Big Numbers
Big Numbers

Python Function To Shorten Big Numbers To K-M-B-T

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Displaying big numbers in Python can be a hassle sometimes when it really shouldn’d be. Certain numbers like 1,500,000 or 2,500,000,000 pose a challenge when glancing over them.

Big Numbers

A better approach is to shorten them by adding suffixes like

‘K,’ meaning thousand

‘M,’ meaning million

‘B,’ meaning billion

‘T,’ meaning trillion.

This article will teach you how to create a Python function to do such a task.

The Problem with Big Numbers


In data analysis, financial applications, or scientific computing, we often deal with large numbers. However, writing them in full can make the output messy and less user-friendly.

For example:

  • 1,500 is easier to read as 1.5K.
  • 2,500,000 is better expressed as 2.5M.
  • 1,000,000,000 is much easier to interpret as 1B.

We can tackle this using a Python function that will automatically shorten big numbers while appending the correct suffix.

The Solution: A Python Function to Shorten Numbers

Here’s a Python function that converts large numbers into a shortened format:

def shorten_number(number, precision=1):
    """
    Shorten a large number by adding a suffix (K, M, B, T).

    :param number: The number to shorten.
    :param precision: The number of decimal places to keep.
    :return: A string representing the shortened number.
    """
    suffixes = ['', 'K', 'M', 'B', 'T']
    suffix_index = 0

    while abs(number) >= 1000 and suffix_index < len(suffixes) - 1:
        number /= 1000.0
        suffix_index += 1

    return f"{round(number, precision)}{suffixes[suffix_index]}"

# Example usage:
print(shorten_number(1500))       # Output: 1.5K
print(shorten_number(2500000))    # Output: 2.5M
print(shorten_number(1000000000)) # Output: 1B
print(shorten_number(1234567890)) # Output: 1.2B

How It Works

  1. Suffixes:
    • The function uses a list of suffixes: ['', 'K', 'M', 'B', 'T'].
    • These represent:
      • '' (no suffix) for numbers less than 1,000.
      • 'K' for thousand (10^3).
      • 'M' for million (10^6).
      • 'B' for billion (10^9).
      • 'T' for trillion (10^12).
  2. Loop:
    • The function divides the number by 1,000 repeatedly until it is less than 1,000 or runs out of suffixes.
    • Each division increases the suffix index, moving from '' to 'K', 'M', etc.
  3. Precision:
    • The precision parameter controls how many decimal places are displayed.
    • For example, precision=1 rounds the number to one decimal place.
  4. Output:
    • The function returns the shortened number as a string with the appropriate suffix.

Example Usage

Here are some examples of how the function works:

print(shorten_number(1500))        # Output: 1.5K
print(shorten_number(2500000))     # Output: 2.5M
print(shorten_number(1000000000))  # Output: 1B
print(shorten_number(1234567890))  # Output: 1.2B
print(shorten_number(999))         # Output: 999
print(shorten_number(1500000000000))  # Output: 1.5T

In many Python applications, shortening big numbers is a common task. Thus, using the function shorten_number can help to make your output user-friendly and easy to interpret. If you are working with any financial data, scientific measurements, or such large numbers, this function will help you present your data cleanly and concisely.

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