Decimal representation

• This is very convenient in many ways

• For example, it's easy to tell which of two numbers is larger

• Just compare left-to-right

• Much easier than with straight rationals

  • (Is 100/89 more or less than 244/217?)

  • (Just compare 1 . 1 2 3 5 9.... and 1 . 1 2 4 4....)

• Arithmetic (addition, multiplication, etc.) is fairly easy

  • We all learned it in grade school