To determine the size of the data item S9(4).99, we need to understand the format and meaning of the given data item.
In COBOL, the S9 format represents a signed numeric decimal value, where the S indicates that the number can be positive or negative, and the 9 indicates that it is a numeric digit.
The (4) following S9 indicates that the data item can have a maximum of 4 digits.
The .99 represents the number of decimal places that the data item can have. In this case, it can have two decimal places.
To calculate the size of the data item, we need to consider the following:
- Each digit requires one byte of storage.
- The sign, if present, requires one byte of storage.
- The decimal point, if present, does not require any additional storage.
So, the size of the data item S9(4).99 can be calculated as follows:
4 (digits) + 1 (sign) + 2 (decimal places) = 7
Therefore, the correct answer is option B) 7.