A decimal numeral represents a number using base-ten place value. Each digit's value depends on its position relative to the decimal point.

To the left of the decimal point, positions represent ones, tens, hundreds and successively larger powers of ten. To the right, they represent tenths, hundredths, thousandths and so on.

For example,

$$372.45 =3\cdot100+7\cdot10+2+\frac4{10}+\frac5{100}.$$

The decimal point therefore separates whole-number place values from fractional place values.

Zeros can hold places without changing the represented number. Thus

$$0.5=0.50=0.500,$$

while $0.05$ is one tenth as large as $0.5$ because the digit $5$ occupies the hundredths place instead of the tenths place.

Fractions whose denominator is a power of ten have an immediate terminating decimal representation:

$$\frac{37}{100}=0.37.$$

Other rational numbers may require an infinite repeating decimal. For example,

$$\frac13=0.333\ldots$$

The dots indicate that the digit pattern continues indefinitely.

Decimal notation is a representation of a number, not a different kind of number. The same rational value can be written as a fraction, a decimal numeral or another equivalent expression depending on which form is most useful.