Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Decimal is the number system most commonly used by humans, which consists of ten digits from 0 to 9. It is based on powers of ten and represents values using place value positions.
Related terms
Integer: A whole number without any fractional or decimal parts.
Floating point: A data type that represents real numbers with both integer and fractional parts using scientific notation.
Octal: A number system that uses base eight instead of base ten. It is sometimes used in computer programming.