The correct answer is: A. dec payRate;
A decimal number is a number that has a decimal point. It can be a whole number, a fraction, or a combination of both. Decimal numbers are often used in financial calculations, such as calculating the price of a product or the amount of interest on a loan.
The data type dec is used to store decimal numbers. It can store numbers with up to 12 digits to the right of the decimal point. The data type float is also used to store decimal numbers, but it can store numbers with up to 24 digits to the right of the decimal point.
In the statement dec payRate;, the variable payRate is declared to be of type dec. This means that payRate can store a decimal number with up to 12 digits to the right of the decimal point.
In the statement float hourlyPay;, the variable hourlyPay is declared to be of type float. This means that hourlyPay can store a decimal number with up to 24 digits to the right of the decimal point.
Therefore, the statement dec payRate; is the only statement that declares a variable that can contain a decimal number.