COBOL examples using numeric constants:

1.  MULTIPLY AMT-INPUT BY .05 
        GIVING ANS-WS.

(note that 5% is written as a number .05 with the actual decimal point)
OR
you could create a working storage area for the constant .05 and use the name you give the constant in the multiply statement.

	01  CONSTANTZ.
	    05  FIVE-PER-WS             PIC V99          VALUE .05.

(note that the picture has the assumed decimal point V while the value has the actual decimal point - these must line up to make the percent correct)

    	MULTIPLY AMT-INPUT BY FIVE-PER-WS
	    GIVING ANS-WS.

2.  SUBTRACT 24.75 FROM AMT-INPUT
	GIVING RSLT-WS.

(notice that the number you are subtracting, 24.75 is written in the math statement with the actual decimal point)
OR
you could create a working storage area for the constant 24.75 and use the name you give the constant in the subtract statement.

	01  CONSTANTZ.
	    05  DISC-AMT-WS             PIC 99V99         VALUE 24.75.

(again note that the assumed decimal point V in the PIC clause lines up with the actual decimal point in the VALUE clause)

	SUBTRACT DISC-AMT-WS FROM AMT-INPUT
	    GIVING RSLT-WS.


3.  MOVE "ERROR IN RECORD" TO MSG-PR.

OR
you could set up a place for the error message in working storage and move the name of the message to the print line instead of the actual message.

	01  MSG-CONSTANTS.
	    05  ERROR-MSG       PIC X(15)           VALUE "ERROR IN RECORD".

	MOVE ERROR-MSG TO MSG-PR.