Decimals

(1). Tenth as Decimals

Decimals are a method of writing fractional numbers without writing a

fraction having a numerator and denominator.

The fraction 7/10 could be written as the decimal 0.7. The period or decimal
point indicates that this is a decimal.

The decimal 0.7 could be pronounced as SEVEN TENTHS or as ZERO POINT

SEVEN.

If a decimal is less than 1, place a zero before the decimal point. Write 0.7
not .7

(2). Tenth as Decimals

There are other decimals such as hundredths or thousandths. They all are
based on the number ten just like our number system.

A decimal may be greater than one. The decimal 3.7 would be pronounced
as THREE AND SEVEN TENTHS.

1. Decimals

The fraction 37/100 could be written as the decimal 0.37. The period or
decimal point indicates that this is a decimal.

The decimal 0.37 could be pronounced as THIRTY-SEVEN HUNDREDTHS or

as ZERO POINT THREE SEVEN or ZERO POINT THIRTY-SEVEN.

2. Decimals

A decimal may be greater than 1. The decimal 12.37 could be pronounced as

TWELVE AND THIRTY-SEVEN HUNDREDTHS or as TWELVE POINT THIRTY-
SEVEN.
Decimals- Thousandths.1

A decimal is a fractional number and is indicated by digits after a period

which is called a decimal point.

Tenths have one digit after the decimal point. The decimal 0.8 is pronounced
"eight tenths" or "zero point eight". It is equal to the fraction 8/10.

Hundredths have two digits after the decimal point. The decimal 0.36 is
pronounced "thirty-six hundredths" or "zero point thirty-six". It is equal to
the fraction 36/100.

Thousandths follow a similar pattern. They have three digits after the
decimal point. The decimal 0.749 is pronounced "seven hundred forty-nine
thousandths" or "zero point seven forty-nine".

There may be zeros after the decimal point. The decimal 0.064 is
pronounced "sixty-four thousandths" or "zero point zero sixty-four".

Decimals- Thousandths.2

A decimal number may be larger than 1. The word and may be used to
indicate the decimal point so it should not be used in other parts of the
name of the decimal. The decimal 234.987 could be pronounced Two
hundred thirty-four AND nine hundred eighty-seven thousandths.

Decimals – Ten- Thousandths

Tenths have one digit after the decimal point. The decimal 0.8 is pronounced
"eight tenths" or "zero point eight". It is equal to the fraction 8/10.

Hundredths have two digits after the decimal point. The decimal 0.36 is
pronounced "thirty-six hundredths" or "zero point thirty-six". It is equal to
the fraction 36/100.

Thousandths follow a similar pattern. They have three digits after the
decimal point. The decimal 0.749 is pronounced "seven hundred forty-nine
thousandths" or "zero point seven four nine".

Ten thousandths have four digits after the decimal point.

There may be zeros after the decimal point. The decimal 0.064 is
pronounced "sixty-four thousandths" or "zero point zero six four".
Adding Decimals

How to add three or more decimal numbers that have different numbers of
decimal places.

• Write the numbers in a column so the decimal points are

directly lined up.
• Add each column starting at the right side.

Example: Add 23.143 + 3.2756 + 11.48

23.143
3.2756
11.48
37.8986

Subtracting Decimals

Decimal money amounts are subtracted the same way that decimals are
subtracted. Remember to put the $ sign before the answer.

Subtracting Decimals is just like subtracting other numbers.

Always line up the decimal points when subtracting decimals.

Remember to put the decimal point in the proper place in your answer.

How to subtract decimals that have different numbers of decimal places

• Write the number that is being subtracted from. Write the number
that is being subtracted below the the first number so that the
decimal point of the bottom number is directly below and lined up
with the top decimal point.
• Add zeros to the right side of the decimal with fewer decimal places
so that each decimal has the same number of decimal places.
• Subtract the bottom number from the top number.

Example: Subtract 11.48 - 3.2756

11.4800
3.2756
8.2044
Multiplying thousandths by tenths

How to multiply a three digit decimal by a one digit decimal number (for
example 0.529 * 0.7):

• Place one decimal above the other so that they are lined up on the
right side. Draw a line under the bottom number. Temporarily
disregard the decimal points and multiply the numbers like
multiplying a three digit number by a one digit number.
•
•  0.529
•     
0.7
 
•
• Multiply the two numbers on the right side. (9 * 7 = 63). This number
is larger than 10 so place a six above the center column and place
three below the line in the right column.
•
•     6
•  0.529
•      7
0. 
•      3
• Multiply the digit in the top center column (2) by the digit in the
center of the right column (7). The answer (2*7=14) is added to the
6 above the center column to give an answer of 20. The units place
value (0) of 20 is placed below the line and the tens place value (2) of
the 20 is placed above the five.
•
•    26
•  0.529
•      7
0. 
•     03
• The five of the top number is multiplied by the seven of the multiplier
(5*7=35). The two that was previously carried is added and 37 is
placed below the line. At the start we disregarded the decimal places.
We must now count up the decimal places and move the decimal
place to its proper location. We have three decimal places in 0.529
and one in the decimal 0.7 so we move the decimal four places to the
left to give the final answer of 0.3703.
•
•    26
•  0.529
•      7
0. 
• 0.3703
Multiplying thousandths by Hundredths

How to multiply thousandths by hundredths (e.g. 0.529 * 0.67):

• Place one decimal above the other so that they are lined up on the
right side. Draw a line under the bottom number. Temporarily
disregard the decimal points and multiply the numbers like you would
multiply a three digit number by a two digit number.
•
• 0.529
•   
0.67
 
•
• Multiply the two numbers on the right side. (9 * 7 = 63). This number
is larger than 9 so place a 6 above the center column and place a 3
below the line in the right column.
•
•    6
• 0.529
•   
0.6
 7
 
•     3
• Multiply the digit in the top center column (2) by the digit in the
lower right column (7). The answer (2*7=14) is added to the 6 above
the center column to give an answer of 20. The 0 of 20 is placed
below the line and the 2 of the 20 is placed above the 5.
•
•   26
• 0.529
•   
0.6
 7
 
•    03
• The 5 of the top number is multiplied by the 7 of the lower multiplier
(5*7=35). The two that was previously carried is added and the 37 is
placed below the line.
•
•   26
• 0.529
•   
0.6
 7
 
•  3703
• After 529 has been multiplied by 7 as shown above, 529 is multiplied
by the 6 of the multiplier. The number is moved one place to the left.
The result would be 3174:
•
•    15
•  0.529
•    
0.67 
•   3703
•  3174
 •
• A line is drawn under the lower product (3174) and the products are
added together to get the final answer of 35443. At the start we
disregarded the decimal points. We must now count up the decimal
places and move the decimal place to its proper location. We
have three decimal places in 0.529 and two in the decimal 0.67
so we move the decimal five places to the left to give the final
answer of 0.35443.
•
•     15
•   0.529
•   
   
0.67 
•    3703
•   3174
• 0.35443
•

Division of Decimals by Whole Numbers

The procedure for the division of decimals is very similar to the division of
whole numbers.

How to divide a four digit decimal number by a two digit number (e.g.
0.4131 ÷ 17).

• Place the divisor (17) before the division bracket and place the
dividend (0.4131) under it.
•
•     
       
•  17)0.4131
•
• Proceed with the division as you normally would except put the
decimal point in the answer or quotient exactly above where it occurs
in the dividend. For example:
•
•    
  0.0243
 
• 17)0.4131
•
Division of Decimals by Decimals

The procedure for the division of decimals is very similar to the division of
whole numbers. Make the divisor into a whole number by multiplying both it
and the dividend by the same number (such as 10, 100, 1000 etc.). An easy
way to do this is to move the decimal point to the right end of the divisor
and move the decimal point of the dividend the same number of places.

How to divide a four digit decimal number by a two digit decimal number
(e.g 0.4131 ÷ 0.17).

• Place the divisor before the division bracket and place the dividend
(0.4131) under it.
•
•      
       
• 0.17)0.4131
•
• Multiply both the divisor and dividend by 100 so that the divisor is not
a decimal but a whole number. In other words move the decimal
point two places to the right in both the divisor and dividend
•
•    
      
• 17)41.31
•
• Proceed with the division as you normally would except put the
decimal point in the answer or quotient exactly above where it occurs
in the dividend. For example:
•
•    
   
2.43 
• 17)41.31
 Converting Fractions, Decimals, and Percents

To change

A fraction to a decimal:

Divide the denominator (the bottom part) into the numerator (the top part):

/4 = 1 ÷ 4.00 = 0.25
1

A fraction to a percent: 

Multiply the fraction by 100 and reduce it. Then, attach a percent sign.

/4 x 100/1 = 100/4 = 25/1 = 25%
1

A decimal to a fraction:

Starting from the decimal point, count the decimal places. If there is one decimal place, put the 

number over 10 and reduce. If there are two places, put the number over 100 and reduce. If there 

are three places, put it over 1000 and reduce, and so on.

0.25 = 25/100 = 1/4 

A decimal to a percent: 

Move the decimal point two places to the right. Then, attach a percent sign.

0.25 = 25%
 A percent to a decimal: 

Move the decimal point two places to the left. Then, drop the percent sign.

25% = 0.25

A percent to a fraction: 

Put the number over 100 and reduce. Then, drop the percent sign.

25% = 25/100 = 1/4

If you're good at reading and saying regular whole numbers, this will be a snap for you!

Here's a little review:

"five hundred twenty-three"

(Notice that I didn't say "and twenty-three!")

"seventy-three thousand four hundred eighty-one"

(Again, I didn't say "and" anywhere.)

We're saving the big "and" for the decimal point!

Check this out:

OK, now it gets a little weird... But, don't worry -- you'll get it.
Look at this guy:

You'll understand that last part a lot better when I show you how to convert decimals to fractions.

For now, just read the decimal part like a regular number... Then, stick on the "ths" that goes with the
last spot.

Check it out:

By the way, I should probably tell you now that this is official "math-speak." Right now, your teacher
will read these numbers like this and will want you to do the same... But, normal humans on the
street (and even your future math teachers) will probably read them in a much more casual way.

If that first guy was money... He'd be

Decimals: Expanded Notation for Decimals

First, remember how expanded notation for whole numbers works...

Let's write this number in expanded form:

Remember the place values... These give us the info for how to expand things.
Now, we can rewrite the number as

OK, now for some decimals!

Let's label the place values of this critter:

So, how would we expand this guy?

Here's another one:

Decimals: How to Convert Fractions to Decimals

These will get messier, so I've got a second lesson on this once you learn about division of
decimals.

So, here's the simple stuff!

We just keep those decimal place values in mind...

These guys are a snap to convert!

What about a fraction like ?

If we can turn the denominator into a

10 or 100 or 1000 (a power of 10), then we can pop it!

Check it out:

Here's another one:

One more:

OK, OK, OK! Wait a minute here! How on earth did I know to multiply that guy by 125?!

Heh, heh... Because I'm smart! Alright, I'll tell you how I knew.

I know that I want that denominator to be 10 or 100 or 1000 or 10,000... a power of 10... And 10's are
made up of 2's and 5's:

So, we need a PAIR of 2's and 5's!

Look at this guy:

Here's another one:

Note that this will ONLY work if your denominator is made up of nothing but 2's and/or 5's.
Can you convert this way?

But, there will be another way... There will be another way.