title: Storing statistical data, do I need DECIMAL, FLOAT or DOUBLE?
body: <p>I am creating for fun, but I still want to approach it seriously, a site which hosts various tests. With these tests I hope to collect statistical data.</p>
  
  <p>Some of the data will include the percentage of the completeness of the tests as they are timed. I can easily compute the percentage of the tests but I would like true data to be returned as I store the various different values concerning the tests on completion.</p>
  
  <p>Most of the values are, in PHP floats, so my question is, if I want true statistical data should I store them in MYSQL as FLOAT, DOUBLE or DECIMAL. </p>
  
  <p>I would like to utilize MYSQL'S functions such as <code>AVG()</code> and <code>LOG10()</code> as well as <code>TRUNCATE()</code>. For MYSQL to return true data based off of my values that I insert, what should I use as the database column choice.</p>
  
  <p>I ask because some numbers may or may not be floats such as, 10, 10.89, 99.09, or simply 0.
  But I would like true and valid statistical data to be returned.</p>
  
  <p>Can I rely on floating point math for this?</p>
  
  <p><strong>EDIT</strong></p>
  
  <p>I know this is a generic question, and I apologise extensively, but for non mathematicians like myself, also I am not a MYSQL expert, I would like an opinion of an expert in this field.</p>
  
  <p>I have done my research but I still feel I have a clouded judgement on the matter. Again I apologise if my question is off topic or not suitable for this site.</p>