# How do I type a decimal point on my PC keyboard? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 17, 2011, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032 "2011-03-17T16:02:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/21 "2011-03-17T18:27:06Z")
·Sweet· **·**. **·** Also, it’s at the right of row six, Character Map, Arial Font . ---
**Author:** ![Rusalka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecd19e/32.png) [@Rusalka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rusalka)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/22 "2011-03-17T18:42:24Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > When I was taught math in the USA, we learned that the raised dot · stood for multiplication. It meant the same as the more familiar multiplication sign ×. Why use the raised dot when multiplication already had a sign? I’m guessing that was to avoid confusion of × with the letter x in algebra. > > Obviously, in such a universe the same raised dot as a decimal point could not work. It would make figures turn out wayyy the heck different, speaking of confusion. Yes, in fact the International System of Units (SI) rejects the middle dot as a “decimal mark”. [Decimal separator - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimal_point) ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/23 "2011-03-17T18:52:13Z")
> [@naita](#): > > That’s a big pi. That would be ALT+227 : π ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/24 "2011-03-17T19:45:09Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > i always put the decimal point in the middle when writing. > > type it in this order - > > [ol] > [li]hold ALT[/li][li]press 0[/li][li]press 1[/li][li]press 8[/li][li]press 3[/li][li]let go of ALT[/li][/ol] NumLock must be ON for this to work – some keyboards default it to OFF, ---
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/25 "2011-03-17T19:45:46Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > You accidentally a whole digit. Perhaps his intention was to write 10π – 28. He didn’t say explicitly. People are just assuming out the wazoo here. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/26 "2011-03-17T20:06:53Z")
> [@kferr](#): > > Remember to use the keypad for the numbers, not the top row. I know you’re right, but why the heck is it like this? ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/27 "2011-03-17T20:15:51Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > I’m guessing that was to avoid confusion of × with the letter x in algebra. You can’t fool me, there’s no x in algebra. That would be algebrax. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/28 "2011-03-17T20:21:30Z")
Weird, never heard of that before either. But I always thought the middle dot was _supposed_ to represent multiplication, but we typically use asterisk instead because it’s easier/on the keyboard already. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/29 "2011-03-17T20:42:30Z")
Although the middle and bottom dot look similar enough to humans, to a computer, they are as different as A is from Z. If you are using one in a spreadsheet as a decimal point or a multiplication sign, you’d better be damn sure the program knows what you mean or you’ll be sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/30 "2011-03-17T21:19:41Z")
This reminds me that in earlier versions of the Mac OS, there was a control panel that let you indicate what character you wanted to serve as the decimal point. I used to reset it to the middle dot just because I liked the look of it and that computer was only for my personal use anyway. But with OSX, that option was removed. I think now you can only choose from some preset options. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/31 "2011-03-17T21:42:15Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > You mean something like this? > > 123·456 > > If so, just bring up the Character Map utility. It’s in there. Select, copy, paste… And where does one find the character map utility? Also, typing Alt 0183 just makes the computer try to perform other operations. I’ve never figured out how to use the character map. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/32 "2011-03-17T22:08:11Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > And where does one find the character map utility? Also, typing Alt 0183 just makes the computer try to perform other operations. I’ve never figured out how to use the character map. Is num-lock on and are you using the numeric keypad? **shijinn** ’s instructions are missing those two important points. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/33 "2011-03-17T22:13:47Z")
character map windows XP start-\> all programs -\> accessories -\> system tools -\> character map ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/34 "2011-03-17T22:21:48Z")
What parts of the world use a comma for a decimal point? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/35 "2011-03-17T22:42:08Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > What parts of the world use a comma for a decimal point? [Quebec](http://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/portal/page/portal/grands_projets/trouver_grand_projet/prolongement_a5), for one. (Scroll down to the paragraphs under “Calendrier de réalisation”). This is in French, not English. ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2011, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/36 "2011-03-17T23:08:07Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > What parts of the world use a comma for a decimal point? [Pretty map](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimal_mark#Countries_using_Arabic_numerals_with_decimal_comma). ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/37 "2011-03-18T00:44:59Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > When I was taught math in the USA, we learned that the raised dot · stood for multiplication. It meant the same as the more familiar multiplication sign ×. Why use the raised dot when multiplication already had a sign? I’m guessing that was to avoid confusion of × with the letter x in algebra. > > Obviously, in such a universe the same raised dot as a decimal point could not work. It would make figures turn out wayyy the heck different, speaking of confusion. The Royal Society of Chemistry journals still enforce the use of the multiplication sign (that’s ALT-0215 in Windows, not sure about OS X) instead of an X. It’s raised a bit higher and it’s sans serif, even in a serif font. I use it all the time now when writing as it just looks cleaner. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/38 "2011-03-18T08:30:26Z")
When I was at school (in the UK, in the 1970s/80s)… Multiplication was denoted by a small centred X (probably officially the character **asterion** describes). I remember being taught that it could also be represented by a dot, or implied in the case of parentheses (which were called ‘brackets’) - i.e. 2(x-y) In algebra, where the unknown value X was involved, it was a cursive X, written with two grazing curved strokes, was used to differentiate it from the multiplication symbol Decimal points, in handwritten form, were the central dot described by the OP. On computers, I guess they would have been the same as the full stop (period) character, but there were only two computers in the whole school when I was there and I never got to touch them. The symbol for division was a short horizontal line with a dot above and below (like a colon superimposed on a dash or minus) - this confused the hell out of me when I later visited countries where that’s the symbol for subtraction. Especially as I was working in an accounting role for those trips. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/39 "2011-03-18T13:10:12Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > When I was at school (in the UK, in the 1970s/80s)… > > Multiplication was denoted by a small centred X (probably officially the character **asterion** describes). I remember being taught that it could also be represented by a dot, or implied in the case of parentheses (which were called ‘brackets’) - i.e. 2(x-y) > > In algebra, where the unknown value X was involved, it was a cursive X, written with two grazing curved strokes, was used to differentiate it from the multiplication symbol > > Decimal points, in handwritten form, were the central dot described by the OP. On computers, I guess they would have been the same as the full stop (period) character, but there were only two computers in the whole school when I was there and I never got to touch them. > > The symbol for division was a short horizontal line with a dot above and below (like a colon superimposed on a dash or minus) - this confused the hell out of me when I later visited countries where that’s the symbol for subtraction. Especially as I was working in an accounting role for those trips. Same here (except I was in school in the UK in the '50s and '60s). Wiki tells me that that what you and I learned as the division sign is properly called the [**Obelus**](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Division_sign), and can be produced, in Windows with Alt+0247 or Alt+246 on the number pad (I can’t find it in Character Map). ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032/40 "2011-03-18T13:13:32Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Is num-lock on and are you using the numeric keypad? **shijinn** ’s instructions are missing those two important points. I have a laptop, so no keypad. That would explain it, I guess. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-type-a-decimal-point-on-my-pc-keyboard/575032.md?page=3)