Introduction to Decimals

Problem: Order these numbers from least to greatest:

Analysis: We know that is a mixed number: it consists of a whole number and a fraction. Let's use
place value to help us compare these numbers.

57 = (5 x 10) + (7 x 1)

= (5 x 10) + ( 7 x 1) + (4 x ) + (9 x )
58 = (5 x 10) + (8 x 1)

Answer: Ordering these numbers from least to greatest, we get:

That's a lot of writing! We can use decimals to write more easily.

Definition: A decimal is any number in our base-ten number system. Specifically, we will be using
numbers that have one or more digits to the right of the decimal point in this unit of lessons.
The decimal point is used to separate the ones place from the tenths place in decimals. (It is
also used to separate dollars from cents in money.) As we move to the right of the decimal
point, each number place is divided by 10.

Below we have expressed the number in expanded form and in decimal form.

Mixed
------------- E x p a n d e d F o r m ------------ Decimal Form
Number

= (5 x 10) + ( 7 x 1) + (4 x ) + (9 x ) = 57.49

As you can see, it is easier to write in decimal form. Let's look at this decimal number in a place-
value chart to better understand how decimals work.

PLACE VALUE AND DECIMALS

5 7 . 4 9

As we move to the right in the place value chart, each number place is divided by 10. For
example, thousands divided by 10 gives you hundreds. This is also true for digits to the right of the
decimal point. For example, tenths divided by 10 gives you hundredths. When reading decimals, the
decimal point should be read as "and." Thus, we read the decimal 57.49 as "fifty-seven and forty-nine
hundredths." Note that in daily life it is common to read the decimal point as "point" instead of "and."
Thus, 57.49 would be read as "fifty-seven point four nine." This usage is not considered mathematically
correct.
Example 1: Write each phrase as a fraction and as a decimal.

phrase fraction decimal

six tenths .6

five hundredths .05

thirty-two hundredths .32

two hundred sixty-seven thousandths .267

So why do we use decimals?

Decimals are used in situations which require more precision than whole numbers can provide. A good
example of this is money: Three and one-fourth dollars is an amount between 3 dollars and 4 dollars. We
use decimals to write this amount as $3.25.

A decimal may have both a whole-number part and a fractional part. The whole-number part of a decimal
are those digits to the left of the decimal point. The fractional part of a decimal is represented by the digits
to the right of the decimal point. The decimal point is used to separate these parts. Let's look at some
examples of this.

decimal whole-number part fractional part

3.25 3 25
4.172 4 172
25.03 25 03
0.168 0 168
132.7 132 7

Let's examine these decimals in our place-value chart.

PLACE VALUE AND DECIMALS

3 . 2 5
4 . 1 7 2
2 5 . 0 3
0 . 1 6 8
1 3 2 . 7

Note that 0.168 has the same value as .168. However, the zero in the ones place helps us remember that
0.168 is a number less than one. From this point on, when writing a decimal that is less than one, we will
always include a zero in the ones place. Let's look at some more examples of decimals.
Example 2: Write each phrase as a decimal.

Phrase Decimal
fifty-six hundredths 0.560
nine tenths 0.900
thirteen and four hundredths 13.040
twenty-five and eighty-one hundredths 25.810
nineteen and seventy-eight thousandths 19.078

Example 3: Write each decimal using words.

Decimal Phrase
0.0050 five thousandths
100.6000 one hundred and six tenths
2.2800 two and twenty-eight hundredths
71.0620 seventy-one and sixty-two thousandths
3.0589 three and five hundred eighty-nine ten-thousandths

It should be noted that five thousandths can also be written as zero and five thousandths.

Expanded Form

We can write the whole number 159 in expanded form as follows: 159 = (1 x 100) + (5 x 10) + (9 x 1).
Decimals can also be written in expanded form. Expanded form is a way to write numbers by showing the
value of each digit. This is shown in the example below.

Example 4: Write each decimal in expanded form.

Decimal Expanded form

4.1200 = (4 x 1) + (1 x ) + (2 x )

0.9000 = (0 x 1) + (9 x )

9.7350 = (9 x 1) + (7 x ) + (3 x ) + (5 x )

1.0827 = (1 x 1) + (0 x ) + (8 x ) + (2 x ) + (7 x )

Decimal Digits

In the decimal number 1.0827, the digits 0, 8, 2 and 7 are called decimal digits.

Definition: In a decimal number, the digits to the right of the decimal point that name the fractional part of that
number, are called decimal digits.

Example 5: Identify the decimal digits in each decimal number below.

Decimal Number Decimal Digits

1.40000 1.40000
359.62000 359.62000
54.00170 54.00170
0.72900 0.72900
63.10148 63.10148
Writing whole numbers as decimals

A decimal is any number, including whole numbers, in our base-ten number system. The decimal point is
usually not written in whole numbers, but it is implied. For example, the whole number 4 is equivalent to
the decimals 4. and 4.0. The whole number 326 is equivalent to the decimals 326. and 326.0. This
important concept will be used throughout this unit.

Example 6: Write each whole number as a decimal.

Whole Number Decimal Decimal with 0

17 17. 17.0
459 459. 459.0
8 8. 8.0
1,024 1,024. 1,024.0
519 519. 519.0
63,836 63,836. 63,836.0

Often, extra zeros are written to the right of the last digit of a decimal number. These extra zeros are place
holders and do not change the value of the decimal. For example:

7.5 = 7.50 = 7.500 = 7.5000 and so on.

9= 9. = 9.0 = 9.00 and so on.

Note that the decimals listed above are equivalent decimals.

So how long can a decimal get?

A decimal can have any number of decimal places to the right of the decimal point. An example of a
decimal number with many decimal places is the numerical value of Pi, shortened to 50 decimal digits, as
shown below:

3.14159 26535 89793 23846 26433 83279 50288 41971 69399 37510

Summary: A decimal is any number in our base ten number system. In this lesson we used numbers that
have one or more digits to the right of the decimal point. The decimal point is used to
separate the whole number part from the fractional part; it is handy separator. Decimal
numbers are used in situations which require more precision than whole numbers can provide.
As we move to the right of the decimal point, each number place is divided by 10.
Exercises
Directions: Read each question below. Select your answer by clicking on its button. Feedback to your answer is
provided in the RESULTS BOX. If you make a mistake, choose a different button.

1.
Which of the following is equal to ?

5.

0.5

0.05

0.005

RESULTS BOX:

2. Which of the following is equal to?

0.0231

0.231

231,000.

0.00231

RESULTS BOX:

3. Which decimal represents seven hundred sixty-two and three tenths?

7,623.

76.23

762.3

76.3

RESULTS BOX:

4. Which of the following is the expanded form of 0.546?

(0 x 1) + (5 x ) + (4 x ) + (6 x )

(0 x 1) + (6 x ) + (5 x ) + (4 x )

(0 x ) + (5 x ) + (4 x ) + (6 x )

None of the above.

RESULTS BOX:

5. Which of the following is equal to twenty-five and sixty-nine

thousandths?

25.069

25.0690

25.06900

All of the above.

RESULTS BOX: