diff --git a/src/_pytest/python_api.py b/src/_pytest/python_api.py
index 84cac3862..88e41bab5 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/python_api.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/python_api.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def _cmp_raises_type_error(self, other):
 
 def _non_numeric_type_error(value):
     return TypeError(
-        "cannot make approximate comparisons to non-numeric values, e.g. {}".format(
+        "cannot make approximate comparisons to non-numeric values, e.g. {!r}".format(
             value
         )
     )
@@ -507,6 +507,8 @@ def approx(expected, rel=None, abs=None, nan_ok=False):
     # class provides some convenient methods and overloads, but isn't really
     # essential.
 
+    __tracebackhide__ = True
+
     if isinstance(expected, Decimal):
         cls = ApproxDecimal
     elif isinstance(expected, Number):