Definition:Decimal Point/Also denoted as

Decimal Point: Also denoted as

The usage of the decimal point varies between the various cultures.

The American system is to use a dot placed on the line:

$12.345$

The British system is to place the dot centrally:

$12 \cdotp 345$

The European system is to use a comma:

$12, \! 345$

Consequently the thousands separator for European numbers is either a dot:

$12.345, \! 678$

or a space:

$12 \, 345, \! 678$

In $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ the British and American systems can be found for the decimal point, while the European usage of the space is generally used for the thousands separator.

Sources

• 1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers ... (previous) ... (next): $10$
• 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $10$
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): decimal point
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): decimal point