Rounding only coefficients

Question

does Mathematica have built in functionality to round the coefficients of a polynomial to a certain accuracy. Say, we do

Print[0.2134320980x^2+0.0023432x]

Can we wrap a function around the expression in the print so that the output is

0.213x^2+0.002x

I tried NumberForm but this rounds messes with the exponent. Thank you!

If exponents are integers then you can use quick approach: 0.2134320980 x^2 + 0.0023432 x /. r_Real :> Round[r, .001] — Kuba, Commented Jun 14, 2014 at 20:16
works pretty well. can it be also done that it adds zeros if the original number was too short? — the_next_generation, Commented Jun 14, 2014 at 20:22
@kuba - yours answer would also round the exponents, which works in this case, but not for multi-digit exponents. The question was: "Round only coefficients". — eldo, Commented Jun 14, 2014 at 20:48
@ kuba - OK, I have to improve my reading, sorry for that :) — eldo, Commented Jun 14, 2014 at 20:50

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-04-13 12:55:36Z

3

Assuming you are asking about polynomials only (where exponents are integers from definition) with real coefficients:

expr = 0.2134320980 x^2 + 0.0023432 x + .2 x^3;
(HoldForm[#] &@expr) /. c_Real :> NumberForm[c, {∞, 3}]

0.002 x + 0.213 x^2 + 0.200 x^3

You may use one of the methods introduced here: 20714 to preserve traditional order:

f = HoldForm[+##] & @@ MonomialList@# &;
f[expr] /. c_Real :> NumberForm[c, {∞, 3}]

0.200 x^3 + 0.213 x^2 + 0.002 x

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answered Jun 14, 2014 at 21:07

Kuba

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eldo · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-14 20:25:46Z

2

a = 0.2134320980 x^2 + 0.0023432 x;

a /. Times[b_, c_] :> Times[Round[b, 0.0001], c]

0.0023 x + 0.2134 x^2

answered Jun 14, 2014 at 20:25

eldo

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2 Answers 2