A dot after a note adds half its value, so if you are talking about a dotted quarter note in 4/4 timing, the quarter note is worth one and therefore the dot is worth half of one, i.e., a half - so the dotted quarter note is worth 1 1/2.
If you are in 6/8 timing the quarter note is usually said to be worth two eighth notes - so the dotted note is worth two plus half of two, so 3.
Actually both of these values are the same! 1 1/2 quarter notes is the same length as three eighth notes.
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