Controlling the precision of floating point number in matlab

Question

I am dividing a number, say

x=2;
y=1/3;
z=x*y;

I expect z to be 0.66666666666667 i.e. 14 numbers after decimal point and the same

Answer 1

If it is just about diplaying the number you can use the sprintf function

str = sprintf('%.14f', pi); % print PI with exactly 14 digits after decimal point
disp(str);

Or fprintf with just one line:

fprintf('%.14f', pi);

fprintf is for writing to files but prints the string result to the screen if no file identifier is given.

Answer 2

If you actually want the number to have that precision then round off to 14 places like this:

format long g

x=2;
y=1/3;
z=x*y;
round(z*1e14)/1e14

ans =      0.66666666666667

If it's just about displaying then use Deve's sprintf solution.

Answer 3

you can type in matlab :

digits(10)

it gives you more floating point precision, or also

digits(20)

for example:

 a=1/3
ans = 0.3333
digits(10)
 vpa(a)
 ans= 0.3333333333

search help of matlab by typing doc in command window and then search : digits