OPERATIONS WITH DECIMALS

TO ADD OR SUBTRACT DECIMALS:

1) Line up the decimal points vertically. Fill in any 0's where necessary.

2) Add or subtract the numbers as if they were whole numbers.

3) Place the decimal point in the sum or difference so that it lines up vertically with the numbers being added or
subtracted.

EXAMPLE 1: Add 0.56 + 9 + 6.287

To add decimals, line up the decimal points vertically and fill in 0's as shown:

0.560
9.000
+ 6.287

15.847 ← Place the decimal point in the sum so that it lines up vertically.

EXAMPLE 2: Subtract 6 – 1.859

To subtract decimals, line up the decimal points vertically and add 0's where shown. Remember to borrow
when necessary.

5 9 9 10
6 .0 0 0
1.8 5 9
Add to check!
4 .141

EXAMPLE 3: Subtract 3.742 – 10.638

If the decimals have opposite signs, place the larger decimal on top, line up the decimal points, subtract
the numbers, and carry down the sign, as shown:

– 10.638
3.742
– 6.896

PBCC 1 SLC Lake Worth Math Lab

TO MULTIPLY DECIMALS:

1) Multiply the decimals as if the decimals were whole numbers.

2) To place the decimal point, count the number of decimal places in each factor.

3) The number of decimal places in the product is the sum of the number of decimal places in each factor.

EXAMPLE 4: Multiply 3.48 x 12.7

Multiply the decimals as if they were whole numbers. Then count the number of decimal places in each
factor. Since the total number of decimal places in each factor is 3, the product must have 3 decimal places.
(Note: the decimal points are not lined up when we multiply decimals.)

3.48
 2 decimal places
x 12.7
 1 decimal place
2436
6960
34800
44.196.
 3 decimal places

3.48 x 12.7 = 44.196

PBCC 2 SLC Lake Worth Math Lab

TO DIVIDE DECIMALS:

1) When the divisor is a whole number, place the decimal point in the quotient directly over the
decimal point in the dividend. Then divide the numbers as if they were whole numbers.

EXAMPLE 6: Divide 0.54  12

Because the divisor is a whole number, the decimal point in the dividend does not move. Place the decimal
point in the quotient directly above the decimal point in the dividend. Then carry out the division until it
terminates, adding any 0's to the dividend where necessary:

Place the decimal point Quotient

0. 045
Divisor 12 0. Dividend
540
 48
60
60
0

2) When the divisor is a decimal, move the decimal point in the divisor as many places as necessary to
make it a whole number. Move the decimal point in the dividend the same number of places to the right.
Place the decimal point in the quotient directly over the decimal point in the dividend. Then divide the
numbers as if they were whole numbers.

EXAMPLE 7: Divide 2.176  0.34

Move the decimal point in the divisor 2 places to get a whole number. Then move the decimal point in the
dividend the same number of places to the right. Place the decimal point in the quotient directly over the
moved decimal point in the dividend, as shown.

6.4
0.34 . 2.17 .6
 20 4
136
 136
0

PBCC 3 SLC Lake Worth Math Lab

 EXAMPLE 8: Divide 63  2.8

Move the decimal point in the divisor 1 place to get a whole number. Add a decimal point and a zero to the
dividend. Then move the decimal point in the dividend 1 place and carry out the division.

22.5
2.8 63 2 . 8 . 63 .0 .  28 630.0
56
70
56
140
140
0

PBCC 4 SLC Lake Worth Math Lab

PROPORTION:

A proportion is two ratios that are

equal to each other. In a proportion,
the “cross
products” or the product of the
means and extremes are always
equal. If the proportion
is written in one line, the
means are the inner numbers, and
the extremes are the outer
numbers. You can also solve for
the missing term in a proportion.
A proportion is two ratios that are
equal to each other. In a proportion,
the “cross
products” or the product of the
means and extremes are always
PBCC 5 SLC Lake Worth Math Lab

equal. If the proportion

is written in one line, the
means are the inner numbers, and
the extremes are the outer
numbers. You can also solve for
the missing term in a proportion.
A proportion is two ratios that are
equal to each other. In a proportion,
the “cross
products” or the product of the
means and extremes are always
equal. If the proportion
is written in one line, the
means are the inner numbers, and
the extremes are the outer
numbers. You can also solve for
the missing term in a proportion.
A proportion is two ratios that are equal to each other.

If the proportion is written in one line, the means are the inner numbers, and the extremes are
the outer numbers. You can also solve for the missing term in a proportion.

A proportion is two ratios that are equal to each other. In a proportion, the “cross
products” or the product of the means and extremes are always equal. If the proportion
is written in one line, the
means are the inner numbers, and the extremes are the outer
numbers. You can also solve for the missing term in a proportion.
PBCC 6 SLC Lake Worth Math Lab

When the ratios are written in fraction form, their cross products should be equal to form a
proportion.

Example 1: What is the value of n in 6 : 10 = n : 5

When the ratios are written in fraction form, their cross products should be equal to form
a proportion.

One kind of proportion is the direct proportion. In a direct proportion, as one term increases, the
other term also increases. Similarly, when one term decreases, then the other term also
decreases.

Example 2: A janitor can clean 3 classrooms in 20 minutes. How many classrooms can the
janitor clean in 1 hour?
First: Then,

A. Write P if the pair of ratios

forms a proportion. Otherwise,
write NP.
PBCC 7 SLC Lake Worth Math Lab

_______ 1. 3 : 4 = 9 : 16
_______ 2. 36 : 12 = 3 : 1
_______ 3. 20 : 30 = 3 : 2
_______ 4. 6 : 6 = 12 : 12
_______ 5. 9 : 6 = 60 : 40
A. Write P if the pair of ratios forms a proportion. Otherwise, write NP.

_______ 1. 3 : 4 = 9 : 16

_______ 2. 36 : 12 = 3 : 1

_______ 3. 20 : 30 = 3 : 2

_______ 4. 6 : 6 = 12 : 12

_______ 5. 9 : 6 = 60 : 40

B. Solve for the missing term in each proportion.

1. 5 : 4 = n : 16 2. 3 : 7 = 12 : n 3. 9 : n = 27 : 15

4. 6 : 7 = n : 42 5. n : 11 = 35 : 55

C. Solve the problem.

1. Every day, Janelle saves P25 from her allowance. How much can she save in 15 days?

2. In a certain school, there are 37 pupils in each grade 5 section. How many pupils are there if
there are 12 sections in grade 5?

3. The ratio of Arthur’s correct answers to wrong answers in a test is 7 : 3. What is Arthur’s score
if he made 12 wrong answers in this test?

4.PBCC
On the map, the scale ratio is 1 centimeter8 to 3 meters. If the actual distance is Worth
SLC Lake 24 meters,
Math Lab
what is the distance indicated on the map?

5. The ratio of a rectangle’s length to its width is 5 to 2. What is the perimeter of the rectangle if
its width is 4 centimeters?