What defines a floating-point number in Python?

• A. It is always a whole number
• B. It includes a decimal point
• C. It is a representation of characters
• D. It can only be a fraction

Answer: (B)

A floating-point number in Python is defined as a numerical value that includes a decimal point. This allows it to represent values that are not whole numbers, enabling the representation of both very small and very large numbers with fractional components. For example, 3.14 and -0.001 are both floating-point numbers because they contain a decimal point, distinguishing them from integers, which are whole numbers without any decimal fractional parts.

The inclusion of a decimal point in floating-point numbers is crucial for various applications, including calculations in scientific computing, financial applications, and any context where precision with fractions is necessary. By using floating-point representation, Python can effectively handle a wide range of values and perform calculations that require fractional components. This characteristic is what makes option B the correct choice.