if (zeroTickFlag) {      //if did zero tick last iter then
                        --j;
                    }               //decrement to do 1.0 tick now
                    tickVal = (i >= 0) ? Math.pow(10, i) + (Math.pow(10, i) * j)
                             : -(Math.pow(10, -i) - (Math.pow(10, -i - 1) * j));