diff --git a/include/xrpl/basics/Number.h b/include/xrpl/basics/Number.h
index e4454837c0..f0d544bb76 100644
--- a/include/xrpl/basics/Number.h
+++ b/include/xrpl/basics/Number.h
@@ -556,6 +556,11 @@ inline Number::Number(rep mantissa) : Number{mantissa, 0}
 {
 }
 
+/** Returns the mantissa of the external view of the Number.
+ *
+ * Please see the "---- External Interface ----" section of the class
+ * documentation for an explanation of why the internal value may be modified.
+ */
 inline constexpr Number::rep
 Number::mantissa() const noexcept
 {
@@ -572,15 +577,19 @@ Number::mantissa() const noexcept
     return sign * static_cast<Number::rep>(m);
 }
 
+/** Returns the exponent of the external view of the Number.
+ *
+ * Please see the "---- External Interface ----" section of the class
+ * documentation for an explanation of why the internal value may be modified.
+ */
 inline constexpr int
 Number::exponent() const noexcept
 {
-    auto m = mantissa_;
     auto e = exponent_;
-    if (m > maxRep)
+    if (mantissa_ > maxRep)
     {
         XRPL_ASSERT_PARTS(
-            !isnormal() || (m % 10 == 0 && m / 10 <= maxRep),
+            !isnormal() || (mantissa_ % 10 == 0 && mantissa_ / 10 <= maxRep),
             "xrpl::Number::exponent",
             "large normalized mantissa has no remainder");
         ++e;