What is the correct storage size for the Decimal (System.Decimal) data type in C#.NET? Select the best answer in bytes.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: 16 Bytes

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Decimal is the preferred numeric type for financial calculations due to its base-10 precision. This question asks for its exact size in memory.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • We are concerned with the fixed size of System.Decimal as defined by the CLR.


Concept / Approach:
System.Decimal is a 128-bit type, which equals 16 bytes. It stores a 96-bit integer plus a scaling factor (number of decimal digits) and a sign, enabling precise decimal arithmetic without many of the rounding artifacts found in binary floating-point types.



Step-by-Step Solution:

Recall: 128 bits / 8 = 16 bytes.Match with the list of possible sizes → 16 Bytes.


Verification / Alternative check:
Use sizeof(decimal) (unsafe) or consult official documentation referencing Decimal's 128-bit layout.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:
They correspond to sizes of other primitives (Single 4 bytes, Double 8 bytes) or arbitrary distractors.



Common Pitfalls:
Confusing Decimal with Double since both represent fractional numbers; Decimal is larger and decimal-based.



Final Answer:
16 Bytes

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