When -ve scale in number datatype is used??????????

Question

dear friends,
in the number datatype we specify precision and scale
limit of precision is 1-38 & scale is -64 to 127 if i m right
so i wll like 2 know when & how -ve scale value is used for data design
also plz tell me how 2 declare col if expected values 2 b entered in it r like 0.0000078 etc.
waiting for reply
thanking you
ganesh

Answer 1

Perhaps the following will help
SQL> create table test1 (
  2  a number(5,0),
  3  b number(5,1),
  4  c number(5,2),
  5  d number(5,-1),
  6  e number(5,-2)
  7  );
Table created.
SQL> insert into test1 values (1.234, 1.234, 1.234, 1.234, 1.234);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into test1 values (12.34, 12.34, 12.34, 12.34, 12.34);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into test1 values (123.4, 123.4, 123.4, 123.4, 123.4);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into test1 values (.1234, .1234, .1234, .1234, .1234);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into test1 values (.01234, .01234, .01234, .01234, .01234);
1 row created.
SQL> select * from test1
  2  ;
         A          B          C          D          E
         1        1.2       1.23          0          0
        12       12.3      12.34         10          0
       123      123.4      123.4        120        100
         0         .1        .12          0          0
         0          0        .01          0          0
SQL>