to_number

[patel_dil]

sql> select  to_number('0.24') from dual;

TO_NUMBER('0.24')
-----------------
              .24

Elapsed: 00:00:00.00
sql> set numformat 0.99
sql> select  to_number('0.24') from dual;

TO_NUMBER('0.24')
-----------------
             0.24

Elapsed: 00:00:00.00
sql>

HTH.