Decimals are a method of writing fractional numbers without writing a fraction having a numerator and denominator.

The fraction 37/100 could be written as the decimal 0.37. The period or decimal point indicates that this is a decimal.

The decimal 0.37 could be pronounced as THIRTY-SEVEN HUNDREDTHS or as ZERO POINT THREE SEVEN or ZERO POINT THIRTY-SEVEN.

A decimal may be greater than 1. The decimal 12.37 could be pronounced as TWELVE AND THIRTY-SEVEN HUNDREDTHS or as TWELVE POINT THIRTY-SEVEN.