How does the decimal numeral system work?

The decimal numeral system is a base-ten number system that serves as the global standard for representing integers and non-integers. Today, its most common form is the positional Hindu-Arabic numeral system, which uses ten glyphs from zero to nine. Non-integral values can be expressed using a decimal separator, and finite or repeating decimal expansions are used to represent rational numbers.

What we know

• A decimal system is a numeral system that uses ten as its radix or base. [5]
• Presently, the most common decimal system is the Hindu-Arabic numeral system, which is a positional numeral system based on ten glyphs from zero to nine. [3, 5]
• Non-integral decimals are identified by a decimal separator such as a point or comma. [5]
• An infinite decimal represents a rational number if and only if it is a repeating decimal or has a finite number of non-zero digits. [5]

Where to go next

• whoWho invented the Hindu-Arabic numeral system?
• compared withHow do binary and other non-decimal numeral systems work?
• a case in pointWhat are non-positional base-ten systems like Roman numerals?
• whenHow did ancient numeral systems evolve over time?
• the bigger pictureWhat is a mathematical notation?
• an unexpected connectionHow did Fibonacci help spread the decimal system to medieval Europe?The Hindu-Arabic decimal system became more widely known in medieval Europe following Fibonacci's 13th-century book Liber Abaci.

Sources

• [1]numeral system (Wikidata Q122653) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Numeral system · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Hindu–Arabic numeral system · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]History of ancient numeral systems · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Decimal · CC BY-SA 4.0