Numbers can be exact-value literals or approximate-value literals.  Exact-value literals are used just as  given in SQL statements when possible and thus are not subject to the inexactness produced by rounding  error.  On the other hand, approximate-value literals are subject to rounding error and may not necessarily  be used exactly as given.       Exact-value literals are written with no exponent. Approximate-value literals are written in scientific  notation with an exponent.  For example, the numeric values -43, 368.93, and .00214 are exact values,  whereas -4.3E1, 3.6893E2, and 2.14E-3 are approximate values.  Even though the two sets of numbers look  like they have the same values, internally they are represented in different ways:       •  Exact-value numbers -                          These numbers are integer values with no fractional part after the ...
“The best way to be ready for the future is to invent it.”— John Sculley