This allows for the use of specific instructions in a machine, such as add and subtract. Fixed Point Numbers Numbers can be represented in many ways. The representation of a number is NOT the number. This is of fundamental importance. Computers for the most part use binary numbers.
Binary numbers are long and difficult for people to deal with.
In fact, most people have been dealing with decimal numbers most of their lives, and probably don't want to switch. As an example of what I mean by difficult lets look at a large binary number 1010100111111110101010000101011011100101010 in decimal it is 5,840,975,345,450. Yep, a big number. Remember one bit can make a big difference. If you wanted the decimal number in binary, changing the representation, you would probably want to use a computer.