perl: simple question on string append

I want to append a decimal number to a string. But I want to restrict the number to only 2 decimal points

for e.g:

my $output = "\n The number is = ";
my $number = 2.3333333;

$output = $output . $number;

But I want the $output as: "The number is = 2.33"; and not 2.3333333

(I do not want to print $output right now.. I just want it to have the number with only 2 decimal points)

can anyone please helpout..

Thanks !!!!!!!!!!!!

$result = sprintf("%.2f", $number);