Why are there multiple variable types? Why couldn't there just be one variable type that holds any number?

Answer 1

I imagine if every variable datatype had the same size as the largest datatype (in order for a single, universal datatype which can store all kinds of variables to exist), the program created will be bloat. Furthermore, the load dumped onto the compiler when it needs to identify​ if variables are used correctly for calculations (e.g. Can't add string to int) would increase exponentially.

Answer 2

Do you put your dirty shocks together with your clean shocks in the same location?

Answer 3

Data types have different sizes in memory, they are also treated differently. Floating point numbers use different registers than regular numbers, along with different instruction sets