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D

Data

Information of a quantitative nature consisting of counts or measurements. Initially data are nearly always counts or things like percentages derived from counts. When they refer to measurements that are separate and can be counted, the data are discrete. When they refer to quantities such as length or capacity that are measured, the data are continuous. Singular: datum.


Database

A means of storing sets of data, for example in an Excel spreadsheet.


Decimal

Relating to the base ten. Most commonly used synonymously with decimal fraction where the number of tenths, hundredth, thousandths etc. are represented as digits following a decimal point. The decimal point is placed at the right of the units column. Each column after the decimal point is a decimal place. Example: The decimal fraction 0.275 is said to have three decimal places. The system of recording with a decimal point is decimal notation. Where a number is rounded to a required number of decimal places, to 2 decimal places for example, this may be recorded as 2 d.p.


Decimal Fraction

Tenths, hundredths, thousandths etc. represented by digits following a decimal point. Example 0.125 is equivalent to 1/10 + 2/100 + 5/1000 or 125/1000 or 1/8

The decimal fraction representing 1/8 is a terminating decimal fraction since it has a finite number of decimal places. Other fractions such as 1/3 produce recurring decimal fractions.

These have a digit or group of digits that is repeated indefinitely.

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Degree

In the measurement of angles, a unit of turn, usually clockwise.

One whole turn is equal to 360 degrees, written 360o.


Denominator

In the notation of common fractions, the number written below the line i.e. the divisor. Example: In the fraction 1/3, the denominator is 3.


Diameter

The length of any of the chords of a circle or sphere that pass through it's centre. Compare with 'chord'.


Difference

The amount by which one number or value is greater than another, obtained by subtracting the smaller from the larger.


Digit

One of the symbols of a number system- most commonly the symbols 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Examples: the number 29 is a 2-digit number; there are three digits in 2.95. The position or place of a digit in a number conveys its value.


Digital Clock

A clock that displays the time as hours and minutes passed, usually since midnight. Example: four thirty in the afternoon is displayed as 16:30.



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