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| The '''decimal separator''' is a symbol used to mark the boundary between the ] and the ]al |
The '''decimal ]''' is a ] used to ] the ] between the ] and the ]al ]s of a ] ]. | ||
| In the ], that is, before ], a bar over the ] ] was used. However, its regular usage and classification is attributed to ], a Persian scientist. |
In the ], that is, before ], a ] over the ] ] was used. However, its regular usage and classification is attributed to ], a ] ]. Later, a ] (a short, roughly ], ]) between the units and tenths position became the norm. When ], it was convenient to use the existing marks called a ] or a ], which is variously called a ] or a ], or else a ] for this purpose. | ||
| In France the dot was already in use in printing to make ] more readable, so the comma was chosen. Many other countries also chose the comma to mark the decimal units position. |
In ], the dot was already in use in ] to make ] more readable, so the comma was chosen. Many other countries also chose the comma to mark the decimal units position. It has been made standard by the ] for international ]s. | ||
| ]-speaking countries |
However, ]-speaking countries took the comma to separate sequences of three digits. In the ], a period ('''.'''), which is called a "stop" or "]" in some other countries, was the standard. In the nations of the ], although this could be used as in typewritten material, the point (]: '''·'''), which can also be called an ], was preferred for the decimal separator in those technologies which could accommodate it. This had the advantage of reducing confusion with the countries that used the period to separate groups of digits, but as the middle dot was already in common use in the ] world to indicate ] (for example, in the ]), the ] rejected this use of this symbol for this purpose. However, the use of the period as decimal point was not banned. British ] ]s thus switched to the US form in the late ]. When ] adopted the ], it adopted the ''',''' as the decimal marker. For further details, see ] below. | ||
| In the ] and ], where ] digits are used for writing numbers, a different character called "momayyez" -- which is written like a forward slash -- is used to seprate the integer and fractional parts of numbers. To separate |
In the ] and ], where ] digits are used for writing numbers, a different character called "momayyez" -- which is written like a forward ] -- is used to seprate the integer and fractional parts of numbers. To separate ]s of three digits, a "coma" or ] may be used; however this is not a standard. In ], there is a little difference between the "coma" character used in sentences, and the coma-like character used to separate sequences of three digits. | ||
| The separator in non-decimal ]s may be referred to as a ]. | The separator in non-decimal ]s may be referred to as a ]. | ||
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| Examples of use: | Examples of use: | ||
| <!-- chronologically ordered --> | <!-- chronologically ordered --> | ||
| * In ], the ], and much of ''Latin'' Europe: 1 234 567,89 | * In ], the ], and much of '']'' ]: 1 234 567,89 | ||
| * In ], ], ], ] and much of Europe: 1 234 567,89 or 1'''.'''234'''.'''567,89 (in ] you may also come across 1'''<sup>·</sup>'''234'''<sup>·</sup>'''567,89) | * In ], ], ], ] and much of Europe: 1 234 567,89 or 1'''.'''234'''.'''567,89 (in ] you may also come across 1'''<sup>·</sup>'''234'''<sup>·</sup>'''567,89) | ||
| * In ] ''(mainly German-speaking Switzerland)'': 1'234'567,89 | * In ] ''(mainly German-speaking Switzerland)'': 1'234'567,89 | ||
| * In the ], ], ], and ]: 1,234,567'''.'''89 or 1,234,567'''·'''89; the latter is more commonly found in older, and especially handwritten, documents nowadays; many UK schools now teach the ] style, which has become official in ]. | * In the ], ], ], and ]: 1,234,567'''.'''89 or 1,234,567'''·'''89; the latter is more commonly found in older, and especially ], documents nowadays; many ] schools now teach the ] style, which has become official in ]. | ||
| * ] style: 1 234 567'''.'''89 (dot countries) or 1 234 567''','''89 (comma countries) | * ] style: 1 234 567'''.'''89 (dot countries) or 1 234 567''','''89 (comma countries) | ||
| * In ], the comma is sometimes used to separate |
* In ], the comma is sometimes used to separate ]s of four digits: 123,4567.89, since in ], there is a word for 10000 (the next new word is for 10<sup>8</sup>, not 10<sup>6</sup> as in most languages). | ||
| * In ], due to a numeral system using ]s (100,000) and ]s (10,000,000), an asymmetric distribution of comma separators is often used, for example, 30 million (3 crores) would be written as 3,00,00,000, with commas at the thousand, lakh, and crore levels. | * In ], due to a numeral system using ]s (100,000) and ]s (10,000,000), an asymmetric distribution of comma separators is often used, for example, 30 million (3 crores) would be written as 3,00,00,000, with commas at the thousand, lakh, and crore levels. | ||
| In countries with a decimal comma, the decimal point is also common, as the "international" notation, and under the influence of e.g. electronic |
In countries with a decimal comma, the decimal point is also common, as the "international" notation, and under the influence of e.g. ]s using the decimal point. ]s can usually be adapted to use the local separator, but even on the same computer it is not uncommon that some programs use a comma, and some a point. | ||
| Note |
Note: notations like "12,345", "12.345", "12,345.678", and "12.345,678" are ] by a ] 1000 if the notational system is not known. | ||
| ==Dot countries== | ==Dot countries== | ||
Revision as of 12:59, 19 May 2006
The decimal separator is a symbol used to mark the boundary between the integer and the fractional parts of a decimal numeral.
In the Middle Ages, that is, before printing, a bar over the units digit was used. However, its regular usage and classification is attributed to Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Ḵwārizmī, a Persian scientist. Later, a separator (a short, roughly vertical, ink stroke) between the units and tenths position became the norm. When typeset, it was convenient to use the existing marks called a comma or a period, which is variously called a stop or a dot, or else a point for this purpose.
In France, the dot was already in use in printing to make Roman numerals more readable, so the comma was chosen. Many other countries also chose the comma to mark the decimal units position. It has been made standard by the ISO for international blueprints.
However, English-speaking countries took the comma to separate sequences of three digits. In the US, a period (.), which is called a "stop" or "full stop" in some other countries, was the standard. In the nations of the British Empire, although this could be used as in typewritten material, the point (middle dot: ·), which can also be called an interpunct, was preferred for the decimal separator in those technologies which could accommodate it. This had the advantage of reducing confusion with the countries that used the period to separate groups of digits, but as the middle dot was already in common use in the mathematics world to indicate multiplication (for example, in the dot product), the SI rejected this use of this symbol for this purpose. However, the use of the period as decimal point was not banned. British aviation magazines thus switched to the US form in the late twentieth century. When South Africa adopted the metric system, it adopted the , as the decimal marker. For further details, see Comma countries below.
In the Arab world and Iran, where Arabic digits are used for writing numbers, a different character called "momayyez" -- which is written like a forward slash -- is used to seprate the integer and fractional parts of numbers. To separate sequences of three digits, a "coma" or blank space may be used; however this is not a standard. In Farsi, there is a little difference between the "coma" character used in sentences, and the coma-like character used to separate sequences of three digits.
The separator in non-decimal numeral systems may be referred to as a radix point.
Examples of use:
- In France, the Netherlands, and much of Latin Europe: 1 234 567,89
- In Germany, Belgium, Italy, Romania and much of Europe: 1 234 567,89 or 1.234.567,89 (in handwriting you may also come across 1234567,89)
- In Switzerland (mainly German-speaking Switzerland): 1'234'567,89
- In the United Kingdom, United States, Japan, and Mexico: 1,234,567.89 or 1,234,567·89; the latter is more commonly found in older, and especially handwritten, documents nowadays; many UK schools now teach the SI style, which has become official in Australia.
- SI style: 1 234 567.89 (dot countries) or 1 234 567,89 (comma countries)
- In China, the comma is sometimes used to separate blocks of four digits: 123,4567.89, since in Chinese, there is a word for 10000 (the next new word is for 10, not 10 as in most languages).
- In India, due to a numeral system using lakhs (100,000) and crores (10,000,000), an asymmetric distribution of comma separators is often used, for example, 30 million (3 crores) would be written as 3,00,00,000, with commas at the thousand, lakh, and crore levels.
In countries with a decimal comma, the decimal point is also common, as the "international" notation, and under the influence of e.g. electronic calculators using the decimal point. Computer programs can usually be adapted to use the local separator, but even on the same computer it is not uncommon that some programs use a comma, and some a point.
Note: notations like "12,345", "12.345", "12,345.678", and "12.345,678" are ambiguous by a factor 1000 if the notational system is not known.
Dot countries
Countries where a dot is used to mark the radix point include:
- Australia, Botswana,] (English-speaking), China, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong of the People's Republic of China, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Korea (both North and South), Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, New Zealand, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States (including insular area of Puerto Rico),
Comma countries
Countries where a comma is used to mark the radix point include:
- Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada (French-speaking), Croatia, Cuba, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Faroes, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Indonesia, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg (uses both separators officially), Macedonia, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zimbabwe
Momayyez countries
Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE