← VCE Data Analysis

Numeric data: floating point

A floating point number is a number with a decimal part, such as 1.75 or 19.95. It is used for measurements like height and for money, unlike an integer, which has no decimals.

Part of: VCE Applied Computing - U1O1 - Data analysis — Module 18, VCE Software Development - U3O1 - Programming — Module 17, VCE Data Analytics - U3O1 - Data Analytics — Module 10, VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 46, VCE Applied Computing U1O2 Programming: Python basics and data types — Module 7, IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 9 Databases — Module 6, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Acquiring and Storing Data — Module 39, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Structured Data and Queries — Module 12, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Acquiring and Validating Data — Module 14, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data-Driven Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 44, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data and Programming Techniques — Module 31, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Data Management — Module 4

Understanding Numeric data: floating point in VCE Data Analysis

What it does: 28 is a whole number with no decimals, so it is an integer. A floating point number like 28.0 or 1.75 has a decimal part. Decimal places are the digits after the decimal point. 19.95 has two decimal places.

Common mistakes: A floating point number uses a full stop as its decimal point, not a comma. It should be price = 19.95. The 3 is in quotes, so it is text, not a number. A float cannot be multiplied by text. It should be total = price * 3.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

🖨 Print worksheet + answer key Add Numeric data: floating point to a class →

This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 15–24) and word search (Modules 3–24).

Take this worksheet further — free with Cloodit

Each concept is reinforced from every angle — learned, then applied, then tested.

Learning
Duo
Which value is a floating point number?
1751.75
Matches
price = 19,95
↓
A comma is used instead of a decimal point, so the value is not a valid floating point number. It should be 19.95.
Applying
Meanings
Term
float
Meaning
A floating point number is a number with a decimal part, such as 1.75 or 19.95. It is used for measurements like height and for money, unlike an integer, which has no decimals.
Practice
height = 1.75
Testing
Gaps
price = ("19.95")
Check Answer
Spots
2qty = 2
3price = 19,95

Cloodit turns curriculum-aligned coding content into journeys students work through one biome at a time.

The 'Fox' badge — Cunning Debugger, one of Cloodit's 106 collectible badges
Students earn collectable badges

Over 100 of them, across seven natural biomes.

Study Buddy
Students build a real study resource

Turns their work into revision material ready for Flash Cards and Exam study.

Diamond Dash — one of Cloodit's live, competitive Sprint games
Students lock in with Sprints

Live, competitive practice for the start of the lesson or a teacher-led lesson finisher.

A Cloodit certificate of achievement, ready to personalise and print
Custom printable certificates

Honour your top performers, or encourage a student who's trying hard — ready to print in seconds.

Add to class →

Quick Questions

1. Which value is a floating point number?
A. 1.75 ✓
B. 175
1.75 has a decimal part, so it is a floating point number. 175 is a whole number, so it is an integer.
2. A student records their height as 1.68 metres. Which data type suits this value best?
A. Floating point ✓
B. Integer
Height is a measurement that often has decimal places, so floating point is the best fit. An integer would lose the .68 part.
3. Which statement about integers and floating point numbers is correct?
A. An integer has a decimal part, but a floating point number does not
B. An integer has no decimal part, but a floating point number does ✓
Integers are whole numbers such as 7 or 120. Floating point numbers have a decimal part such as 7.5 or 19.95.
4. A canteen stores the price of a sandwich as $4.50. Which data type is the better choice?
A. Integer
B. Floating point ✓
Money usually has cents, which are decimal places. A floating point number can store 4.50, but an integer cannot.
5. Which value is NOT a floating point number?
A. 42 ✓
B. 42.0
42 is a whole number with no decimal part, so it is an integer. 42.0 is written with a decimal part, so it is floating point.

Match the Pairs

height = 1.75 → Stores a floating point number, because the value has a decimal part
price = 19.95 → Stores a money amount as a floating point number with 2 decimal places
An integer is a whole number with no decimal part, unlike a floating point number → students = 28
Floating point numbers suit measurements that are not always whole numbers, such as a person's height in metres → height = 1.62
price = 19,95 → A comma is used instead of a decimal point, so the value is not a valid floating point number. It should be 19.95.
height = 175 (stored as a float, in metres) → 175 has no decimal part, so it is an integer. A height in metres stored as a float should be written like 1.75.

Key Term

float
A floating point number is a number with a decimal part, such as 1.75 or 19.95. It is used for measurements like height and for money, unlike an integer, which has no decimals.

Fill in the Blanks

1. price = float("19.95") print(price + 0.05)
Hint: Type the function that converts text into a number with a decimal part
2. price = 19.9567 print(round(price, 2)) # 19.96
Hint: Type the number of decimal places to keep
3. height = 1.82 print(type(height)) # <class 'float'>
Hint: Type the variable name that holds the height measurement
4. age = 16 print(isinstance(age, int))
Hint: Type the data type for a whole number with no decimal part
5. weight = 62.5 print(isinstance(weight, float))
Hint: Type the data type used for a measurement with a decimal part

Spot the Error

Question 1
A item = 'Cap'
B qty = 2
C price = 19,95
Line C — A floating point number uses a full stop as its decimal point, not a comma. It should be price = 19.95.
Question 2
A price = 4.50
B total = price * '3'
C print(total)
Line B — The 3 is in quotes, so it is text, not a number. A float cannot be multiplied by text. It should be total = price * 3.
Question 3
A temp = '36.6'
B limit = 37.5
C if temp > limit:
D print('Fever')
Line A — Quotes make 36.6 a string, not a floating point number, so it can't be compared with the float limit. It should be temp = 36.6.
Question 4
A speed = 12.3456
B rounded = round(speed, 1.0)
C print(rounded)
Line B — The number of decimal places must be a whole number (an integer), not a float. It should be round(speed, 1).
Question 5
A total = 7
B share = total // 2
C print(share)
Line B — // gives a whole number (3) and drops the decimal part. Use / to get the floating point answer 3.5.

Student with a class code? Join your class →