# 3 ways to make big numbers readable in Ruby

Today, I came across the following method in my old code. (This comes from an application supporting calculations in the construction of concrete floors).

```
  def l_factor
    ((bending_stiffness * 10000000000) / k) ** 0.25
  end
``` 
This big number looks so unreadable. I started moving the mouse cursor and counting zeros. There are ten of them. I was wondering how I could write it better. And actually, I found 3 ways to make it more readable:

### 🔍 Underscore notation
```
10_000_000_000
``` 
You can format a number with grouped thousands using an underscore delimiter. Ruby lets you insert underscores anywhere inside integers.
### 🧮 Expotential notation
```
10**10
``` 
You would just read it like: \\( 10^{10}\\)
### 🧑‍🔬 Scientific notation
```
1e10
``` 
This one is my best choice. It actually means: \\( 1\cdot10^{10}\\) and this notation is commonly used by scientists, mathematicians, and engineers.


### Which one would **you** choose? 🤷 Leave a comment.