<para>
We use the following terms below: The
- <firstterm>scale</firstterm> of a <type>numeric</type> is the
- count of decimal digits in the fractional part, to the right of
- the decimal point. The <firstterm>precision</firstterm> of a
- <type>numeric</type> is the total count of significant digits in
- the whole number, that is, the number of digits to both sides of
- the decimal point. So the number 23.5141 has a precision of 6
- and a scale of 4. Integers can be considered to have a scale of
- zero.
+ <firstterm>precision</firstterm> of a <type>numeric</type>
+ is the total count of significant digits in the whole number,
+ that is, the number of digits to both sides of the decimal point.
+ The <firstterm>scale</firstterm> of a <type>numeric</type> is the
+ count of decimal digits in the fractional part, to the right of the
+ decimal point. So the number 23.5141 has a precision of 6 and a
+ scale of 4. Integers can be considered to have a scale of zero.
</para>
<para>