*Question E7F08:
What is the function of decimation?*  

*Correct Answer is  B: Reducing the effective sample rate by removing samples*  

### AI Response: (may contain errors)  

Decimation is a process used in digital signal processing to reduce the number of samples in a signal. 

### Correct Answer: B - Reducing the effective sample rate by removing samples

- **Explanation**: 
  - Decimation involves taking a signal that has been sampled at a high rate and reducing the number of samples by keeping only every $N^{th}$ sample, where $N$ is an integer greater than 1. This effectively lowers the sample rate and reduces the amount of data to process, which can be useful for reducing computational load and storage requirements.

### Why the Other Choices are Incorrect:

- **A: Converting data to binary-coded decimal form**  
  - This choice refers to a method of representing numbers, not to the process of reducing sample rates. Decimation does not involve changing the format of the data representation.

- **C: Attenuating the signal**  
  - Attenuation refers to the reduction of signal strength, typically through filtering or other means. Decimation does not inherently reduce the amplitude of the signal; it simply reduces the number of samples.

- **D: Removing unnecessary significant digits**  
  - This choice pertains to numerical precision and representation, not to the sampling process. Decimation focuses on the number of samples rather than the precision of the values in those samples.

### Summary:
Decimation is specifically about reducing the sample rate by selectively removing samples, making option B the correct answer. Understanding this concept is crucial for efficient digital signal processing and data management.