Definition:Digit

Definition
Let $n$ be a number expressed in a particular number base, $b$ for example.

Then $n$ can be expressed as:


 * $\sqbrk {r_m r_{m - 1} \ldots r_2 r_1 r_0 . r_{-1} r_{-2} \ldots}_b$

where:
 * $m$ is such that $b^m \le n < b^{m+1}$;
 * all the $r_i$ are such that $0 \le r_i < b$.

Each of the $r_i$ are known as the digits of $n$ (base $b$).

Also known as
A digit can also be known as a figure, especially in natural language.

Hence the phrase to figure (something) out, which has the overtone of calculation by arithmetic.

Also see

 * Definition:Digital