def is_a_number(x):
"""This function determines if its argument, x, is in the
format of a number. It can be number can be in integer, floating
point, scientific, or engineering format. The function returns True if the
argument is formattted like a number, and False otherwise."""
import re
num_re = re.compile(r'^[-+]?([0-9]+\.?[0-9]*|\.[0-9]+)([eE][-+]?[0-9]+)?$')
mo = num_re.match(str(x))
if mo:
return True
else:
return False