How is a decimal often displayed in written form?

In written form, a decimal is typically represented by using a decimal point. This is the standard notation that separates the whole number part from the fractional part. For example, in the number 3.14, the decimal point indicates that there is a fraction (0.14) that follows the whole number 3. This is essential in distinguishing between different values, especially in contexts where precision is important, such as measurements in radio transmission frequencies, which is relevant in the field of radio operation.

The other options reflect ways numbers can be expressed but do not accurately describe the specific representation of a decimal. Whole numbers do not incorporate any fractional element, while exponential notation represents numbers that are multiplied by themselves a given number of times, which is not relevant to decimal notation. Fractions, while they can represent parts of a whole, are distinct from decimals, as decimals provide a base-ten representation that is often easier to work with in certain calculations and contexts.