diff --git a/Doc/reference/datamodel.rst b/Doc/reference/datamodel.rst
index 29e64cba2ca3..d9b72a9a942e 100644
--- a/Doc/reference/datamodel.rst
+++ b/Doc/reference/datamodel.rst
@@ -187,6 +187,24 @@ Ellipsis
    related to mathematical numbers, but subject to the limitations of numerical
    representation in computers.
 
+   The string representations of the Numeric classes, computed by
+   :meth:`__repr__` and :meth:`__str__`, have the following
+   properties:
+
+   * They are valid numeric literals which, when passed to their
+     class constructor, produce an object having the value of the
+     original numeric.
+
+   * The representation is in base 10, when possible.
+
+   * Leading zeros, possibly excepting a single zero before a
+     decimal point, are not shown.
+
+   * Trailing zeros, possibly excepting a single zero after a
+     decimal point, are not shown.
+
+   * A sign is shown only when the number is negative.
+
    Python distinguishes between integers, floating point numbers, and complex
    numbers:
 
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Documentation/2020-01-22-05-14-53.bpo-39416.uYjhEm.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Documentation/2020-01-22-05-14-53.bpo-39416.uYjhEm.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..279a5f18ff85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Documentation/2020-01-22-05-14-53.bpo-39416.uYjhEm.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Document some restrictions on the default string representations of numeric classes.