Question: Comma vs. Decimal

[narfi]

I am confused why lots of places in the forums here commas and decimals are used the opposite of what i am accustomed to. It has always been my understanding that a large number uses commas to seperate each 3sets of numbers.

For Example: 100,000 = 100K

I have always understood that a decimal separates whole numbers from partial numbers.
For Example: $10.50 = Ten Dollars and Fifty Cents

There are lots of times where i see numbers here on the forums like 1.000 and 10,50 which dont match up to what im used to.

Are there different standards in different locations on the globe and Im just isolated enough (in Alaska) that i havent seen these used in this manner before? Or is it some sort of slang common to gaming or computers? (ive only played EU online, and almost no experience with social networking sites)

Any knowledge and information on this would be appreciated.

thanks,

narfi

[DRDoom]

In most of Europe we use comma as a decimal sign.
And dot as a thousand seperator.

Depending on who makes the post it can differ.

US will use : 1,000.00
Europe uses: 1.000,00

As long as you use only 2 digits for decimals there is no confusion.

See for a list of countries and what they use:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimal_point

[narfi]

Thanks thats what i suspected, just didnt know. I should have thought to use google or wikipedia... too tired i guess

thanks,

narfi

[GeorgeSkywalker]

i'm in uk


and we use decimals and commas like you narfi i.e one thousand written as 1,00.00



It is confusing sometimes when I see posts with 1.00 written where they mean 1,00. The decimal should be a dot as international standard or if not a completely new symbol to represent a dot. Such a simple change can actually mean we understand each other correctly.

[Zeke Sirrus]

Originally Posted by GeorgeSkywalker

i'm in uk


and we use decimals and commas like you narfi i.e one thousand written as 1,00.00

Close... he means 1,000.00

[Dorsai]

I am in the UK as well, and it confuses me when I see 1.001, as to me that means one point zero zero one, not one-thousand and one.

I have the hang of it now, but still need to do a double take sometime to be sure I have understood properly.

Given the importance of knowing the difference between the two figures it does seem strange that differing countries adopt differing standards.

An engineer in the UK asked to design something to withstand 1.001 tonnes by a person in a county using a "." instead of a "," will need to know for sure if it is one point zero zero one tonnes, or one-thousand and one tonnes, as there is a slight difference in what he might design..

[DRDoom]

Originally Posted by GeorgeSkywalker

i'm in uk

The decimal should be a dot as international standard or if not a completely new symbol to represent a dot. Such a simple change can actually mean we understand each other correctly.

LOL

The international ISO standaard is actually a dot as a thousand seperator and a comma as a dicimal seperator.
The Brittish changed that and put their 'standard' in the British empire and colonies. (US, India, HongKong, Australia, Africal colonies...) that is why its only used there.

Most countries that are using Miles instead of Kilometers are also using the British standard.

[GeorgeSkywalker]

from wiki

"In France, the period was already in use in printing to make Roman numerals more readable, so the comma was chosen. Many other countries also chose to use the comma to mark the decimal units position.[2] It has been made standard by the ISO for international blueprints. However, English-speaking countries took the comma to separate sequences of three digits."


so I may be wrong but i don't think there is one ISO standard for numbers in general just blueprints.

The point I was making was would be simpler if everyone used the same system, maybe your right all countries should switch to your way DRDoom. At least that would be more understandable. Doesn't matter which system as long as it's universal. To avoid this argument of whose system should be made universal maybe a new symbol should be created then we all have to change i.e equal to everyone.

[DRDoom]

I don't think world wide standardisation will be soon.

It's hardly impossible to change a way of working after so long, just think about the software that should change alone. niether the countries that are using one of the standaard want to change, for the costs and the mistakes that will be made by ppl that are used to their system.

Same for the metric system vs the imperial system. It would be so much easier if everyone uses the same system. I don't say either one of them is better, but I assume that the metric system is much easier.

°C vs °F same thing.

etc...

[SKULL]

date is another matter

in holland we use day/month/year

in the us and other countries they use month/day/year