.000054515745

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**Author:** ![kll](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/kll/32/964_2.png) [@kll](https://discourse.processing.org/u/kll)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2019, 1:14am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/why-is-an-e-float-being-returned-when-analysing-sound/12603/3 "2019-07-09T01:14:49Z")

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any math calc can produce small numbers…  
but how numbers are shown depends on the “print way” and the “renderer”  
( and not on the math… )

but you can change the look:

 ![SNAG-0135](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/2X/6/6287928c52db649596c6e790897c6a32b88a8635.jpeg)