Decimal fractions

 It’s a number that consist of an integer and a part of a fraction.

 Decimals lie between two integers.
 Decimals are fractions with 10, 100 and 1000 as a denominator.

The 2 types of decimals

1. Non-repeating/terminating decimals
 These are decimals that end after a certain amount of numbers.
 E.g. 146 , 32 (Decimal end two places after the comma)
2. Repeating /infinite/repeating decimals
 These are decimals that do not have a limited amount of numbers.
 Pay attention to the different ways in which this can occur.
*There is a dot above the number OR on the numbers that are repeating*
Example
2
=0,6666666 …=0 , 6̇
3
1
=0 , 09090909 …=0 , 0̇ 9̇∨0 , 09
11
1
=0,166666666=0 , 1 6̇
6

*When you get to grade 10, you will learn more of these numbers*

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Convert common fractions to a decimal
 NB!!! Convert fraction to a denominator of 10 OR 100 OR 1000.
 NB!!! IF you have a improper fraction, convert it to a mixed fraction.
 Only then can it be converted to a decimal.
1
=0 , 1 … has 1 digit after the comma
10
5
=0 , 05 … has 2 digits after the comma
100
10
=0 , 10 … has 2 digits after the comma
100
4
=0,004 … has 3 digits after the comma
1000
12
=0,012 … het dus 3 plek na die komma
1000
125
=0,125 … het dus 3 plek na die komma
1000

NB!! These decimals can also be written as a fraction*

Example 1
2
Write 5 as a decimal fraction

2× 2
= 5× 2 … denominator is converted to 10 (NB! Numerator and denominator must be multiplied with the same number)

4
= 10 … denominator 10 has 1 digit after the comma

= 0,4

Example 2
14
Write 25 as a decimal

14 × 4
= 25 ×4
… denominator is converted to 100

56
= 100
… denominator 100 has 2 digits after the comma

= 0 , 56

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 A CALCULATOR MAY BE USED TO CONVERT

Example 3
7
Write 200 as a decimal fraction

7 ×5
= 200× 5
… denominator is converted to 1000

35
= 1000
…denominator 1000 has 3 digits after the comma

= 0,035

Example 4**
1
Write 3 as a decimal

In this example we cannot convert the

denominator to 10, 100 or 1000.

Therefore, LONG DIVISION is used to convert

the fraction.

Revise whole numbers, where we did long

division

Answer is = 0 , 3̇
*NB!! Look at the digit after the comma, the number 3 is repeating itself *

Activity 1
1.1 Write the following as proper fractions:
1.1.1 0,9 1.1.2 3,5

1.1.3 0,023 1.1.4 −0,2222

1.2 Write the following as decimal fractions:

1 3
1.2.1 25
1.2.2 60

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 5 −19
1.2.3 9
1.2.4 11

Comparing decimals
 We are going to use the symbols > ; < and =.
 When comparing decimals, it is important that they have the same number of digits
after the decimal point.
 NB!!! Zero may be added after a number, but not before a number.
Example 1
Replace the * with the following symbol > ; < or =
4,8 * 4,09
= 4 , 80∗4 , 09 … a zero was added after 4,8 so that they have the same number of digits after the comma

= 4 , 80>4 , 09 … therefore 4,80 is bigger than 4,09

Example 2*
Replace the * with the following symbol > ; < or =
21∗1
0,
2

= 0 , 21∗0 ,5 … fraction is written as a decimal

= 0 , 21∗0 ,50 … a zero is added after the 0,5 so that the have the same number of digits after the comma

= 0 , 21<0 , 50 … therefore 0,21 is smaller than 0,50

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Arrange decimals
 Decimals can be arranged from smallest to highest (chronological order) or from highest
to smallest.
 NB!!! They must have the same number of digits after the comma.
 If there are fractions, it must be converted to decimals.
Example 1
Arrange the following decimals from smallest to highest
1
0 , 3 ; ; 0 ,28
4
1
= 0 , 3 ; 0 , 25; 0 ,28 …
4
was converted to a decimal, so that we only have decimals

= 0 , 30 ; 0 , 25; 0 ,28 … a zero was added after the 0,3 , so that they have the same number of decimals after the comma

1
= ; 0 , 28 ; 0 ,30 … NB!! The ORIGINAL VALUES is used to arrange the decimals
4

Activity 2
2.1 Arrange the following in ascending order:
1 , 6 ; 0 , 99; 2 ; 1 , 9 ;1 , 70 ; 2 ,2

2.2 Arrange the following in descending order:

1
; 0 , 48 ;−0 , 33;−0 , 25 ; 1 ; 0,408
2

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Addition and subtraction of decimals
 With addition and subtraction of decimals, we MUST write the place values correctly
below each other.
 Make use of the column method.
 NB!!!! Remember your addition and subtraction rules.
Example 1
Calculate: 3,346 + 3,632

NB!! Remember to transfer a number

Example 2
Bereken: 4,458 – 3,765

NB!!! When you borrow from the number on the left, the number on the right gets a
tenth.

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Multiplication of decimals
 Pay attention to the following when multiplying 10, 100, 100
2 , 34 ×10=23 , 4 …because a decimal is multiplied with 10, move the comma 1 place to the right

2 , 34 ×100=234 …because a decimal is multiplied with 100, move the comma 2 places to the right

2 , 34 ×1000=2340 … because a decimal is multiplied by 1000, move the comma 3 places to the right.
(NB!! Because the comma moves to after the 4, the comma is not
necessary, because there are no number after the comma)

Example 1
Calculate: 0 , 7 ×0 , 3
= 7 ×3 … eliminate the comma’s and multiply
= 21

NB!! After you multiplied, count the number of digits that appear after the decimal
point of each decimal
0 , 7 - has only one digit after the comma
0 , 3 - has only one digit after the comma

In total there are two places after the comma, which means, the imaginary comma
moves in total 2 places to the left.
∴ 0 , 7 ×0 , 3=0 ,21

Example 2
Calculate: 2 , 13×−2, 2

… remove the comma’s and then multiply

NB!! If you count the digits after the comma, there are 3 places in total. The imaginary
comma after 4686 must therefore move 3 places to the left from the back
NB!! Also answer that is given.
∴ 2 ,13 ×−2 , 2=−4,686

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Division of decimals
 Pay attention to the following when dividing with 10, 100, 1000
43 , 4 ÷ 10=4 , 34 … because a decimal is divided by 10, the comma moves one place to the left

43 , 4 ÷ 100=434 … because a decimal is divided by 100, the comma moves two places to the left

43 , 4 ÷ 1000=0,0434 … because a decimal is divided by 1000, the comma moves three places to the left

NB!! Note the zero’s that are added. Comma before the zero then another zero, because
something must appear before the comma.

 Always make sure that your divisor is an integer.

 Depending on how many numbers after the decimal point there is, you will then multiply
with 10, 100, or 1000.
 NB!! Remember to multiply both numbers by the same value
Example 1
Bereken: 14,245 ÷ 0 ,7
0 , 7 ×10=7 … divisor is being divided by 10 to change it to an integer

14,245 ×10=142 , 45 … both values is multiplied by 10

∴ 142 , 45÷ 7

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Squares and cubes
 To calculate the squares and cubes of decimals, you must convert the decimals to
fractions.
Example 1 (Write the answer as a decimal)
2
(0 , 3)

( )
2
3
¿ … write the decimal as a fraction
10
3 3
¿ × … exponent gives the indication how many times the fraction must be multiplied with itself
10 10
9
¿
100
¿ 0 , 09 … the denominator 100, means there must be two digits after the comma

Example 2 (Write the answer as a decimal)

2
(−2 , 1)

( )
2
1
¿ −2 … decimal is written as a mixed fraction
10

( −21
10 )
2
¿ … mixed fraction is then written as improper fraction

−21 21
¿ ×− … exponent gives an indication how many times the number must be multiplied with itself
10 10
441
¿
100
¿ 4 , 41 … the denominator 100, means there must be two digits after the comma

*NB!!! The answer has double the number of digits after the decimal point*

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Example 3
3
(−0 , 4)

( )
3
−4
¿ … write the decimal as a fraction
10
−4 4 4
¿ ×− ×− … exponent gives the indication how many times the fraction must be multiplied with itself
10 10 10
−64
¿
1000
¿ −0,064 … denominator 1000, means there must be 3 digits after the comma

*NB!!! The answer has 3 times the number of digits after the decimal point*

Square roots and cube roots

 To calculate square roots and cube roots of decimals, you must convert decimals to
fractions
 NB!! If a square root or cube root does not have a value, you keep the root
Example 1 (Write the answer as a fraction in its simplest form)
√ 0 , 16

=
√ 16
100
… write decimal as fraction

√16
= … write numerator and denominator both as square roots
√100
4
= 10
2
= 5
… fraction in its simplest form

Example 2 (Write the answer as a decimal)

√3 0,027

=
√
3 27
1000
… write decimal as a fraction

√3 27
= … write numerator and denominator as a cube root
√3 1000
3
= 10

= 0,3 … the denominator 10, means that there must be two digits after the comma

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Activity 3 (Mixed exercises)
7
3.1 Write 20 as a decimal fraction.

3.2 Simplify:
3.2.1 0,352+ 4 , 56 3.2.2 −2 , 8+7 , 45

3.2.3 8 , 6 ×−2 , 11 3.2.4 22 , 8÷ 0 ,08

3.2.5 3 , 1−0 , 05 ×0 , 04 3.2.6 0 , 08 ×(3 , 2−2 ,7)

3.2.7 √3 0,027+ √0 , 01 ×( 0 , 05)3 3.2.8 √3 √ 0,000064 *

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