--- loncom/homework/default_homework.lcpm	2003/06/24 20:41:56	1.64
+++ loncom/homework/default_homework.lcpm	2003/09/25 18:48:40	1.66
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA 
 # used by lonxml::xmlparse() as input variable $safeinit to Apache::run::run()
 #
-# $Id: default_homework.lcpm,v 1.64 2003/06/24 20:41:56 albertel Exp $
+# $Id: default_homework.lcpm,v 1.66 2003/09/25 18:48:40 albertel Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -490,6 +490,7 @@ sub format {
   my ($value,$fmt)=@_;
   my $dollarmode;
   if ($fmt =~ /^\$(.*)/) { $fmt=$1; $dollarmode=1; } 
+  $fmt=~/e/E/g;
   my $result=sprintf('%.'.$fmt,$value);
   $result=~s/(E[+-]*)0/$1/;
   if ($dollarmode) {$result=&dollarmode($result);}
@@ -508,6 +509,8 @@ sub prettyprint {
     my $exponent=$2;
     $exponent=~s/^\+0*//;
     $exponent=~s/^-0*/-/;
+    $exponent=~s/^-0*/-/;
+    if ($exponent eq '-') { undef($exponent); }
     if ($exponent) {
       if ($external::target eq 'web') {
 	$result=$frac.'&#215;10<sup>'.$exponent.'</sup>';