Is the "e" character used to denote an invalid number in graphics data?

Question

I've got a graphical program that's exporting a data file with numbers such as: -1.33227e-015 and -4.02456e-016.

I've long been perplexed by the "e-" notation. Is it used to denote an invalid number? What sort of valid value can I extract from the above numbers? What are they trying to say?

Answer 1

No. It signifies exponential/scientific notation. -4.02456e-016 means -4.02456 divided by 10 to the power 16.

Answer 2

e or E stands for exponent. Just like x10^ (in written mathematics). The number following tells you how far the decimal place is moving, (+ for left, - for right) so your above number:

-1.33227e-015

Becomes:

-.00000000000000133227

While:

-4.02456e-016

Becomes:

-.000000000000000402456

Answer 3

That is scientific notation being used to represent extremely "large" or "small" numbers.