decimal point
The decimal point is a symbol used in decimal notation to separate the whole number part from the fractional part of a number
The decimal point is a symbol used in decimal notation to separate the whole number part from the fractional part of a number. It is typically represented as a dot (.), placed between the units and the tenths place in a number.
For example, in the number 3.14, the decimal point is placed between the 3 (whole number part) and the 14 (fractional part). This indicates that the number is a combination of 3 whole units and 14 hundredths.
The position of the decimal point determines the value of the digits to its left and right. Moving the decimal point to the right increases the value of the digits by factors of 10, while moving it to the left decreases the value.
In addition to representing fractional parts, the decimal point is also used to indicate place value in larger numbers. Each digit to the right of the decimal point represents a decreasing power of 10. For example, in the number 123.456, the digit after the decimal point is in the tenths place, the next digit is in the hundredths place, and so on.
Understanding the decimal point is crucial in performing arithmetic operations with decimals, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It allows us to precisely represent and manipulate quantities that fall between whole numbers.
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