Differ in form from common fractions, in not having a written
denominator; and from whole numbers, by having the decimal point (.)
prefixed; which also separates the integral part from the decimal. The
word decimal is derived from the Latin word _decem_, which signifies
ten. The denominator of a decimal is always 10, or some power of 10, as
100, 1000, etc.
A Complex Decimal is a decimal with a common fraction at the right, as,
.12-1/2.
A Mixed Decimal is a whole number with a decimal fraction to its right,
as, 34.5.
The denominations of United States money are based on the decimal
system--the dollar occupying the unit’s place, the dime the tenth’s
place, the cent the hundredth’s place, and the mill the thousandth’s
place.
_The rules given for addition, subtraction, and so on, also apply to
decimals._