The Meaning Of Decimals
ADVERTISEMENT
1
2north seattle
Science and Mathematics Division
community college
The Meaning of Decimals
Every number of arithmetic may be written as a fraction. A decimal fraction is a common fraction whose
denominator is 10, 100, 1000, or a higher power of ten. A decimal is a symbol used instead of an
equivalent fraction because decimals greatly simplify writing and computation.
. is the symbol for the decimal fraction
#"
The dot is called a decimal point. .7 may be read “7 tenths” or “point 7”.
The positions to the right of the decimal point are called decimal places.
To understand decimal numbers we use a place-value chart.
Whole Number Place Values
Decimal Place Values
Decimal
Point
10000
1000
100
10
1
0.1
0.01
0.001
0.0001
0.00001
.
or
or
or
or
or
1
1
1
1
1
10
100
1000
10000
100000
Note that from left to right, each place value, whether whole number or decimal is ten time the next
place value. Thus, 1000 = 10 x 100 and 0.2 = 10 x 0.01.
Reading Decimals
'
The fraction
and the decimal .05 are read “5 hundredths.”
#"
$'
The fraction
and the decimal .25 are read “25 hundredths.”
#""
$
The fraction
and the decimal .002 are read “ 2 thousandths.”
#"""
OBSERVE:
The number of places to the right of the decimal point equals the number of
zeros in the denominator of the fraction that represents the decimal.
RULES FOR READING DECIMALS:
1. Read the number to the right of the decimal point as you would a whole number.
2. End with the place value of the rightmost digit.
Thus, .025 is read “25 thousandths” since the rightmost digit 5 is in the thousandths
place.
3. Use “and” only when naming the decimal point.
Thus, .702 is read “seven hundred two thousandths.” The reading “seven hundred two
thousandths” may be mistaken for 700.002.
Another method – Read the decimal by saying the digits in order from left to right. Use
“point” to name the decimal point.
Page 1
ADVERTISEMENT
0 votes
Related Articles
Related forms
Related Categories
Parent category: Education