Computer Technology - Decimal Data
Decimal notation is the number system we use in everyday life. It is based on multiples of 10, which makes it easy for humans to read and understand numbers.
The decimal system is also called base 10 because it uses ten digits: 0 through 9.
1. Decimal Digits
In the decimal system, each digit can take on 10 possible values:
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
This is different from binary, which only uses two digits (0 and 1).
2. Possible Values
The number of values we can represent depends on how many digits we use:
| Digits |
Possible Values |
Range |
| 1 digit |
10 |
0–9 |
| 2 digits |
100 |
0–99 |
| 3 digits |
1000 |
0–999 |
3. Growing Numbers
Each time we add another digit to a decimal number, the total number of possible values increases by a factor of 10.
- 1 digit → 10 values
- 2 digits → 100 values
- 3 digits → 1000 values
This pattern continues as numbers grow larger, allowing us to represent very large values easily.
Summary
- Decimal is the number system used in everyday life
- It uses digits from 0 to 9
- Each additional digit increases values by 10x
- It is known as base 10
