does “ 12.8 lbs “ mean 12 lbs and 8oz, or does it actually mean 12.8 lbs, which would be around 12 lbs and 12oz?

Question

I came back from the pediatrician and she said my baby weighed “ 12.8 lbs “. Does that mean 12 lbs and 8oz, or does it actually mean 12.8 lbs, which would be around 12 lbs and 12oz?

I’m from a “kg” country so this is a bit confusing to me, and I’m not used to that dot in the middle. Basically, my question is – does my baby weight 5.8 kg or does he weight 5.6 kg?

In: Mathematics

Answer 1

The only person who knows what the doctor meant is the doctor.

But if they wrote “12.8” or said “twelve point eight” then they were communicating 12.8 pounds.

If they said wrote something like “12-8” or “12 8”, or said “twelve pounds eight” or “twelve eight” (without the word “point”) then they were communicating 12 pounds 8 ounces.