1-5All numbers to the left of the decimal point are whole numbers, and all numbers to the right of thedecimal point are fractional numbers. A whole number is a symbol that represents one, or more, completeobjects, such as one apple or . A fractional number is a symbol that represents a portion of an object,such as half of an apple (.5 apples) or a quarter of a dollar (
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.25). A mixed number represents one, ormore, complete objects, and some portion of an object, such as one and a half apples (1.5 apples). Whenyou use any base other than the decimal system, the division between whole numbers and fractionalnumbers is referred to as the RADIX POINT. The decimal point is actually the radix point of the decimalsystem, but the term radix point is normally not used with the base 10 number system.Just as important as positional notation is the use of the zero. The placement of the zero in a numbercan have quite an effect on the value being represented. Sometimes a position in a number does not have avalue between 1 and 9. Consider how this would affect your next paycheck. If you were expecting acheck for 5.47, you wouldn’t want it to be .47. Leaving out the zero in this case means a differenceof 0.00. In the number 605.47, the zero indicates that there are no tens. If you place this value on a bargraph, you will see that there are no multiples of 101.Most Significant Digit and Least Significant Digit (MSD and LSD)Other important factors of number systems that you should recognize are the MOST SIGNIFICANTDIGIT (MSD) and the LEAST SIGNIFICANT DIGIT (LSD).The MSD in a number is the digit that has the greatest effect on that number.The LSD in a number is the digit that has the least effect on that number.Look at the following examples:
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