Try this, where A1 is where input value is:
=SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(A1,0,""),".","")/10


"Neil Goldwasser" wrote in
message ...
Hi all! Here is a challenge for you...

Does anybody know how to combine worksheet functions to generate the
leading
number from the Standard Index Form version of a "normal number"?

For example,...
...if the input was 340000, the output would be 3.4
...if the input was 0.00278, the output would be 2.78

I realise that Excel can display a "normal" number in this "scientific"
format, but it is for a teaching resource that I am building, so that is
no
use to me.

Would it use the LEFT or RIGHT functions?

I have at least worked out that, once I have this leading number, in order
to generate the index the formula would be
=LOG10(complete_number/leading_number)
but I am puzzled about how to get the first bit.

Many thanks in advance, Neil Goldwasser