scientific notation \times symbol

Community matplotlib-users
1

Hi there:

I tried to plot large numbers and scientific notation has to be used.
But instead of "\times" symbol, it used "e", which cannot be accepted as
publishable. Anyone know how to deal with that?

My original code is:

···

####################################################
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np
from matplotlib.ticker import ScalarFormatter

# data generation
x = np.arange(1,1e3,20)
y = x**2

formatter = ScalarFormatter()
formatter.set_scientific(True)
formatter.set_powerlimits((-3,3))

fig = plt.figure()
ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
ax.xaxis.set_major_formatter(formatter)
ax.yaxis.set_major_formatter(formatter)
ax.plot(x,y)

plt.show()

####################################################

2

Hao,

I ran your code and got this (see attached). I don't get the 'e' that you mention, but a 'times' symbol instead.

My rcParams are such that the entire figure is sent to LaTeX. Not sure if that changes things.

Good luck
-Paul

test.png
test.png1800×1200 54.9 KB

···

-----Original Message-----
From: Hao Wen [mailto:wenhao.student@…287…]
Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 7:25 PM
To: matplotlib-users@lists.sourceforge.net
Subject: [Matplotlib-users] scientific notation \times symbol

Hi there:

I tried to plot large numbers and scientific notation has to be used.
But instead of "\times" symbol, it used "e", which cannot be accepted as
publishable. Anyone know how to deal with that?

My original code is:
####################################################
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np
from matplotlib.ticker import ScalarFormatter

# data generation
x = np.arange(1,1e3,20)
y = x**2

formatter = ScalarFormatter()
formatter.set_scientific(True)
formatter.set_powerlimits((-3,3))

fig = plt.figure()
ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
ax.xaxis.set_major_formatter(formatter)
ax.yaxis.set_major_formatter(formatter)
ax.plot(x,y)

plt.show()

####################################################

3

Hao Wen wrote:

Hi there:

I tried to plot large numbers and scientific notation has to be used.
But instead of "\times" symbol, it used "e", which cannot be accepted as
publishable. Anyone know how to deal with that?

Add a kwarg to your formatter initialization. See below.

Eric

My original code is:
####################################################
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np
from matplotlib.ticker import ScalarFormatter

# data generation
x = np.arange(1,1e3,20)
y = x**2

formatter = ScalarFormatter()

formatter = ScalarFormatter(useMathText=True)

···

formatter.set_scientific(True)
formatter.set_powerlimits((-3,3))

fig = plt.figure()
ax = fig.add_subplot(111)
ax.xaxis.set_major_formatter(formatter)
ax.yaxis.set_major_formatter(formatter)
ax.plot(x,y)

plt.show()

####################################################